If all 3 of the USC backers were available at #25, and you had to pick one of them, which one would you take? I'd take Cushing
Which Trojans LB would you draft?
- Thread starter MrClean
- Start date
If they were all available I think I'd take Maualuga. Dude's a monster.
X-Pacolypse
Active Roster
For me, it was either between Rey or Cushing. I went with Rey Rey.
#1dolphinsfan
Perennial All-Pro
if rey is there it would easly be him
fishypete
FinHeaven Elite
None of the above!!
dr.jake
Rookie
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2008
- Messages
- 799
- Reaction score
- 3
FROM USA TODAY:
"Early analysis suggests Maualuga will be the first one drafted, about three or four spots ahead of Cushing, according to NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang. Matthews ranks further back, but still as a potential first-round talent.
While they share long, flowing locks and elite prospect status, all three have varied backgrounds and still face questions. Matthews is the son of four-time Pro Bowler Clay Matthews Jr. and the nephew of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, yet he had to walk on and earn a scholarship the hard way and might be the least physically talented of the three. Maualuga is regarded by some as the best one of the group, yet he faces concerns about his maturity level and a penchant for overreaching for the big hit. Cushing has a checkered injury past and had to dispel stories that he was using supplements.
Yet they say they're stronger and able to rise above their challenges because they've headed for the NFL as a team (a fourth USC linebacker, Kaluka Maiava, is also at the combine, though he's not expected to be drafted high).
Cushing is what Matthews described as a "typical East coast guy" who has a chip on his shoulder and a blue-collar work ethic. Maualuga is a fierce, dominating force on the field who acknowledges that he plays so hard that he sometimes overpursues and misses tackles. And Matthews is a cerebral player whose heart and dedication show, said Maualuga, from his rise from a walk-on whose own family questioned his choice to try out for the Trojans into a potential first-round pick."
both rey and brian cushing could have come out last year with rivers.i was actually hoping maualaga would declare and drop to us in the 2nd. i doubt we have a shot now without moving up. and i'd be suprised if kaluka isn't in pads next year somewhere. dude pumped some iron at combines.sorry PENN ST but USC is he new linebacker U.
"Early analysis suggests Maualuga will be the first one drafted, about three or four spots ahead of Cushing, according to NFLDraftScout.com analyst Rob Rang. Matthews ranks further back, but still as a potential first-round talent.
While they share long, flowing locks and elite prospect status, all three have varied backgrounds and still face questions. Matthews is the son of four-time Pro Bowler Clay Matthews Jr. and the nephew of Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, yet he had to walk on and earn a scholarship the hard way and might be the least physically talented of the three. Maualuga is regarded by some as the best one of the group, yet he faces concerns about his maturity level and a penchant for overreaching for the big hit. Cushing has a checkered injury past and had to dispel stories that he was using supplements.
Yet they say they're stronger and able to rise above their challenges because they've headed for the NFL as a team (a fourth USC linebacker, Kaluka Maiava, is also at the combine, though he's not expected to be drafted high).
Cushing is what Matthews described as a "typical East coast guy" who has a chip on his shoulder and a blue-collar work ethic. Maualuga is a fierce, dominating force on the field who acknowledges that he plays so hard that he sometimes overpursues and misses tackles. And Matthews is a cerebral player whose heart and dedication show, said Maualuga, from his rise from a walk-on whose own family questioned his choice to try out for the Trojans into a potential first-round pick."
both rey and brian cushing could have come out last year with rivers.i was actually hoping maualaga would declare and drop to us in the 2nd. i doubt we have a shot now without moving up. and i'd be suprised if kaluka isn't in pads next year somewhere. dude pumped some iron at combines.sorry PENN ST but USC is he new linebacker U.
ckparrothead
Premium Member
Surprised not more support for Cushing.
