USC LB Brian Cushing ?

[TruthSeeker]

I've seen some mocks showing Brian Cushing going around the #25 range, if he were there @ 23, would you like seeing the Pats take him ? I would love to see him and Mayo terrorizing the NFL for years to come. Obviously, my feelings are that DB is more of a need, or maybe even OL, but I think Cushing can be a stud.

 

[Patdown93]

I dunno. He seems like a roider to me.

 

[Clonamery]

I've seen some mocks showing Brian Cushing going around the #25 range, if he were there @ 23, would you like seeing the Pats take him ? I would love to see him and Mayo terrorizing the NFL for years to come. Obviously, my feelings are that DB is more of a need, or maybe even OL, but I think Cushing can be a stud.

I'd pass on him at #23 whether it was for another position or other LB choices.

 

[D-Money]

I rather move up and see if we can get Rey Maluaga.I want him.

 

[mayoclinic]

Don't want Cushing. Too injury prone, steroid questions. Flailed at ILB when Rey was out. I just see much better options available elsewhere.

Don't know if I went Maualuga at #23. He's an intimidating physical presence who would complement Mayo well at SILB, but at #23 I think we may have bigger needs to address. Not sure he is smart enough to pick up the Pats' complex scheme well. There are enough issues about his lateral mobility, coverage, and tackling (not hitting, tackling) to make me feel less than enthusiastic about him, but I'm not sure.

 

[D-Money]

I dont know about that.Rey is always around the ball and the play.He moves well from sideline to sideline.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I dont know about that.Rey is always around the ball and the play.He moves well from sideline to sideline.

Which is to the point, he has speed and uses it, but watching a replay of the Rose Bowl whenever an OL got a fingernail on him he was out of the play. Perhaps he can learn to play NE ILB, but I'd rather look at a SLB or DE who are used to engaging blockers and develop them at SILB.

As for Cushing, he's an option, but I've got more question marks than answers with him.

Mayock was singing the praises of Clint Sintim during this morning's Senior Bowl practice and stated his belief that Sintim could move to 4-3 SLB in the NFL with no problems...which is why he's my Stewart Bradley ca. 2009. After Mayock's remarks, Sintim has retaken the lead on my #23 list.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

I'd prefer to steer clear of current USC products........for the most part, success has been relativley poor in the NFL with regards to where they've been drafted

 

[tombonneau]

I'd prefer to steer clear of current USC products........for the most part, success has been relativley poor in the NFL with regards to where they've been drafted

On the offensive side of the ball, yes; on defensive side, no. Last two highly drafted LBs were Rivers (looked great pre-injury) and Tatupu.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

On the offensive side of the ball, yes; on defensive side, no. Last two highly drafted LBs were Rivers (looked great pre-injury) and Tatupu.

Rivers was passed over in favor of Mayo and then did well in another 4-3 system. Tatupu is a great kid playing in the right system in Seattle. I'll take half of tank's point and say I don't want the USC LBs for NE's system, though Matthews late second or later would be worth it for OLB development.

 

[mesoslo]

Scouting The Draft: Brian Cushing & Clay Matthews - CBSSports.com Message Boards

Brian Cushing

Height: 6'2 7/8" / Weight: 243
40: 4.74 / Vertical: 35" / Broad: 10'4" / Shuttle: 4.22

Below is what Conquest Chronicles - SBN's USC blog - has to say about Cushing:

Brian Cushing plays the SLB position, but he is able to play MLB. He is fast with great instincts. He has also played the "elephant" position at SC where he is lined up as a defensive end. He can play inside or outside in either a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive scheme.

Cushing is an aggressive, intense player that does a great job of bringing his body through the ball carrier on tackles and has an intimidation factor

Cushing identifies the play quickly and is not easily fooled by misdirection plays…he stays at home. He can get penetration even when going up against a Tight end. He is a full speed, downhill player who can change direction quickly while also being able to go sideline to sideline with the uncanny ability to open field tackles for his size. Though there have been times when he has taken himself out the play

He is seen to do well in avoiding blocks and his aggressiveness comes out when taking on blockers but he does need to work on shedding blockers. He can drop back into coverage fairly effectively but he can get caught short in certain coverage schemes.

He has had some injury issues as he missed half the 2005 season with a shoulder injury. Missed most of 2007 with an ankle injury.

I like the fact that he can play in both4-3 and 3-4, and also line up as a DE. He can tackle, and hits hard with intimitdation. He can get penetration on TEs, which means his ability to shed a TE block should be good. Once he is blocked he does show a lot of aggressiveness. He is not easily fooled, and also drop in coverage.
As for his injuries. For a guy who hits hard and brings his body through a tackler, a shoulder injury would be common. As for the ankle injury its probally because of his ability to change direction very well. His injuries are probally a result of his aggressive play.

Iam willing to risk his injury factor.

 

[TriplecHamp]

I think Cushing is the most complete of the SC LB. He went to High School 20 min. away from me and Ive gone to Defranco's (his gym). Everything you see on the NFL network about him is true. He is one of the hardest workers Ive ever seen. At the same time he is a bit of a workout warrior. I think he could be an impact player for us either inside or outside. I think he is best as a 4-3 Sam though.

 

[patchick]

Cushing's a tough one. He doesn't have great length (short arms) and hasn't shown elite pass-rushing skills, but has excellent power, tackles well, and is the one of the three USC LBs I'd trust grappling with blockers. All of that says ILB rather than OLB to me, but he didn't look comfortable playing inside. That makes him every bit as much a conversion project as the DE-->OLB guys, and at the spot where we'd probably have to take him I'd rather roll the dice on an explosive pass rusher.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Don't want Cushing. Too injury prone, steroid questions. Flailed at ILB when Rey was out. I just see much better options available elsewhere.

