cbs sports writeup on Maualuga

[klinefan]

Said he's great at meeting blockers in the hole.


Maybe he just needs better coaching?

Also, I know highlight reels are misleading but this guy is cat like quick. He pounces QBs...looks like a very good blitzer.

Maybe he is the guy at #23.

Run Defense: Maualuga is best when taking on the lead blocker and clogging the rush lanes. He has the lower body strength to split double teams and uses his hands with force to stun or with quickness to shed. He is very fluid moving through a crowd and is a great impact hitter.

 

[Patriot Missile]

I like him just fine. It's Belichick who has got to figure out if he could coach this guy in his system. Tenacious mean streak. I think San Diego tries to scoop him up so they can poster up another fist pumper after every tackle like Seau while in a Charger uniform.

 

[The_Riddler]

I love him, but we'll need to trade up for a shot at him.

 

[JoeShmoe]

Yeah, lot of doubters of him on here but 'all' these guys are young and need coached in some capacity

What I can see is that he can flat out play, has massive athleticism and would be the muscle next to the brains of Mayo

Depends though if he could play ILB in our system - and whether BB felt he had the smarts to learn and be coached

 

[TheComeback]

Maualuga is a stud. I think he's the best ILB in the draft next to Aaron Curry. The guy blows people up and he can pass rush from the inside (6 sacks in 2007). He's also smart and has superb leadership ability. I think he'll be a mini Junior Seau.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Said he's great at meeting blockers in the hole.


Maybe he just needs better coaching?

Also, I know highlight reels are misleading but this guy is cat like quick. He pounces QBs...looks like a very good blitzer.

Maybe he is the guy at #23.

Run Defense: Maualuga is best when taking on the lead blocker and clogging the rush lanes. He has the lower body strength to split double teams and uses his hands with force to stun or with quickness to shed. He is very fluid moving through a crowd and is a great impact hitter.

Highlights: "lead" blocker is rarely an OL, it is instead a smaller player such as a FB or H-back Maualuga's size. He showed at the Senior Bowl practices how easy it is for him to take on most blockers his size (I still love that Sean Nelson pancaked him and that NE had Nelson in for a visit), but 'every' game I ever watched of him where he was being blocked by an OL, he was out of the play. Not to mention how nicely he face plants when someone cut blocks him. Please note he "has" the lower body strength to split double-teams, but that doesn't tell me whether he uses that strength, it's merely implied.

Maybe he is the guy at #23, but I've seen nothing so far to suggest interest and for all these glowing write-ups, my own eyes have seen little in his game to warrant drafting him for NE.

 

[mayoclinic]

I like him just fine. It's Belichick who has got to figure out if he could coach this guy in his system. Tenacious mean streak. I think San Diego tries to scoop him up so they can poster up another fist pumper after every tackle like Seau while in a Charger uniform.

I think he's a much better fit for San Diego than for the Pats, in terms of both personality and playing style. How much does SD really have Shawn Merriman drop back into coverage? They're a much more downhill 3-4 than the Pats.

 

[JoeShmoe]

I think he's a much better fit for San Diego than for the Pats, in terms of both personality and playing style. How much does SD really have Shawn Merriman drop back into coverage? They're a much more downhill 3-4 than the Pats.

Saying that though BB likes to have the options to run different looks, be good to have a mixture in there with Mayo, ReyM and Guyton (+Bru of course)

 

[satz]

while making a selection you need to think where he is going to play
in first 2 downs we will have mayo and bru with guyton in 3rd down.

now if we get this guy we have to carry an extra ILB on game day roster so he can get his few snaps ?. with spring,bodden and return of weatley and whillte we got extra CB and chris baker an extra TE. so on game day it will hard to squeeze him anywhere.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Said he's great at meeting blockers in the hole.


Maybe he just needs better coaching?

Also, I know highlight reels are misleading but this guy is cat like quick. He pounces QBs...looks like a very good blitzer.

Maybe he is the guy at #23.

Run Defense: Maualuga is best when taking on the lead blocker and clogging the rush lanes. He has the lower body strength to split double teams and uses his hands with force to stun or with quickness to shed. He is very fluid moving through a crowd and is a great impact hitter.

No doubt ReyMal's strength is the run when he is moving forward. He is the ONLY LB in this draft that offensive players will "hear" coming. That's the highest praise I can give a run defender.

 

[LiveShot]

He has a rep as a big hitter but spends too much time on the ground and has trouble shedding blockers. I think the Pats will take Lauranaitis as their 1st pick in the 2nd.

 

[klinefan]

while making a selection you need to think where he is going to play
in first 2 downs we will have mayo and bru with guyton in 3rd down.

now if we get this guy we have to carry an extra ILB on game day roster so he can get his few snaps ?. with spring,bodden and return of weatley and whillte we got extra CB and chris baker an extra TE. so on game day it will hard to squeeze him anywhere.

Bru may not play at all or much. I wouldn't consider him a lock as holding a majority of the snaps on defense.

 

[mgteich]

I don't see Maualuga getting by San Diego. He may be one of the players Belichick is looking at if we get to #14 or #15, along with Jenkins and Ayers.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Why would the Pats be big on Maualuga? They didn't do a private workout with any of the USC linebackers, or bring any of them in for a visit.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Why would the Pats be big on Maualuga? They didn't do a private workout with any of the USC linebackers, or bring any of them in for a visit.

That we know of...by my count we've seen reports of 28 out of the 30, so maybe they snuck the USC marching band by us... :confused2:

 

[tombonneau]

What I can see is that he can flat out play, has massive athleticism and would be the muscle next to the brains of Mayo

Don't sell Rey short on smarts. He can the huddle and called the plays three years at USC, and that's as pro a D as there is in NCAA.

 

[Blizzzard]

Why would the Pats be big on Maualuga? They didn't do a private workout with any of the USC linebackers, or bring any of them in for a visit.

That seals it... BB's drafting him

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I don't see Maualuga getting by San Diego. He may be one of the players Belichick is looking at if we get to #14 or #15, along with Jenkins and Ayers.

I think you are correct. Wilhelm was a banana again last season (bruises easily) and Cooper is serviceable at best. With Merriman back to contain the outside, San Diego would be smart to add some mustard in the middle.