Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why?

diehard · 03-28-2009, 04:43 PM

Clay Matthews seems like the safest pick. Maualuga has character issues and Cushing is a bodybuilder. Since this draft is deep at the LB spot, we could get a 'Clay Matthews type' in the later rounds. Maualuga definitely warrants a first round pick though.

FRPLG · 03-28-2009, 05:01 PM

Maualuga I like the best but I'd take Oher over him in a heart beat. I think if Oher is available I'll disappointed if we don't take him. I have a feeling the guy is going to be a beast. He is an instant upgrade at RT while any LB we pick will have to work to get on the field based on how we've dealt with defensive rooies in the past. I feel like we can find a "smart" OLB later who could come in right away for us.

mrreddman · 03-28-2009, 05:17 PM

Only Rey. Forget the other 2 at #13. Rey will be a beast at any position, Cushing and Mathews both have reach and Bust all over them... stay away from them please.

Son Of Man · 03-28-2009, 06:02 PM

Watch the game highlights, the senior bowl workouts and the game itself!

Maualuga is the best choice at #13, even if Oher or Smith is available. If you look past just immediate needs and this upcoming season, he is the only option with HOF potential. I know we need O-Line help and Cushing hte OLB is climbing up draft boards, but, are we just trying to shore up for this year or are we trying to build a dynasty. Take the HOF talent player everytime unless you have a yougn player already at that position. Vinny himself said we wanted Jared Mayo last year when everybody knew we needed help at WR. Think about it...if we could go back and get Jared Mayo instead of Devin Thomas and Fred Davis...who would you have wanted knowing what we know now?

If the FO is smart, they draft Maualuga! Sure he may have to play out of position for a year or two (think DJ Williams in Denver), but the guy has all the potential to give our D a swagger and be a perennial pro-bowler (think Ray Lewis). The choice is clear.

Rey Maualuga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nflnick11 · 03-29-2009, 07:21 PM

Ya let's hope the skins don't draft Matthews at 13, that's way to high...supposedly Matthews is gonna be picked by the Texans, so maybe we can get them into swapping picks with us, and getting their 2nd or 3rd rounder and we could get oher or maualuga at 15

T.O.Killa · 03-29-2009, 07:50 PM

Clay Mathews is the best of the bunch in my opinion.

53Fan · 03-29-2009, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T.O.Killa

Clay Mathews is the best of the bunch in my opinion.

I think he's gonna surprise some people. He has what it takes.

jrocx69 · 03-29-2009, 08:33 PM

Rey would be a horrible pick. If I had to make a decision... it would be Cush. But we could get depth at LB in third and go with the best player with #13. OL Oher, DL Brown,
OL A. Smith, DL Jackson, seem to fit the bill to be available

SkinsFanSince91 · 03-30-2009, 12:16 PM

Clay Matthews...hands down. Here's why:

1) He is from a football family -His father, Clay, was a 4-year (1974-77) letterman linebacker at USC who played on Troy's 1974 national championship team and earned All-American honors in 1977 (he went on to play with the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons from 1978 to 1996). His brother, Kyle, lettered at safety on USC's 2003 national championship team. His uncle, Bruce, was a 3-year (1980-82) letterman offensive guard at USC who earned All-American honors in 1982 and then played with the NFL's Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983 to 2001. His grandfather, Clay Sr., was on the football, wrestling and swimming teams at Georgia Tech in the 1940s and then played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.

2) He was a walk on at USC, which means that he has a proven work ethic. This work ethic prompted coaches to find and somehow to make him crack the lineup at USC as a DE/OLB hybrid. He plays special teams like a mad man (which is what he played the first two seasons).

3) His combine was unbelievable. Not only was he top ten in 40-yard dash, Bench press, Vertical jump, Broad jump, 3-cone drill, & 20-yard shuttle, but the best fact about his combine was that his 10 yard split in the 40 yard dash was 1.49 seconds!! That is faster time than Derrick Williams, Kenny Britt, and D.J Moore.

4) His versatility will be great for us. He can play SLB on the first two downs, and then play DE on pass rushing downs.

CLAY MATTHEWS is this year's Jordy Nelson (for whom I was lobbying for us to pick last year). His football family, work ethic, athleticism, and versatility will be a great asset for us as a team. Furthermore, his ability to be coached and his character would provide us with a lot less of the individualistic distractions and provide us with a hard-nosed football player for the next 10 years or so.

skinsfan69 · 03-30-2009, 12:27 PM

I really don't want any of these guys. Ray M. seems like he's always trying to make the ESPN highlights. He has the most potential out of these guys but is he going to be a true student of the game like Fletcher is. Is he going to be able to keep his weight down? I just don't see it. He has Brian Bosworth written all over him. The other two are simply not worthy of the 13th pick. They look like 2nd or 3rd rounders to me.

