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How about Cushing?

Mr teX

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
Just want to see you guys' thoughts on his play thus far. I think he's looked damn good in this new scheme & it bodes well that wade has chosen him as the designated MLB to stay on the field in passing situations. The dude is making plays even though some will say he hasn't b/c its not reflective in his stat line.

I'm also a bit relieved that he seems to have bounced back from the steriod crap from last year.
 
He's like most of them. Fitting into his new role well and getting better weekly. There are going to be setbacks and there are going to be mistakes but we're watching an improving defense. The best play out of this unit is yet to come (still). Cushing is looking as good as anyone else out there right now except for maybe Mario & ANTONIO (my bad, early not enough coffee yet) Smith, those two are tearing it up.

I'm gonna say by the end of the year Cushing is going to be right there with them.

And look for big things from Daniel Owen too!
 
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Hervoyel said:
He's like most of them. Fitting into his new role well and getting better weekly. There are going to be setbacks and there are going to be mistakes but we're watching an improving defense. The best play out of this unit is yet to come (still). Cushing is looking as good as anyone else out there right now except for maybe Mario & Antoine Smith, those two are tearing it up.

I'm gonna say by the end of the year Cushing is going to be right there with them.
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Is he related to Daniel Owen? :boogie:
 
I like Cushing's attitude. Hit hits a guy and wraps him up like a mad dog. We need that kind of fire from our LBs. He's got a chip on his shoulder from last year and all the grief his defense got in the off-season. That kind of 'prove it' attitude can really light a fire in a defense.
 
Double Barrel said:
I like Cushing's attitude. Hit hits a guy and wraps him up like a mad dog. We need that kind of fire from our LBs. He's got a chip on his shoulder from last year and all the grief his defense got in the off-season. That kind of 'prove it' attitude can really light a fire in a defense.
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I agree completley. One of the things I've noticed from Cushing is that when he wraps a guy up, he pulls him backwards towards the LOS. A lot of guys just go for the big hit. Cushing fights for every single yard
 
Maybe we should inform him of a player on every team we play this year said he was "juiced out of his mind"?

I said it in another thread, but I thought Cushing had a great game. Dude was everywhere.
 
The stats do not have ANY indication of how awesome he is playing.
The stats say he only has six tackles, but i thought he was in on like 12 or 13...
I dont really like the whole "tackles" stat because it's so up to whoever is counting it to count it as a tackle or a tackle assist or whatever.
Plus, if the player is very good, teams wont even run towards him or run the ball, so he technically wont get as many tackles. Its a nearly meaningless stat if you ask me. But anyways, to get back on topic... yeah, he was an animal out there today.
:clap:
 
Cushing has definitely been beasting lately! Glad to see him starting to make more visible impact plays!
 
cushing has been simply amazing most of the season and appears to be getting better in every aspect of his game each week. obviously a little biased, but he's easily one of the most complete linebackers in the NFL in my opinion.
 
BEAST!!! Makes you think that his lack of productivity last year wasn't the idea that he was off the 'roids, but rather there was some truth to the fact that he missed 4 games AND got moved to a position which didn't suit him after Demeco's loss...
 
He's calling the plays. He's entrenched as the defacto captain. DeMeco has been a great bridge player in Texans history. Unfortunately, his end as starter is nigh.
 
Cush is killing it this year... I agree with the descriptions of "beastly", and that he's "an animal" etc... I just think the fella's dialed in...
 
Honestly I thought moving Cushing to MLB in the 3-4 was going to limit his playmaking ability but I couldn't have been more wrong. He's all over the place, and they're finding ways to make him an effective pass rusher. Not to mention he seems like a team leader. Great player.
 
One thing that really worries me about Cushing is how he was flirting with Arian on the sideline... anyone see this? Looked like he was blowing on his neck and whispering sweet nothings to him and stuff... really disturbing to me... don't mix business with pleasure, man...
 
beerlover said:
Cushing is back in form making plays all over the field. But where is DeMeco?
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anybody know what is going on with DeMeco? I'm repeating question I know, but I didn't see him on the field or hear anything being reported. I hope everything is alright?
 
drunkcookie said:
One thing that really worries me about Cushing is how he was flirting with Arian on the sideline... anyone see this? Looked like he was blowing on his neck and whispering sweet nothings to him and stuff... really disturbing to me... don't mix business with pleasure, man...
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Hilarious man. I don't give a crap if they were flirting. This victory feels sooo good. lol Funny post.
 
