Rey Maualuga Pro Day Info - Page 5 - New England Patriots Forums

***klinefan*** · 04-09-2009, 12:35 PM

BB hasn't had this guy in for an interview or anything has he? I know some think those are smokescreens, but I don't think he'd bother with them.

I hope he doesn't draft him...seems like an immature kid. He flies around and makes great plays...when he doesn't miss the tackle and when he isn't blocked. How is that going to work in the pros? There was a rumor that he was spending weekends in Vegas...wait until he has some REAL money. Just a bust waiting to happen. No thanks.

BB drafts guys who are ready to be PROFESSIONALs, I think he's learned a lesson from Chad Jackson and Bethel.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 04-09-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apple strudel

But you are suggesting Carroll encourages him to freelance (style of defense) so he's doing what he's told, correct? Why wouldn't he do what he's told here?

Is he being told to freelance or does Pete shop for freelancers who fit "his" preferred approach? We know BB shops for people that fit his way of doing things - look at the backstory behind the Bledsoe/Brady decisions. Does anyone seriously think BB would sign Terrell Owens? I don't think it's that different for Pete, Rey fits what he likes his defense to do, I just don't think that fit works for BB.

***apple strudel*** · 04-09-2009, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

If I'm going to select a candidate to train for search & rescue team leader, I'm going to be looking for specific leadership qualities that apply to the job. It's you basic job description/human resources challenge.

So what am I looking for? It's not worth the effort to look at someone who doesn't have the physical tools, so that's a given.
-- Self discipline, on the field, in the classroom, and on the town.
-- Quick to absorb the playbook and requires minimum reps to take it to the field.
-- A hunger to learn and get better.
-- Flexible mentally, adjusts quickly and smoothly to change, doesn't get confused when thrown a curve.
-- Intuitive, reads and understands keys at a glance and reacts almost subconsciously to place himself in the best position to make a play.
-- Directs the other players and puts them in the best position to make a play.
-- Can be trusted with responsibility, big in search & rescue, some people can't handle that pressure and my best guess is that also holds true for BB's Field Marshalls (look at the difference between Eugene Wilson and James Sanders, Geno lost control of the secondary, James was re-signed for pretty good money because he anchored them).

I just see Maualuga as a failure on multiple lines above.

Sure, I don't disagree with this. And this describes Mayo to a T, which is why he's such a special player. Probably even Merriweather to some extent at least considering his dad is a cop.

What I'm getting at though is that in the context of USC it may not look like Maualuga is that guy, but nobody from USC looks like that guy. It's just an atmosphere that almost actively discourages developing these traits. So when we evaluate Rey, I think what we need to evaluate is how well he takes instruction, and how he would respond in a different atmosphere. It's an issue of preojection, and it's very hard to do. Nothing you say indicates to me he can't do it, just that he doesn't. USC kids tend not to, it's just the way it is out there. But it doesn't mean they can't, especially considering that the team a kid is drafted to play on makes such a difference in how h turns out. For example, Atlanta drafted Baker last year.

So I guess a lot is based on how well he interviews. But the whole "he has a soft body" doesn't mean a lot to me - look at Gholston (granted this is an extreme case). The guy looks like a football player who loves football, not a workout warrior. Can he work hard? Good question.

CanadianPat'sFan · 04-09-2009, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

Is he being told to freelance or does Pete shop for freelancers who fit "his" preferred approach? We know BB shops for people that fit his way of doing things - look at the backstory behind the Bledsoe/Brady decisions. Does anyone seriously think BB would sign Terrell Owens? I don't think it's that different for Pete, Rey fits what he likes his defense to do, I just don't think that fit works for BB.

He did let LT back in the day freelance in his defense. That was more to line up miss matches on pass rush downs I realize. I do understand the point you were trying to make and realize Pete Carrol and BB are two very different people and coaches IMO.

***apple strudel*** · 04-09-2009, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

Is he being told to freelance or does Pete shop for freelancers who fit "his" preferred approach?

Good question. Is a guy out of high school a molded, finished football player, or does he still grow? Seau had a rep as a free-lancer and managed to play in very structured defenses at the end of his career. Of course, he needed a lot of knowledge to get to that point, but he did it.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 04-09-2009, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apple strudel

Sure, I don't disagree with this. And this describes Mayo to a T, which is why he's such a special player. Probably even Merriweather to some extent at least considering his dad is a cop.

What I'm getting at though is that in the context of USC it may not look like Maualuga is that guy, but nobody from USC looks like that guy. It's just an atmosphere that almost actively discourages developing these traits. So when we evaluate Rey, I think what we need to evaluate is how well he takes instruction, and how he would respond in a different atmosphere. It's an issue of preojection, and it's very hard to do. Nothing you say indicates to me he can't do it, just that he doesn't. USC kids tend not to, it's just the way it is out there. But it doesn't mean they can't, especially considering that the team a kid is drafted to play on makes such a difference in how h turns out. For example, Atlanta drafted Baker last year.

So I guess a lot is based on how well he interviews. But the whole "he has a soft body" doesn't mean a lot to me - look at Gholston (granted this is an extreme case). The guy looks like a football player who loves football, not a workout warrior. Can he work hard? Good question.

I would say those traits do apply to Cushing, the only reservations I have about him are how hard he works to play at 243. He's an example of a player coming out of a freelance system that shows the self discipline to adapt himelf to a new way of doing business. It speaks volumes that Pete had Cushing and Rivers room with Maualuga on the road to provide adult supervision. I think Matthews has the self discipline, I just think he and Cushing don't fit physically and would have to re-train themselves because they have been encouraged to freelance. The system works against them, but they mitigate it's effect, Rey doesn't, he multiplies it's effect - good for Pete, I think bad for BB.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 04-09-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CanadianPat'sFan

He did let LT back in the day freelance in his defense. That was more to line up miss matches on pass rush downs I realize. I do understand the point you were trying to make and realize Pete Carrol and BB are two very different people and coaches IMO.

That was Bill Parcell's system - you'll note Parcells and his staff are taking a hard look at Matthews and Maualuga, so far NE interviewed them at the Senior Bowl/Combine and went to their Pro Day..but not with the DC or the LB coach.

dryheat44 · 04-09-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Box_O_Rocks

That was Bill Parcell's system - you'll note Parcells and his staff are taking a hard look at Matthews and Maualuga, so far NE interviewed them at the Senior Bowl/Combine and went to their Pro Day..but not with the DC or the LB coach.

I think LT broke all systems. Fascinating stuff in The Education of a Coach with what Parcells allowed Taylor to get away with in the name of playing Superman on Sundays.

***Box_O_Rocks*** · 04-09-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apple strudel

For example, Atlanta drafted Baker last year.

So I guess a lot is based on how well he interviews. But the whole "he has a soft body" doesn't mean a lot to me - look at Gholston (granted this is an extreme case). The guy looks like a football player who loves football, not a workout warrior. Can he work hard? Good question.

Baker was an OL. He can't freelance by definition - Leinert would have been a pancake otherwise. I also don't worry about OL getting called soft, there aren't a lot of them with chiseled bodies. Further, Baker isn't playing for Scarnecchia who has adapted his OL to the Belichick/Weis system, different Head Coach, different system.

***patchick*** · 04-09-2009, 01:26 PM

This has been an excellent discussion, sorry to interrupt it with this brief OT note.

Quote:

Originally Posted by apple strudel

Probably even Merriweather to some extent at least considering his dad is a cop.

That's actually not true, it was a mis-report at some point apparently confusing him with Sean Taylor. According to various profiles, Meriweather's childhood was very, very different. He had to overcome a lot.