Nflnick11 · 03-30-2009, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

I really don't want any of these guys. Ray M. seems like he's always trying to make the ESPN highlights. He has the most potential out of these guys but is he going to be a true student of the game like Fletcher is. Is he going to be able to keep his weight down? I just don't see it. He has Brian Bosworth written all over him. The other two are simply not worthy of the 13th pick. They look like 2nd or 3rd rounders to me.

I was thinking...we have blades, who could be a very good MLB and I think MLB is the perfect position for him...so ya why get maualuga if he is really gonna be like blades, IMHO

Dirtbag59 · 03-30-2009, 12:49 PM

I honestly think Andre Smith is the pick if he's available at 13. If not they'll try to trade down and if that can't be done they'll grab Rey. Then maybe try to work their way back into the first or second. If they do get the trade down done I could see them taking Eben Britton.

However to answer the thread, Rey, by far. Guys a football player and Fletchers production has made me realize how beneficial we are to make sure that we always have a dominant guy at that Mike spot. Plus I don't want to risk repeating the Lamar Marshall experiment.

Hamoskinz · 03-30-2009, 05:53 PM

I would go with Rey Maualuga as well. We need that kind of energy/swagger on the team. And it would also mean a fellow Samoan on the team.

johno · 03-30-2009, 06:36 PM

Clay Matthews...is a hands down NO. Here's why:

A "good bloodline" does not change that the guy as 10 career starts. Why waste a 1st round pick, 13th at that, on a guy who hasn't played a full year in college? No thanks.

SkinsFanSince91 · 04-01-2009, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johno

Clay Matthews...is a hands down NO. Here's why:

A "good bloodline" does not change that the guy as 10 career starts. Why waste a 1st round pick, 13th at that, on a guy who hasn't played a full year in college? No thanks.

Do not underestimate what an good bloodline can say about a player.

Clay Matthews is the real deal. He is a 3 down linebacker that can rush the passer in a 3 point stance. He even out performed the other USC linebackers at the pro day. He is in now way a waste.

I was Jordy Nelson's biggest fan last year, and I now dub Clay Matthews as this year's version of Jordy Nelson!!! He was a walk on. He changed positions, and still managed to get on the field at USC. He is a hard working and athletic LB that can do a lot for a defense.

But don't take my word for it. Check out this video from nfl.com

NFL Video Galleries

03-28-2009, 05:01 PM	#2
FRPLG MVP Join Date: May 2004 Age: 46 Posts: 10,164	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Maualuga I like the best but I'd take Oher over him in a heart beat. I think if Oher is available I'll disappointed if we don't take him. I have a feeling the guy is going to be a beast. He is an instant upgrade at RT while any LB we pick will have to work to get on the field based on how we've dealt with defensive rooies in the past. I feel like we can find a "smart" OLB later who could come in right away for us.

03-28-2009, 05:17 PM	#3
mrreddman Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: alexandria va Posts: 143	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Only Rey. Forget the other 2 at #13. Rey will be a beast at any position, Cushing and Mathews both have reach and Bust all over them... stay away from them please.

03-28-2009, 06:02 PM	#4
Son Of Man Impact Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ellicott City, MD Posts: 643	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Watch the game highlights, the senior bowl workouts and the game itself! Maualuga is the best choice at #13, even if Oher or Smith is available. If you look past just immediate needs and this upcoming season, he is the only option with HOF potential. I know we need O-Line help and Cushing hte OLB is climbing up draft boards, but, are we just trying to shore up for this year or are we trying to build a dynasty. Take the HOF talent player everytime unless you have a yougn player already at that position. Vinny himself said we wanted Jared Mayo last year when everybody knew we needed help at WR. Think about it...if we could go back and get Jared Mayo instead of Devin Thomas and Fred Davis...who would you have wanted knowing what we know now? If the FO is smart, they draft Maualuga! Sure he may have to play out of position for a year or two (think DJ Williams in Denver), but the guy has all the potential to give our D a swagger and be a perennial pro-bowler (think Ray Lewis). The choice is clear. Rey Maualuga!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

03-29-2009, 07:21 PM	#5
Nflnick11 Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 432	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Ya let's hope the skins don't draft Matthews at 13, that's way to high...supposedly Matthews is gonna be picked by the Texans, so maybe we can get them into swapping picks with us, and getting their 2nd or 3rd rounder and we could get oher or maualuga at 15

03-29-2009, 07:50 PM	#6
T.O.Killa The Starter Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Berlin, MD Posts: 2,061	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Clay Mathews is the best of the bunch in my opinion.

