Could it be this simple?

[Revman]

Patriots are you listening? Take Maualuga even if you have to move up in the early teens. Last year we grabbed Mayo at 10. A surprise to most N.F.L. experts and fans. Maualuga can be the power that Patriots lack in lb rotation. Should start soon enough-giving Bruschi reduced minutes. I am convinced that is could be that simple.

 

[jays52]

Patriots are you listening? Take Maualuga even if you have to move up in the early teens. Last year we grabbed Mayo at 10. A surprise to most N.F.L. experts and fans. Maualuga can be the power that Patriots lack in lb rotation. Should start soon enough-giving Bruschi reduced minutes. I am convinced that is could be that simple.

Yep, as simple as his mind, or as simple as it is for guards to pancake him.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Yep, as simple as his mind, or as simple as it is for guards to pancake him.

Ouch! You don't think BB couldn't coach this kid up enough that he could become a superior ILB in our defense.

 

[Warren94]

who wants a liability in coverage....

 

[Ochmed Jones]

who wants a liability in coverage....

Is this also not an area that can be coached up?

Even if he covered like a CB, he is probably on the bench on thrid down regardless.

 

[jays52]

Ouch! You don't think BB couldn't coach this kid up enough that he could become a superior ILB in our defense.

Honestly, BB could probably coach up Warren from There's Something About Mary. It's just when I watch Maualuga, I don't see a 34 inside linebacker. I think that the so called experts like him because he's a big dude with good measurables who will, on occasion, knock a ball carrier into the next century. Well, Brian Bosworth was a big dude. I'm not suggesting he's on that level, just more so saying that he doesn't play like someone his size who projects to the 34 should. Every single time a different color jersey touches his he is out of the play. He likes to hover 5-7 yards off of the line, identify a seam and use his exceptional persuit skills to arrive at the football. That's fantastic if you're going to play in a defense like the one Ray Lewis demanded in Baltimore. It just doesn't correlate very well to shutting down the run and playing towards the strength of the formation in the 34.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Honestly, BB could probably coach up Warren from There's Something About Mary. It's just when I watch Maualuga, I don't see a 34 inside linebacker. I think that the so called experts like him because he's a big dude with good measurables who will, on occasion, knock a ball carrier into the next century. Well, Brian Bosworth was a big dude. I'm not suggesting he's on that level, just more so saying that he doesn't play like someone his size who projects to the 34 should. Every single time a different color jersey touches his he is out of the play. He likes to hover 5-7 yards off of the line, identify a seam and use his exceptional persuit skills to arrive at the football. That's fantastic if you're going to play in a defense like the one Ray Lewis demanded in Baltimore. It just doesn't correlate very well to shutting down the run and playing towards the strength of the formation in the 34.

That's fair enough. And very valid, look at what Oregon State did to him, for the short time he was playing. That type of play would not work in the 3-4, but it did work perfectly in the 4-3.

I do not know if he can play in our defense, but he is the only enforcer in this draft and that alone adds to the overdrafting factor. Add in the USC connection and I can see how he would get overdrafted.

 

[JMarr]

Patriots are you listening? Take Maualuga even if you have to move up in the early teens. Last year we grabbed Mayo at 10. A surprise to most N.F.L. experts and fans. Maualuga can be the power that Patriots lack in lb rotation. Should start soon enough-giving Bruschi reduced minutes. I am convinced that is could be that simple.

I want the Pats to move up for either Maualuga or Malcolm Jenkins if they can.

To get Rey M. they will have to move up quite a bit--to me he is the most dominant defensive player in this year's draft (even over Curry) and if he falls out of the top 12 or so, it will only be because those teams have other needs, or stupidly pigeon-hole him as a two-down MLB in the pros.

This guy is an absolute beast with a Terminator-type mentality: he will never, ever quit on a play until the ball carrier is down. And his ability to play in space, read and react, and play both the run and the pass are things that are glaringly being overlooked by many of the pundits I've read.

And the biggest secret that scouts are trying to keep this year: Rey Maualuga is physically talented enough, has the body, and has the natural instincts necessary to play any LB position in the NFL, regardless of scheme.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I want the Pats to move up for either Maualuga or Malcolm Jenkins if they can.

To get Rey M. they will have to move up quite a bit--to me he is the most dominant defensive player in this year's draft (even over Curry) and if he falls out of the top 12 or so, it will only be because those teams have other needs, or stupidly pigeon-hole him as a two-down MLB in the pros.

This guy is an absolute beast with a Terminator-type mentality: he will never, ever quit on a play until the ball carrier is down. And his ability to play in space, read and react, and play both the run and the pass are things that are glaringly being overlooked by many of the pundits I've read.

And the biggest secret that scouts are trying to keep this year: Rey Maualuga is physically talented enough, has the body, and has the natural instincts necessary to play any LB position in the NFL, regardless of scheme.

That is a very strong statement! Why do you think so strongly about ReyMal's ability?

 

[Feep50]

I have zero point zero percent interest in Ray Maualuga.....

Put another way.... I have 0.0% interest in this LB......

To make it perfectly clear we're I stand.... I don't want this guy on our team!

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I have zero point zero percent interest in Ray Maualuga.....

Put another way.... I have 0.0% interest in this LB......

To make it perfectly clear we're I stand.... I don't want this guy on our team!

Why? what is it about the kid that draws such a strong response from you?

 

[JMarr]

That is a very strong statement! Why do you think so strongly about ReyMal's ability?

Mainly I just trust my eyes and try to be objective--I'm not a USC guy at all and have no stake in the Maulauga fire, other than feeling he could help us become one of the league's most dominant defenses again, sooner rather than later.

For all I know, BB might just abhor Rey's lack of discipline at this stage and feel that his overly aggressive style of play won't fit into our scheme. What I do know is that, having seen him play a lot, the "two down run stuffer" idea about Maualuga is probably the biggest myth out there right now.

IMO he and Jenkins are the biggest potential year-one defensive game changers out there. And although I doubt it will happen, either one could slip down well within our reach in the high teens/early 20's. Giving up a lower pick to trade up for either would be well worth it.

 

[Feep50]

I think he has "bust" written all over him..... I don't want him at 23, let alone trading up for him....

If we trade up I would hope it's for Jenkins.......

 

[TriplecHamp]

I have zero point zero percent interest in Ray Maualuga.....

Put another way.... I have 0.0% interest in this LB......

To make it perfectly clear we're I stand.... I don't want this guy on our team!

Wow so what are you going to do if we take him? Boo him? Wish for him to fail?

 

[Feep50]

Wow so what are you going to do if we take him? Boo him? Wish for him to fail?

No. I'll assume I was dead wrong and see what happens. Obviously it's just a personal opinion of mine. If BB drafts him, especially if he moves up to get him, I'm a terrible judge of talent. We'll see in a week.

 

[spacecrime]

Patriots are you listening? Take Maualuga even if you have to move up in the early teens. Last year we grabbed Mayo at 10. A surprise to most N.F.L. experts and fans. Maualuga can be the power that Patriots lack in lb rotation. Should start soon enough-giving Bruschi reduced minutes. I am convinced that is could be that simple.

We drafted a superior ILB last year. Why trade up for a second superior ILB when 40% of the defensive snaps there is only one ILB on the field?

And it wasn't that big of a suprise to anyone.

Ouch! You don't think BB couldn't coach this kid up enough that he could become a superior ILB in our defense.

About as well as he could Chad Jackson? I think BB can coach up anyone who is capable of learning. Some people either can't or won't take coaching.

 

[mayoclinic]

Honestly, BB could probably coach up Warren from There's Something About Mary. It's just when I watch Maualuga, I don't see a 34 inside linebacker. I think that the so called experts like him because he's a big dude with good measurables who will, on occasion, knock a ball carrier into the next century. Well, Brian Bosworth was a big dude. I'm not suggesting he's on that level, just more so saying that he doesn't play like someone his size who projects to the 34 should. Every single time a different color jersey touches his he is out of the play. He likes to hover 5-7 yards off of the line, identify a seam and use his exceptional persuit skills to arrive at the football. That's fantastic if you're going to play in a defense like the one Ray Lewis demanded in Baltimore. It just doesn't correlate very well to shutting down the run and playing towards the strength of the formation in the 34.

I agree with this. I've had Maualuga to Baltimore at 26 for a while now, and I think he could be fantastic under Ray Lewis' tutelage and as Lewis' eventual successor. But I think there are too many areas where he needs to be "coached up" to make him a good fit for the Pats: dealing with blockers and contact, being disciplined enough to play his area and not free-lance, figuring out complicated schemes, dropping into coverage. At some point, there are enough "couldn't BB coach him up?" areas to warrant finding a whole different player.

Andrew, if Maualuga were the right player and he fell to 23 then it would be that simple. Brandon Spikes would have been the right player. But unfortunately, it's not.

 

[patchick]

Maualuga's not high on my board for the reasons already well laid out above. But I'm not 100% opposed; I'd consider him at #34, for instance. What I am opposed to is trading away multiple premium picks in a deep draft to move up for a guy whom even his supporters agree will have to be majorly "coached up" to play in a manner opposite to the strengths he displayed in college.

 

[mayoclinic]

Maualuga's not high on my board for the reasons already well laid out above. But I'm not 100% opposed; I'd consider him at #34, for instance. What I am opposed to is trading away multiple premium picks in a deep draft to move up for a guy whom even his supporters agree will have to be majorly "coached up" to play in a manner opposite to the strengths he displayed in college.

Welcome back, Patchick. We've missed you the past few days. Let me guess - spring break with the Patchicklets?

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Draft preview series: Top inside linebacker prospects | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette

April 18, 2009

Draft preview series: Top inside linebacker prospects

Here is a ranking of the top inside linebacker prospects in this year's NFL draft as compiled by the Press-Gazette's Pete Dougherty. Information was gathered from conversations with scouts and other NFL personnel executives.