USC Pro Day

[Mitch]

With Whiz, MB and RG in attendance the Cardinals witnessed LB Clay Matthews run a 4.57 and LB Brian Cushing run a 4.65...wanna bet one of these guys is the #31 pick?

I think the Cardinals may want a versatile, speedy tackling machine LB who can play both outside and inside (in case they move Dansby at times outside, and in case they are without Dansby beyond this year).

I personally think that there will be better choices at #31, as neither Matthews, nor Cushing are going to be significant pass rushing threats.

The Cardinals need a pass rush. Without it their defense will continue to give up far too many yards and passing TDs...and will continue to choke in the waning momonets of close games.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Clay Matthews will end up being the best of the 3 USC linebackers in the NFL.

 

[binkar]

I disagree Mitch. First off, I don't think either of them will be on the board when we pick at 31, especially sense those are respectable 40 times.

I also disagree that neither will be a pass rush threat. I don't think Cushing will be much of a pass rusher, but I think Matthews will prove to be one of the best pass rushers coming out of this draft class. He is quick, fast, and relentless and has seen more year-to-year improvement than probably anyone else in the draft. He also was named the special teams player of the year for USC twice (not that we are looking for a special team star in the first round, but it says something about his commitment and character). He also come from great football bloodlines (which to be honest, I don't really think matters as much as people portray it to).

I think Cushing will be a very solid pro, but he wouldn't be my first choice because he doesn't help our pass rush much, if at all.

I prefer Matthews over English, and would be more than excited if he became a Cardinal.

 

[Billy Flynt]

both will be better pros than mangalua (awful spelling i know)... I seriously doubt Cushing will be there at 31. Matthews is likely gone before we pick in 2nd... 31 may be too high but he comes from good stock... We may not be disappointed in either in few years..

 

[az jam]

Its most likley that Cushing and Matthews will both be off the board before we pick at #31. But Barwin, Ayers and/or English could be there and be our pick. The good news is that there are lots of good OLB/DEs in the draft this year and one of them will be there when we pick.

 

[bg7brd]

Its most likley that Cushing and Matthews will both be off the board before we pick at #31. But Barwin, Ayers and/or English could be there and be our pick. The good news is that there are lots of good OLB/DEs in the draft this year and one of them will be there when we pick.

Don't forget Sintim. I also think both Cushing and Matthews will be gone by 31 but you just never know.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Rey Rey, Cush and Matthews will all be gone before we pick. Otherwise, I would be ECSTATIC over any of them.

 

[binkar]

Scouts, Inc on ESPN.com ranks Matthews the second best linebacker in the draft behind only Curry.

 

[Shogun]

I think Matthews can get to the QB fine. My concern with Matthews is whether or not his combine numbers will translate on the field.

 

[az jam]

We are all focusing on the big three USC lbs. However there are other USC players that could end up in Cardinal uniforms next year:

Fili Moala DT 6 ' 4 " 305 lbs. could also play DE in a 3 - 4 defense. Most think he is a late first round or second round pick. Could take Antonio Smith's place.

Kyle Moore FE 6' 5" 275 lbs. Solid starter with decent speed. Had a good game and week at the Senior Bowl. Projected 3rd or 4th round pick.

Kaluka Maiava OLB short at 5 ' 11 1/2 " 229 lbs. But has tremendous speed and was MVP in this year's Rose Bowl. Could be there in 4th or 5th round.

 

[Cards Czar]

With Whiz, MB and RG in attendance the Cardinals witnessed LB Clay Matthews run a 4.57 and LB Brian Cushing run a 4.65...wanna bet one of these guys is the #31 pick?

I think the Cardinals may want a versatile, speedy tackling machine LB who can play both outside and inside (in case they move Dansby at times outside, and in case they are without Dansby beyond this year).

I personally think that there will be better choices at #31, as neither Matthews, nor Cushing are going to be significant pass rushing threats.

The Cardinals need a pass rush. Without it their defense will continue to give up far too many yards and passing TDs...and will continue to choke in the waning momonets of close games.

This is a little different then yours.
40-Yard Dash Times:
OLB Clay Matthews Jr. - 4.44 (ran once)
OLB Brian Cushing - 4.70 (ran once)
WR Patrick Turner - 4.58 & 4.60
S/LB Kevin Ellison - 4.72 & 4.75
CB Cary Harris pulled a hamstring and is done for the day.