Don't know if I went Maualuga at #23. He's an intimidating physical presence who would complement Mayo well at SILB, but at #23 I think we may have bigger needs to address. Not sure he is smart enough to pick up the Pats' complex scheme well. There are enough issues about his lateral mobility, coverage, and tackling (not hitting, tackling) to make me feel less than enthusiastic about him, but I'm not sure.

Injury prone i agree with failing at ILB I could disagree but we will leave that for later. Steroids? Every time I see anything about Cush and steroids. I ask from where do you hear this and why do you believe them?

 

[TriplecHamp]

Cushing's a tough one. He doesn't have great length (short arms) and hasn't shown elite pass-rushing skills, but has excellent power, tackles well, and is the one of the three USC LBs I'd trust grappling with blockers. All of that says ILB rather than OLB to me, but he didn't look comfortable playing inside. That makes him every bit as much a conversion project as the DE-->OLB guys, and at the spot where we'd probably have to take him I'd rather roll the dice on an explosive pass rusher.

Cushing has played DE, OLB, ILB, and Safety. He played the Elephant position at SC which is basically what a New England 3-4 OLB does pass rushing wise. He isnt really a conversion project because of this and because his true position at SC was OLB. So he has plenty of experience rushing the passer and playing in place. Usually a conversion has no or very little exp playing in space and having to deal with various coverage assignments.

 

[mayoclinic]

Injury prone i agree with failing at ILB I could disagree but we will leave that for later. Steroids? Every time I see anything about Cush and steroids. I ask from where do you hear this and why do you believe them?

No specific reports, but any football player with his degree of overly developed and defined muscles scares me a bit. I had the same concern with Vernon Gholston, though to a lesser degree. Much (or even all of it) could be the product of being a weight room fanatic, but that degree of muscularity raises concerns for me - plus I personally feel that such overly bulky players often lack flexibility and fluidity and don't do nearly as well as their muscles would suggest.

As an aside, the medical parlance for someone who looks like their on steroids is "Cushingoid" (after Sir Harvey Cushing, the early 20th century neurosurgeon).

Again, no specific report. Just an uneasy feeling.

 

[BadMoFo]

No specific reports, but any football player with his degree of overly developed and defined muscles scares me a bit. I had the same concern with Vernon Gholston, though to a lesser degree. Much (or even all of it) could be the product of being a weight room fanatic, but that degree of muscularity raises concerns for me - plus I personally feel that such overly bulky players often lack flexibility and fluidity and don't do nearly as well as their muscles would suggest.

As an aside, the medical parlance for someone who looks like their on steroids is "Cushingoid" (after Sir Harvey Cushing, the early 20th century neurosurgeon).

Again, no specific report. Just an uneasy feeling.

So would someone with a little flabbier physique make you feel any better? If any prospect is on steroids it would've been discovered by now. This isn't the 70s, or 80s, or whenever the NFL's steroid era was.

 

[mesoslo]

Cushing's a tough one. He doesn't have great length (short arms) and hasn't shown elite pass-rushing skills, but has excellent power, tackles well, and is the one of the three USC LBs I'd trust grappling with blockers. All of that says ILB rather than OLB to me, but he didn't look comfortable playing inside. That makes him every bit as much a conversion project as the DE-->OLB guys, and at the spot where we'd probably have to take him I'd rather roll the dice on an explosive pass rusher.

This scout profile from new era scouting says he gas long arms and can rush well to the outside. He still is developing pass rusher, but he does have the motor and work ethic to help him learn.

http://www.newerascouting.com/profiler/viewprofile.php?id=200

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

This scout profile from new era scouting says he gas long arms and can rush well to the outside. He still is developing pass rusher, but he does have the motor and work ethic to help him learn.

New Era Scouting

At the Senior Bowl weigh-in Cushing's arms were 31 3/4". Here's a comparative height listing using the Senior Bowl heights, including Cushing, with arm lengths listed. He's a bit on the short side.

6'4"
- Barwin 33"
- Ayers 32 1/2"
- Cushing 31 3/4"
- Matthews 32"
6'3"
- Sidbury 35"
- Sintim 33"
- Cody Brown 33 3/4"
- English 32 1/2"
6'2"
- Maualuga 31 5/8"
- McKillop 31 3/4"
- Vaughn 31 1/2"
6'1"
- Moore 31 3/4"
6'
- Delmas 31 3/4"
- Patrick Chung 31"
- Mickens 31 1/2"
5'11"
- Darius Butler 31 3/4"
5'10"
- Lankster 30 1/2"
5'9"
- Alphonso Smith 31"

 

[mesoslo]

What I really like about cushing is his versatility and strength. Now Iam not a defensive coach, but the way I see it, during defense, you react to the offense, so I want my players to be able to be good in as many areas of the field as possible. If the play is to the inside middle of the field, I want my ILB to be good at that area, I want my OLB to be good at that area also, this way my OLB can make a play and make an impact to that situation/play.
If an OLB is not good at playing inside, chances are when he tries to may a play on the inside he will flop.
Football is a team game, so maybe the a ILB makes a good play and then its the job of a OLB who can play inside to complete the play, or you need an OLB to make a good play on the inside this way the star ILB can put on that huge hit for a fumble. I want my OLB to be able to perform on areas of the field that is usually ocupied by a DE.

Maybe USC linebackers are great because they play like a team, and the guys who play on the outside help out the guys who play on the inside.