beerlover said:
anybody know what is going on with DeMeco? I'm repeating question I know, but I didn't see him on the field or hear anything being reported. I hope everything is alright?
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I'm with you. Defense is performing so I'm being quiet, but paging DeMeco....Dr. Defense.....how are you?
 
kingh99 said:
He's calling the plays. He's entrenched as the defacto captain. DeMeco has been a great bridge player in Texans history. Unfortunately, his end as starter is nigh.
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He's still a starter though. I really don't see anyone challenging DeMeco for his spot and he has had his moments this year but far too few. Perhaps he's just a much better 4-3 MLB though or perhaps that elbow has made him less aggressive.
 
beerlover said:
anybody know what is going on with DeMeco? I'm repeating question I know, but I didn't see him on the field or hear anything being reported. I hope everything is alright?
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he was out there though...jared cook's only reception was on him...its like someone just said, it appears there aren't alot on opportunities for him & his limited athleticism in this system.
 
fiasco west said:
He's still a starter though. I really don't see anyone challenging DeMeco for his spot and he has had his moments this year but far too few. Perhaps he's just a much better 4-3 MLB though or perhaps that elbow has made him less aggressive.
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demeco's a great MLB. he's very cerebral and is a king of both gap control and lateral containment. his skillset however (especially with the injuries), doesnt fit wade's defense as far as i can tell. he cant cover zone or man or backfield, he cant consistently beat individual blocks, and has been relegated to an insanely expensive jay foreman - playing behind the studs or caught in the wash up front. demeco is very talented and will be much better once he's 100%, but IMO we've moved on.

cushing is our defensive captain at ILB and if not for a monster contract, we'd be better off finding a ryans' replacement in the draft. i am worried that we're giving major money to a player that is probably replaceable. like i said last week, demeco will probably be on the block before long.
 
cushing had knee surgery in january to repair something that's been bothering him since college iirc; also i'm pretty sure he said he's finally fully healthy for the first time in years earlier this season too.

either way, he's been a stud this season and i hope he keeps it up
 
beerlover said:
anybody know what is going on with DeMeco? I'm repeating question I know, but I didn't see him on the field or hear anything being reported. I hope everything is alright?
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He played. I saw him coming up in gang tackling situations. But he didn't ring up any stats though. Also, Sharpton was in for a few plays.

But then, the Tacks went 3 & out so many times our leading tackler was Cushing with 6 and Reed with 4. A bunch of guys had 3. On the other side, the Tacks leading tacklers had 12, 11, and 10 tackles. We kept them on the field quite a bit.
 
Scooter said:
demeco's a great MLB. he's very cerebral and is a king of both gap control and lateral containment. his skillset however (especially with the injuries), doesnt fit wade's defense as far as i can tell. he cant cover zone or man or backfield, he cant consistently beat individual blocks, and has been relegated to an insanely expensive jay foreman - playing behind the studs or caught in the wash up front. demeco is very talented and will be much better once he's 100%, but IMO we've moved on.

cushing is our defensive captain at ILB and if not for a monster contract, we'd be better off finding a ryans' replacement in the draft. i am worried that we're giving major money to a player that is probably replaceable. like i said last week, demeco will probably be on the block before long.
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I agree that Meco looks very tradeable this season. The only reason I wouldn't though is because I'd rather the team hang onto him until they have a guy ready to step into that spot. Not do the whole Dunta thing again (although Dunta forced himself out) and get rid of a guy and hope to find his replacement quickly. I wouldn't be against drafting a ILB in the 2nd or 3rd round if the guy is a stud.

ObsiWan said:
He played. I saw him coming up in gang tackling situations. But he didn't ring up any stats though. Also, Sharpton was in for a few plays.

But then, the Tacks went 3 & out so many times our leading tackler was Cushing with 6 and Reed with 4. A bunch of guys had 3. On the other side, the Tacks leading tacklers had 12, 11, and 10 tackles. We kept them on the field quite a bit.
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Yeah. Someone should make a quality tackle stat. Tackles after so many yards are useless...Also the Texans were on the field more offensively while our defense seemingly forced the Titans to punt after 3-5 plays every drive. So not many tackling opportunities.

But just watching Cushing you can tell the difference in just how he walks like he's the alpha dog out there.
 
drunkcookie said:
One thing that really worries me about Cushing is how he was flirting with Arian on the sideline... anyone see this? Looked like he was blowing on his neck and whispering sweet nothings to him and stuff... really disturbing to me... don't mix business with pleasure, man...
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Whatever they are doing on the side is working... just turn your head. :laughjump:
 
it's hard to suggest putting demeco on the block regardless of who will or might replace him, because he is very talented. however i think we have a competant player already in sharpton and backup ILB's are one of the more ample veteran free agent positions.

more than anything, my position is based on salary. if we can free up money through trade, we can find a similar player for a fraction of the cost. if it'll cost us, there's nothing wrong with paying a good player for doing his job.
 
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Scooter said:
more than anything, my position is based on salary. if we can free up money through trade, we can find a similar player for a fraction of the cost. if it'll cost us, there's nothing wrong with paying a good player for doing his job.
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I'd like to see someone show a glimpse that they need to stay on the field when we go into our nickel package. Right now, I'm not seeing that guy.

I think Demeco is still recovering from his ankle & will start earning that money before the season is out.

But 'meco don't look tradeable (to me) until we have someone who can take his place.
 
Cushing looks like DROY Cushing again. And not at all like last year Cushing. Demeco looks like a guy who is being coached by someone who knows that he's not a coverage LBer. Base packages, run stopping and containing plays. Occassionally gets free up the middle on a blitz. That's Demeco's game now, especially on the recovery road. Gotta say the LBers are impressing me this year.
 
Cushing has been back in "beast mode" and it's been refreshing. I've thought that maybe he was back on roids, but who knows. Personally, I don't care......just don't get caught! I did see earlier on NBC's Football Night in America, that the NFL will not be testing for HGH without the Union's permission. I've never messed with HGH, so I don't know if it would effect your athletic aggression the same way that anabolics like testosterone would.

Either way, he's playing at a Pro Bowl level IMHO. Hopefully he can keep it up.
 
thunderkyss said:
I'd like to see someone show a glimpse that they need to stay on the field when we go into our nickel package. Right now, I'm not seeing that guy.

I think Demeco is still recovering from his ankle & will start earning that money before the season is out.

But 'meco don't look tradeable (to me) until we have someone who can take his place.
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that's where demeco is replacable IMO. he's not a 3 down linebacker in our system, an upgrade would be someone who stays on the field in both run and passing situations. demeco is playing behind cushing on rush downs ... not exactly a favorable spot for someone who comes off the field on passing downs while on a 48+ million dollar contract.

as is, we could fill his early down role with more run oriented guys like sharpton or dobbins or a veteran free agent, and draft a more athletic cover linebacker to come in on 3rd downs and passing situations. that would be a much cheaper status quo. an upgrade would be a 2nd or 3rd rounder who is able to play alongside cushing and be a 3 down linebacker.
 
I love Cushings attitude....he is bringing it......Phillips calls him a "holy terror"....

Mr. Crushing is back and better than ever.......sure have missed him....its a joy watching him play......never get tired of his relentess pursuit on each play.....plays like a man possessed.....

He has picked up this new system and is thriving very well.......
I think he makes the pro bowl for sure......
 
TimeKiller said:
Cushing looks like DROY Cushing again. And not at all like last year Cushing. Demeco looks like a guy who is being coached by someone who knows that he's not a coverage LBer. Base packages, run stopping and containing plays. Occassionally gets free up the middle on a blitz. That's Demeco's game now, especially on the recovery road. Gotta say the LBers are impressing me this year.
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He looks better than his DROY form IMO...
 
TimeKiller said:
Cushing looks like DROY Cushing again. And not at all like last year Cushing. Demeco looks like a guy who is being coached by someone who knows that he's not a coverage LBer. Base packages, run stopping and containing plays. Occassionally gets free up the middle on a blitz. That's Demeco's game now, especially on the recovery road. Gotta say the LBers are impressing me this year.
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i'm probably in the minority, but i thought cushing was actually decent last season - all things considered. all-pro he wasnt, and certainly lost at times, but between missing 4 games and then switching positions twice i thought he was no less than solid.
 
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Cushing is a straight up animal. Easily the brightest spot of the team overall this season. Man....can't say enough.
 
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