National Football Post new mock draft has us taking ...

[tombonneau]

23. New England Patriots: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

Cushing is the type of versatile athlete the Patriots crave. He has the shown an ability to not only get after the passer but can also hold the edge and contain the run game. He lacks great upside, but Cushing is a smart, instinctive defender who will fit right in with the Patriots' dynamic 3-4 defense.

The National Football Post | 2009 NFP Mock Draft

===========

Love the pick and wouldn't mind seeing them grab his teammate Clay Matthews with their second rounder.

 

[condon84]

23. New England Patriots: Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

Cushing is the type of versatile athlete the Patriots crave. He has the shown an ability to not only get after the passer but can also hold the edge and contain the run game. He lacks great upside, but Cushing is a smart, instinctive defender who will fit right in with the Patriots' dynamic 3-4 defense.

The National Football Post | 2009 NFP Mock Draft

===========

Love the pick and wouldn't mind seeing them grab his teammate Clay Matthews with their second rounder.

That would be a solid pick. It's interesting that they didn't have William Moore going in the first round. I would be ecstatic if Moore fell in our lap. Moore is a ball-hawking safety that is also great in run support. He also fills a more immediate need IMO.

 

[Boston Boxer]

i would take either one. Cushing looked good in the rose bowl.

 

[mayoclinic]

I'm not on the Cushing bandwagon. I think he's stiff, looks too bulked up, makes me worry about steroids. Don't like his instincts or mobility. Didn't look good for USC when he played ILB in Rey's absence.

National Football Post lists Sean Smith (mislabelled as "Steve Smith"), CB/S from Utah, going #26 to Baltimore. Smith is 6'3" 210# and could play either CB (wouldn't it be nice to have one over 5'10") or S. He might be an alternative to William Moore. A lot of drafts have Moore going top 15, and a lot have him going 2nd round right now. The senior bowl, combine and workouts will tell a lot about who's right, but I could see either Moore or Sean Smith being a solid pick at #23.

 

[patchick]

Cushing is a logical pick, I'm sure we'll be seeing him on plenty of mocks. But USC front-7 guys make me awfully queasy.

 

[tombonneau]

Cushing is a logical pick, I'm sure we'll be seeing him on plenty of mocks. But USC front-7 guys make me awfully queasy.

Why? The last two USC LBs to get drafted in the first round were Keith Rivers & Lofa Tatupu. Rivers looked great pre-injury (and got the lone other DROY vote) and Tatupu is obviously a top talent as well.

 

[Seneschal2]

Mocks in general are based on team needs and consensus rankings. The problem with early mocks is that they're working with early rankings. Difficult at this time to accurately predict who will actually be hovering around #23 on draft day.

I will say if I had to choose between Sintim and Cushing with our first pick, I'd go with the Groh-coached player.

 

[zero]

Why? The last two USC LBs to get drafted in the first round were Keith Rivers & Lofa Tatupu. Rivers looked great pre-injury (and got the lone other DROY vote) and Tatupu is obviously a top talent as well.

Actually Tatupu was a second rounder (but it doesn't matter), Cushing is ok (often injured) but I prefer a CB in the first round (like D.J. Moore from Vanderbilt) and Connor Baldwin in the second

 

[mmasterkillah]

I'd rather take a flier on Brian Toal or Gerald McRath later in the draft instead of reaching for this guy.

 

[MetalBleachers]

Love the pick and wouldn't mind seeing them grab his teammate Clay Matthews with their second rounder.

I'd rather see them get DB help in the first and pick up Matthews in the second. DE-FENSE! :horn:

 

[VJCPatriot]

I asked around about Clay Matthews being the real deal but never did get any answer. This season there were times he looked better than his other more talented linebacker mates, didn't he? He has good bloodlines and is also a senior which might help him adjust quicker to the NFL game.

 

[upstater1]

Moobs to Mr. Universe = Roids

 

[tanked_as_usual]

cushing translates to the inside in an NFL 3-4..........he dents easily and will struggle to cover NFL TE's'

 

[MetalBleachers]

I asked around about Clay Matthews being the real deal but never did get any answer. This season there were times he looked better than his other more talented linebacker mates, didn't he? He has good bloodlines and is also a senior which might help him adjust quicker to the NFL game.

BB coached his dad in Cleveland, FWIW.

 

[Clonamery]

cushing translates to the inside in an NFL 3-4..........he dents easily and will struggle to cover NFL TE's'

Bobby Carpenter #2?????

 

[MetalBleachers]

Bobby Carpenter #2?????

is it me, or is USC's defense often greater on the whole than its individual parts? Not that they're mediocre athletes or anything, it's just that the swarming, crazy-good USC D that suffocates opponents seems to raise the draft stock of individuals who don't quite live up to that level (which would be very hard to do).

Carroll deserves credit as a D coach, I think. He definitely gets me pumped.

 

[patchick]

I was particularly struck by this pick in the NFP mock:

10. San Francisco 49ers: Mark Sanchez, QB, USC

The 49ers have bounced through quarterbacks since drafting Alex Smith with the first overall pick in 2005. With a talent like Sanchez sitting on the board at No. 10, expect them to pounce. Sanchez exhibits all the physical tools needed to be a successful NFL quarterback. He also possesses elite-level intangibles, and coming from USC, he should become an instant hometown favorite.

A lot of folks here have dismissed the idea of Cassel to San Francisco because Shaun Hill came on nicely late in the season. But if they are thinking QB as the NFP suggests, Cassel is a far safer bet than a junior with only one full season of college starting experience. And for a franchise still smarting from the Alex Smith fiasco, safe sounds pretty good.

(OTOH, the last sentence about SF fans welcoming a USC "hometown favorite" is ludicrous. Northern Californians hate USC.)

 

[patchick]

is it me, or is USC's defense often greater on the whole than its individual parts? Not that they're mediocre athletes or anything, it's just that the swarming, crazy-good USC D that suffocates opponents seems to raise the draft stock of individuals who don't quite live up to that level (which would be very hard to do).

It's not just you...that's exactly what I meant about USC defenders making me nervous. Essentially every guy on that field is a day-1 type athlete. Some of them will doubtless go on to great pro success, but others are having their weaknesses camouflaged very effectively.

 

[Seneschal2]

is it me, or is USC's defense often greater on the whole than its individual parts? Not that they're mediocre athletes or anything, it's just that the swarming, crazy-good USC D that suffocates opponents seems to raise the draft stock of individuals who don't quite live up to that level (which would be very hard to do).

I wish draftniks would give more consideration to the supporting cast that some of these prospects play next to. Any individual from the So Cal D this draft is surrounded by solid athletes with all star credentials. Does this fact influence their play and affect their draft status? This doesn't mean none of the SC players will succeed in the pros, just that considering the whole is necessary when analyzing the individual. OTOH, productive prospects w/ a weak supporting cast speaks volumes for that individual. FWIW, this consideration comes straight from Belichick, as being one of several factors to consider when evaluating prospects. A better example would be the WR position. Is the high production of the WR assisted by a talented QB, strong running game, and solid O-line blocking? Just one of many factors to ponder while we await the all-important Senior Bowl week and Combine measurables, etc. :cool3:

 

[Ochmed Jones]

cushing translates to the inside in an NFL 3-4..........he dents easily and will struggle to cover NFL TE's'

What? I do not see it. He translates into an OLB in a 3-4.