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Latest/live_pro_day_results_usc40_times_4109.html

 

[binkar]

This is a little different then yours.
40-Yard Dash Times:
OLB Clay Matthews Jr. - 4.44 (ran once)
OLB Brian Cushing - 4.70 (ran once)
WR Patrick Turner - 4.58 & 4.60
S/LB Kevin Ellison - 4.72 & 4.75
CB Cary Harris pulled a hamstring and is done for the day.

http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Latest/live_pro_day_results_usc40_times_4109.html

WOW! Matthews with a 4.44 is impressive.

 

[Dr. Jones]

both will be better pros than mangalua (awful spelling i know)... I seriously doubt Cushing will be there at 31. Matthews is likely gone before we pick in 2nd... 31 may be too high but he comes from good stock... We may not be disappointed in either in few years..

It just amazes me how many of you ( in this thread and others) have forgotten how much better Rey Maualuga is than Cushing or Matthews. Just because he is injured it shouldn't take away from the on field production.

Maualuga is probably better than every USC linebacker since Junior Seau. And if he is there at #31 I would RUN to the podium.

In Short......I think your all BONKERS!

 

[az jam]

It just amazes me how many of you ( in this thread and others) have forgotten how much better Rey Maualuga is than Cushing or Matthews. Just because he is injured it shouldn't take away from the on field production.

Maualuga is probably better than every USC linebacker since Junior Seau. And if he is there at #31 I would RUN to the podium.

In Short......I think your all BONKERS!

I guess you think the writer from Pro Football Weekly must also be bonkers:
But let's respect everyones opinions. The draft is a crapshoot and many are wrong.

The Way We Hear It — draft edition

Maualuga's bust factor scares NFL teams

By Nolan Nawrocki
April 1, 2009

Editor’s note: Check back later today for an update on USC’s pro-day workout.

Entering the season, scouts were enthralled with this year’s MLB class, featuring Ohio State’s James Laurinaitis, USC’s Rey Maualuga and LSU’s Darry Beckwith, all of whom received high marks from evaluators.

However, as the season progressed, concerns were brought to the forefront. Maualuga began missing too many tackles, Laurinaitis stayed blocked too long and Beckwith could not find the football.

With a chance to redeem themselves at the NFL Scouting Combine, none of them stood out, as Maualuga pulled out of the workout with a hamstring injury suffered running his first 40-yard dash. On Wednesday, Maualuga has another chance to prove himself at USC's highly anticipated pro-day workout, but the way we hear it, nothing Maualuga does will erase the concerns teams have about him on tape and off the field.

“Chart how many times he is on the ground,” one longtime evaluator said, “and you will see why I think he will always struggle in the pros. He had so much talent around him — that defense may be as talented as I’ve ever seen in college. It covers up a lot of mistakes.”

For as fearlessly as Maualuga may run through contact and as violently as he may deliver some big hits, he too often struggles to break down in the open field and gets caught out of position by taking false steps. His instincts still leave a lot to be desired. Scouts that revisit the Trojans’ loss to Oregon State have come away even more unimpressed, as Maualuga’s shoddy tackling was identified as a major reason for the 27-21 loss to the Beavers.

Despite leading the team with 12 tackles, Maualuga was not able to stop Oregon State RB Jacquizz Rodgers from consistently gashing the defense straight up the gut. Maualuga’s sprained right knee reportedly did not have any swelling after the game when an MRI was taken. However, he did not play against Oregon the following week, as Brian Cushing replaced him in the middle, leading scouts to question how much the benching was related to injury and how much was related to performance, the latter of which inside sources say was a greater factor in his absence.

Laurinaitis and Beckwith both brought great leadership to the field and have been model citizens off it. The same can not be said for Maualuga, who program sources publicly said had matured after finding trouble early in his career while dealing with his father's battle with cancer.

Maualuga not only showed poor judgment preceding the Rose Bowl, when he mocked ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, and later apologized, inside sources also have pointed to the need for Maualuga to be closely monitored, as well-trusted fellow linebackers Keith Rivers and Cushing were deliberately assigned to be his roommates on the road to provide the stability he needed to stay out of trouble.

"He has a high bust factor," said one NFL executive responsible for stacking his team's draft board. "There is a lot there that scares me. There is a right price for everyone, but I would not feel comfortable taking him in the first round where we are picking. The money is too great. You cannot afford to make mistakes and expect to recover from them."

