Ditto, his lone strength last year was blitzing. Too slow for the dangerous TEs, too hesitant to stop the run (frozen by RBs on many occasions), while he and Clay supposedly shared rush OLB ("elephant") duties at USC.
I just don't understand how they could watch what Clay Matthews did this year and not put Cushing (who is bigger, stronger, and faster) in the exact same position
Probably depends on what we get at 11. If we get Ayers or Von Miller, he and Barwin are your OLB's. If not, maybe they put Cushing out there and go with Sharpton or some newcomer inside with DeMeco.
From ESPN: Reggie Herring coached linebackers for the Houston Texans under Dom Capers in 2002 and 2003. Now newly hired Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips has brought Herring back to Houston in the same position he held before, in hopes of turning around one of the NFL's worst defenses. Herring talked to Nick Scurfield of the Texans' website about his plans for his new players, and how they'll fit in a 3-4 look. First step: moving Brian Cushing to strongside inside linebacker. Cushing spent most of 2010 at middle linebacker in a 4-3 filling in for the injured DeMeco Ryans, and was mostly invisible. He was much more impactful as an outside linebacker in 2009, when he was the league's defensive rookie of the year. However, in the 3-4, the outside linebackers are primarily pass rushers. The strongside inside backer is the position in the 3-4 closest to what Cushing played as a rookie. "We've got to take advantage of what we see in Brian Cushing as a tremendous anchor on the tight end side as far as securing the box physically in the run game," Herring said, "and then using him in our package to pressure and blitz him on the inside." He noted that Bradie James had eight sacks in one season playing the same position under Herring with the Dallas Cowboys. With Cushing and Ryans manning the inside, who handles the outside? Herring says Connor Barwin and Jesse Nading will be first up, but admits the Texans need to upgrade: "Between the draft and free agency, we hope to fill out some pieces here of the puzzle that are real important to this defense, and that's the pass rush on the outside." Herring also coached Mario Williams in college, and says while the plan is for Williams to stick at defensive end, he's open to moving Williams to linebacker if that's best for the defense.
i have no problem with him being in the middle because i still think he will have plenty of opportunities to blitz and make plays. Think of a bigger, stronger and more athletic Brooking.
Is that your PC, no-offense-to-the-Texans way of agreeing that 2010 Cushing showed no remarkable ability as an inside LB?
Because putting Cushing at WOLB (blitzing almost every down) takes away his run stopping and coverage skills from the defense. