Good Read on Cushing for Rookie of the Year

[jppaul]

Good read from Football Outsiders:

10 Nov 2009
Brian Cushing, Rookie of the Year

Brian Cushing of Houston is the Defensive Rookie of the Year. I'm a big fan of Aaron Curry, and Ray Maualuga is a big part of Cincinnati's surprise season, but honestly, it isn't close, and there aren't any offensive rookies who can match Cushing either.

I just ran new updated individual defense numbers through Week 9, and Cushing leads the NFL with 86 defensive plays. He's second in percentage of his own team's defensive plays, behind Atlanta's Curtis Lofton, and they are the only two defenders in the league who have been in on over 20 percent of their team's defensive plays.

Now, I know what you are saying... it isn't strange for a rookie linebacker to be near the top of the league in tackles. Didn't Cushing's teammate DeMeco Ryans do it just a couple years ago? Sure, that's true... but that's usually true about middle linebackers. Cushing is playing on the outside. And he's not making these plays at Ryans' expense. Ryans has 69 plays, which is 16 percent of Houston's total and still ranks eighth in the NFL. Their combination of being in on 36.9 percent of plays is the highest rate in the league for teammates, with Lofton and Eric Coleman second at 36.4 percent and Carolina's Jon Beason and Thomas Davis third at 33.5 percent.

Cushing isn't just making lots of plays. He's making important plays. Cushing leads the NFL with 20 Defeats. He has eight passes defensed, while no other linebacker has more than five. He's made his average run tackle after a gain of just 2.9 yards, which isn't among the league leaders but is above average for 4-3 outside linebackers.

The Houston defense has a lot of problems. The pass rush gets near the quarterback, but can't take him down -- the Texans are high in hits and low in sacks. The secondary is lousy, and Dunta Robinson still hasn't quite found his mojo since missing much of last year with an ACL injury. Linebacker is the only position where the Houston defense can match the Houston offense, thanks to the 2006 and (almost guaranteed) 2009 Defensive Rookies of the Year.

Posted by: Aaron Schatz on 10 Nov 2009

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ext...ng-rookie-year

[Pollardized]

Cushing is a beast. Not sure if this has been posted before but it's worth watching a second time if so...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxMsC3ny8g

[HJam72]

Originally Posted by jppaul

Good read from Football Outsiders:

10 Nov 2009
Brian Cushing, Rookie of the Year

The Houston defense has a lot of problems. The pass rush gets near the quarterback, but can't take him down -- the Texans are high in hits and low in sacks. The secondary is lousy, and Dunta Robinson still hasn't quite found his mojo since missing much of last year with an ACL injury. Linebacker is the only position where the Houston defense can match the Houston offense, thanks to the 2006 and (almost guaranteed) 2009 Defensive Rookies of the Year.

Posted by: Aaron Schatz on 10 Nov 2009

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ext...ng-rookie-year

Not really that bad anymore, is it? Less than stellar--yes, definitely, but lousy?

[BigBull17]

Originally Posted by HJam72

Not really that bad anymore, is it? Less than stellar--yes, definitely, but lousy?

They are good at what they do. Keep everything in front of them, and knock the ******* out of the guy with the ball. There really is no YAC against us anymore.

[thunderkyss]

Remember when all Cushing wanted was to be the first LB from USC off the board?

He's also the first to go to the Pro Bowl, & he'll most likely be the only one to win DROTY, if not ROTY.

[Brisco_County]

Originally Posted by thunderkyss

Remember when all Cushing wanted was to be the first LB from USC off the board?

He's also the first to go to the Pro Bowl, & he'll most likely be the only one to win DROTY, if not ROTY.

I have this nightmare where he gets busted for steroids. Not that I suspect it, but it's still a scary thought.

[Hardcore Texan]

Originally Posted by Pollardized

Cushing is a beast. Not sure if this has been posted before but it's worth watching a second time if so...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxMsC3ny8g

I can't get this link to work.

[JMacaroni]

Originally Posted by Brisco_County

I have this nightmare where he gets busted for steroids. Not that I suspect it, but it's still a scary thought.

Indeed it is, especially with the whole Balco thing in the same area. I give him the benifit of the doubt. The guy is the ****.

[Bryan145]

Yeah him or Clay Matthews are two strong contenders for it but I hope Brian gets it.

[Pollardized]

Originally Posted by Hardcore Texan

I can't get this link to work.

Hmmm... I just watched it. Try it again...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcxMsC3ny8g

[Pollardized]

Cush could play for the Rockets too.... Already looks better than Ariza...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n9NVjpyg0w

[Pollardized]

Unreal.. this video shows him doing a 47" seated box jump while wearing a 20lb vest..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH29N...eature=related

[TexansFanatic]

Originally Posted by Pollardized

Unreal.. this video shows him doing a 47" seated box jump while wearing a 20lb vest..


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TH29N...eature=related

THAT is pretty freaking impressive. Looks like a frog.

[b0ng]

Others that could win:

Brian Orakpo : 11 sacks
Clay Matthews : 10 sacks
Jairus Byrd : 9 INT's

Some people are hardcore supporters of these guys due to those sacks.

[Bryan145]

If Cushing Doesn't get it the secondary person I would want it to be is Matthews he is also pretty deserving of it as well. I just hope they can beat out the Vikings in the playoffs if they do play them.