Da General's 1st Round Mock 2.0

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Mathews was less productive than Maualuga. 29 solo tackles vs 51. He even had the benefit of teams having to focus on all the superior players around him, and still couldn't keep up.

Only tackles matter? Mathews had 6.5 more TFL, 4.5 more sacks, and 2 more FF. I would argue that despite the tackles, Mathews was more productive.

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Who thought of Mays as a top 10 pick? Some experts said he could be if he went back to school and showed he could be a star, but I've never heard anybody say he was going to be a high pick this year. His size and athleticism turns heads, but he has a long way to go before being taken in the top 20, much less top 10.

Lots of people, especially on this board. A lot of people here wanted him, but didn't think he would make it to 15.

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Funny how the Ravens and Stealers are great defenses, but still have guys near the top of the league in statistics pretty much every year.

So USC didn't have a great defense? Or Cushing, Mays, and Maualuga aren't great players?

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Mathews' 1 year of experience isn't really even as a traditional 4-3 OLB. USC runs a base 4-3 under, which puts the WILL linebacker over the A gap like a 3-4 BULL ILB.

I'm aware of the type of defense that USC runs. Mathews got playing time in 47 games while he was at USC. He was only a starter for one year, but he still saw the field.

I'm not advocating that Mathews should be our #1 choice in the first round. But I don't think we should throw out the possibility that he might be.

[Goatcheese]

Originally Posted by bah007

Only tackles matter? Mathews had 6.5 more TFL, 4.5 more sacks, and 2 more FF. I would argue that despite the tackles, Mathews was more productive.

I can see the argument, but Maualuga doesn't exactly have great stats either.

Pile Jumper had 130 tackles on a top 15 defense.

Lots of people, especially on this board. A lot of people here wanted him, but didn't think he would make it to 15.

Can't say I'd be too excited about him as a 2009 prospect except his size and athleticism. He needs to show he can be a play-maker. Since he went back to school I'm guessing he heard the same from his advisers.

So USC didn't have a great defense? Or Cushing, Mays, and Maualuga aren't great players?

USC had a great defense. A case of the whole being more than the sum of it's parts. Cushing, and Maualuga are good, but not great college players that I don't think will be more than quality starters in the NFL. Mays has great potential, but certainly isn't great yet.

I'm not advocating that Mathews should be our #1 choice in the first round. But I don't think we should throw out the possibility that he might be.

I'd prefer that they did. Not just because I think he's an early-mid second 3-4 linebacker, but because I don't see how he's an upgrade over Diles.

[bah007]

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

I can see the argument, but Maualuga doesn't exactly have great stats either.

Pile Jumper had 130 tackles on a top 15 defense.

That's fine. I just wanted to see how you compared the two statistically. Nobody on USC's defense had great stats, IMO.

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Can't say I'd be too excited about him as a 2009 prospect except his size and athleticism. He needs to show he can be a play-maker. Since he went back to school I'm guessing he heard the same from his advisers.

That's essentially the same thing I posted when he chose to go back to school. You watch the USC games and Mays just never shows up anywhere. I know he plays deep safety for them in some of their coverages, but I think he has performed below his talent level thus far.

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

USC had a great defense. A case of the whole being more than the sum of it's parts. Cushing, and Maualuga are good, but not great college players that I don't think will be more than quality starters in the NFL. Mays has great potential, but certainly isn't great yet.

Agreed in full. Good discussion.

[Goatcheese]

Originally Posted by bah007

Agreed in full. Good discussion.

What? That's it? You're just going to agree with me?

This is the internet! That's never happened before.

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Mathews' 1 year of experience isn't really even as a traditional 4-3 OLB. USC runs a base 4-3 under, which puts the WILL linebacker over the A gap like a 3-4 BULL ILB.

Matthews played the weak side stand up DE, or elephant position last season. Jeff Lageman played it when Carroll was with the Jets. Ricky Jackson was the elephant when Pete ran the Niners defense (during Kubiak's stint in SF). Willie McGinest played that spot during Carroll's years with the Pats. All were DE/LB tweeners. Matthews projects as a slightly undersized 3-4 OLB, not a 4-3 linebacker. No matter what John McClain says.