03-28-2009, 04:43 PM	#1
diehard The Starter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Norfolk, Va (OV) Posts: 1,566	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Clay Matthews seems like the safest pick. Maualuga has character issues and Cushing is a bodybuilder. Since this draft is deep at the LB spot, we could get a 'Clay Matthews type' in the later rounds. Maualuga definitely warrants a first round pick though.

03-29-2009, 08:33 PM	#8
jrocx69 Special Teams Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Dallas Age: 44 Posts: 461	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Rey would be a horrible pick. If I had to make a decision... it would be Cush. But we could get depth at LB in third and go with the best player with #13. OL Oher, DL Brown, OL A. Smith, DL Jackson, seem to fit the bill to be available

03-30-2009, 12:16 PM	#9
SkinsFanSince91 Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wash DC Posts: 368	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Clay Matthews...hands down. Here's why: 1) He is from a football family -His father, Clay, was a 4-year (1974-77) letterman linebacker at USC who played on Troy's 1974 national championship team and earned All-American honors in 1977 (he went on to play with the NFL's Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons from 1978 to 1996). His brother, Kyle, lettered at safety on USC's 2003 national championship team. His uncle, Bruce, was a 3-year (1980-82) letterman offensive guard at USC who earned All-American honors in 1982 and then played with the NFL's Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans from 1983 to 2001. His grandfather, Clay Sr., was on the football, wrestling and swimming teams at Georgia Tech in the 1940s and then played in the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s. 2) He was a walk on at USC, which means that he has a proven work ethic. This work ethic prompted coaches to find and somehow to make him crack the lineup at USC as a DE/OLB hybrid. He plays special teams like a mad man (which is what he played the first two seasons). 3) His combine was unbelievable. Not only was he top ten in 40-yard dash, Bench press, Vertical jump, Broad jump, 3-cone drill, & 20-yard shuttle, but the best fact about his combine was that his 10 yard split in the 40 yard dash was 1.49 seconds!! That is faster time than Derrick Williams, Kenny Britt, and D.J Moore. 4) His versatility will be great for us. He can play SLB on the first two downs, and then play DE on pass rushing downs. CLAY MATTHEWS is this year's Jordy Nelson (for whom I was lobbying for us to pick last year). His football family, work ethic, athleticism, and versatility will be a great asset for us as a team. Furthermore, his ability to be coached and his character would provide us with a lot less of the individualistic distractions and provide us with a hard-nosed football player for the next 10 years or so. __________________ http://zstiojar.edu.pl/68560

03-30-2009, 12:27 PM	#10
skinsfan69 Living Legend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 17,439	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? I really don't want any of these guys. Ray M. seems like he's always trying to make the ESPN highlights. He has the most potential out of these guys but is he going to be a true student of the game like Fletcher is. Is he going to be able to keep his weight down? I just don't see it. He has Brian Bosworth written all over him. The other two are simply not worthy of the 13th pick. They look like 2nd or 3rd rounders to me.

03-30-2009, 12:49 PM	#12
Dirtbag59 Naega jeil jal naga Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Atlanta, Georgia From: Silver Spring, Maryland Age: 40 Posts: 14,750	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? I honestly think Andre Smith is the pick if he's available at 13. If not they'll try to trade down and if that can't be done they'll grab Rey. Then maybe try to work their way back into the first or second. If they do get the trade down done I could see them taking Eben Britton. However to answer the thread, Rey, by far. Guys a football player and Fletchers production has made me realize how beneficial we are to make sure that we always have a dominant guy at that Mike spot. Plus I don't want to risk repeating the Lamar Marshall experiment. __________________ "It's nice to be important, but its more important to be nice." - Scooter "I feel like Dirtbag has been slowly and methodically trolling the board for a month or so now." - FRPLG

03-30-2009, 05:53 PM	#13
Hamoskinz Special Teams Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Samoa Posts: 180	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? I would go with Rey Maualuga as well. We need that kind of energy/swagger on the team. And it would also mean a fellow Samoan on the team. __________________ "If you don't wear a jock strap, you're going to be in trouble." Bugel

03-30-2009, 06:36 PM	#14
johno Impact Rookie Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southwest, DC Posts: 599	Re: Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why? Clay Matthews...is a hands down NO. Here's why: A "good bloodline" does not change that the guy as 10 career starts. Why waste a 1st round pick, 13th at that, on a guy who hasn't played a full year in college? No thanks.

Which USC linebacker would you like the most and why?

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