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.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by The Goat

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.

Good post about Cushing/Maualuga. I didn't break down film on either of them, but I watched 3 or 4 USC games last season, and I noticed a lot of Cushing's tackles were from behind, or he was piling on and cleaning up what Maualuga already started. I wonder if Clay Matthews may even be a better prospect. If we're going to draft any of the three USC LBs, it should Maualuga without a doubt.

[53Fan]

Oh yeah. I was agreeing with you Vallin. Urlacher could'nt play squat at OLB but is great in the middle. Maualuga may be the same. Too many people are assuming he can play the outside just because he's good in the middle.

[Skinny Tee]

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Kevin Burnett signs with the Chargers

[terpsez11]

Originally Posted by GMScud

The LB position, particularly OLB, is a big area of need for the Redskins. We currently are limited to 4 draft picks, and aside from cutting Marcus and re-signing Fincher (a net loss in my opinion), we have not been active whatsoever.

Here's how it would go down ideally for me: I'd like to make a modest play for one of the three OLB's available in FA (Crowell, June, Keiaho). Then I'd trade out of the 13th pick, and take one of the three USC LBs, preferrably Maualuga, and still get a good tackle.

Play GM (or whatever Vinny's title is). How would you fill our linebacking needs?

Washington has missed too many games the last two yrs..draft one of the three studs