 

[Russ Smith]

It just amazes me how many of you ( in this thread and others) have forgotten how much better Rey Maualuga is than Cushing or Matthews. Just because he is injured it shouldn't take away from the on field production.

Maualuga is probably better than every USC linebacker since Junior Seau. And if he is there at #31 I would RUN to the podium.

In Short......I think your all BONKERS!

I'm a huge Rey fan but I still think in the end he's going to slip in the draft because of his off the field issues.

Juvenile records are supposed to be sealed but it has happened before and caused a player to slip and even if Rey's juvenile record is sealed, he has enough problems from USC(how many sophs in college are ordered to do anger management by a judge?) to cause him to slip.

Great player but I really suspect NFL teams are going to be afraid to take him too early because of his past problems.

 

[Skkorpion]

If we added up all the players ASFN posters have assured us all will be off the board by pick #31, the total must be approaching 45 to 50 by now.

 

[az jam]

If we added up all the players ASFN posters have assured us all will be off the board by pick #31, the total must be approaching 45 to 50 by now.

Just means there will be about 15 to 20 good players for us to choose from when we pick.

 

[Skkorpion]

Just means there will be about 15 to 20 good players for us to choose from when we pick.

You mean this in jest, don't you? That's why the smillie? But you are exactly right. There will be a bunch of very good players at that spot.

The wait is driving us nuts.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The only way I see Cushing having a real impact in the NFL would be to convert him to strong safety.

 

[az jam]

You mean this in jest, don't you? That's why the smillie? But you are exactly right. There will be a bunch of very good players at that spot.

The wait is driving us nuts.

In all seriousness this is a very interesting draft in that there aren't that many real blue chip players but many very good players going deep into the second round. You are going to overpay for a top ten player that might not be any better than one picked at the end of the first round.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

It just amazes me how many of you ( in this thread and others) have forgotten how much better Rey Maualuga is than Cushing or Matthews. Just because he is injured it shouldn't take away from the on field production.

Maualuga is probably better than every USC linebacker since Junior Seau. And if he is there at #31 I would RUN to the podium.

In Short......I think your all BONKERS!

Agreed although I think they all wil be varying degrees of good.

Mark it down and put it in my signature. Rey will not only be the best of the three. He is the next Ray Lewis in terms of ILB making impact on the team that drafts him.

Straight football player and absolute monster. If hes somehow on the board at #31 thats a no brainer.

 

[binkar]

The only way I see Cushing having a real impact in the NFL would be to convert him to strong safety.

Cushing is nearly 250 lbs. and the biggest knock on him is his ability to turn his hips and get back into coverage. There are questions as to if he could even be a three down linebacker because people are concerned about his coverage skills. Moving him to strong safety would be completely asinine.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Cushing is closer to 240 than 250 and is a supplement and workout freak. He could easily drop 5lbs and only be one inch and 7Lbs heavier than A-Dub. From what ihave seen out here in LA, I think he is strong in coverage and think he could make a successful transition to the position in the NFL ad believe he could have a longer and more productive career at that position.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Just say NO to Brian Cushing.

He will not be able to face adversity, and will be a HUGE bust in the pros.

Clay Matthews is the guy you want. But he will never be at 31.



An interesting note was Graves and Kitchens talking to Dominique Byrd. What happened to him on the Rams ??? I think the Rams just don't know what to do with TE's. They seem to sign and draft 50 of them a year.

Just saying Byrd was a pretty good prospect coming out of college, it was interesting to see the Cardinals kicking the tires.

 

[joeshmo]

Wiz was not at the pro day according to both Urban and Somers.

Rey is going to be good for one simple reason, he has the right football mentality and loves to play the game. He has a passion for it and you can see it in his play, and its contagious. Someone is going to be very happy they drafted him to play in their front 7.

I am leary of Cushing who has had a lot of injuries over the years which seem like they may be related to, to many enhancers.

Matthews has the athletic ability and blood lines but I was never really impressed with him on tape. Watching a lot of USC games I noticed Cushing, Rey, and Kaluka Maiava a lot more then I did Matthews. I think Matthews is a classic overachiever who has made more of a name in his workouts then he has on tape, which usually means he will be limited in the NFL.