Addressing the LB position

[The Goat]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

I don't understand why there is always concern about Cushing's durability, and other than Goat, no one questions the injury issues with Orakpo. He has had numerous injuries in college.

Word. Orakpo missed time the last two seasons w/ a knee injury. If there's a top 10 bust in this year's draft I'd actually point to him cuz whatever abuse his body took the last four year's will be rather gentle to what he's facing.

Cushing has been rated low in durability since the beginning, but honestly I don't think I was injured much after his first year or two of college. That said I think Cushing is a reach at 13... maybe a big reach. He's not an amazing talent from what video of watched (but he did play next to one ) When I watch Cushing I notice he 1) regularly loses his feet at the point of contact so he's using his mass to drag down the smaller running back. He won't be successful in the NFL doing this, especially in the NFC East as Barber and Jacobs will run him over or just shed him aside. 2) If people are worried about Rey's speed than Cushing shouldn't be considered at all. I don't care what the official 40 time is... watching game video Cushing is constantly losing the chase w/ his target but a dive and drag technique saves his ass. Not going to work in the NFL.

Rey on the other hand runs through his tackle. And f the stop watch cuz his closing speed on QBs, RBs and TEs is pretty uncanny.

Maybe Rey is too big a risk to play at OLB in the interim; however that statement just doesn't sound right. He's loaded w/ talent and pure athletic ability and shows a nose for the ball... if he can't be an upgrade for us at either SLB or WLB I'd be shocked.