Come on Pete, it's a hypothetical question. Don't you want to play? :rolleyes2:
dr.jake
Rookie
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2008
- Messages
- 799
- Reaction score
- 3
new york times aug. 19th 2007:
"the Trojans have potential All-Americans all over the field, and perhaps the nation’s best linebackers in Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga."
i've been drooling at the thought of drafting one of these guys for years.
"the Trojans have potential All-Americans all over the field, and perhaps the nation’s best linebackers in Brian Cushing, Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga."
i've been drooling at the thought of drafting one of these guys for years.
Pachyderm_Wave
Hartselle Tigers (15-0) 5-A State Champ
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2008
- Messages
- 15,347
- Reaction score
- 13,965
Well so far I believe Seau is the only USC 'backer to really amount to anything in the last 2 decades or so...
They've had some collossal busts...
Like dude said in Coming to America...."His mama name him Clay.....Im'a call him Clay"....
Matthews that is....he'd be the one I pick...
miamiron
Active Roster
With Cushing you have questions regarding "supplement" abuse
and did the players around him make him look better than he is???
with Rey you have serious concerns regarding being out of position so much and reacting with his athletic abilities to over come alot of mistakes on the field...
Will Rey be able to compensate against much bigger,smarter,and faster competition??? WillRey be able to call defensive plays which will be more difficult than college?Will he be able to grasp game film and the playbook with such a low wonderlink score??
Is Matthews the real deal having only started 10 games in his entire college carreer or is he just a very good athlete that the hype machine has overblown...
If one to only look no further than the USC pro day workouts then Clay looked much better than Brian or Rey.Very fast with exceptional change of direction for such a big guy(far and away better than Brian and Rey with this agility)I wasn't a Clay fan but after watching him perform ...I was like shocked on how good of an athlete he is but will this translate to the football field...who knows...you might have someone with an exceptional high ceiling who can learn and use those exceptional genes from Dad to become pro bowl or he could be a workout warrior!
I don't profess to have the knowledge and ability to look at a player and say he will be a star or he will not progress each and every year but if I were to take a chance on one player it would be Clay because his pedigree for one.His exceptional atheletic ability,his speed,his size,and I would interview him till I knew everything about him inside and out then I would decide if he fit into the teams future.
and did the players around him make him look better than he is???
with Rey you have serious concerns regarding being out of position so much and reacting with his athletic abilities to over come alot of mistakes on the field...
Will Rey be able to compensate against much bigger,smarter,and faster competition??? WillRey be able to call defensive plays which will be more difficult than college?Will he be able to grasp game film and the playbook with such a low wonderlink score??
Is Matthews the real deal having only started 10 games in his entire college carreer or is he just a very good athlete that the hype machine has overblown...
If one to only look no further than the USC pro day workouts then Clay looked much better than Brian or Rey.Very fast with exceptional change of direction for such a big guy(far and away better than Brian and Rey with this agility)I wasn't a Clay fan but after watching him perform ...I was like shocked on how good of an athlete he is but will this translate to the football field...who knows...you might have someone with an exceptional high ceiling who can learn and use those exceptional genes from Dad to become pro bowl or he could be a workout warrior!
I don't profess to have the knowledge and ability to look at a player and say he will be a star or he will not progress each and every year but if I were to take a chance on one player it would be Clay because his pedigree for one.His exceptional atheletic ability,his speed,his size,and I would interview him till I knew everything about him inside and out then I would decide if he fit into the teams future.
SnakeoilSeller
Scout Team
If this was posted 3 months ago I would have said Mauluga hands down, and I probably would still lean that way, because of the way he plays, but something hasn't seemed right with him lately, cannot put my finger on it. I voted for Clay. I like his attitude, I think it fits the Fins.
1. Clay
1A. Rey
3. Cushing
1. Clay
1A. Rey
3. Cushing
PhinsRDbest
Who D Best?
I would choose Rey because I think with our coaching staff he become a future DPOY. Plus he's the only one of the three I would care to get a jersey of.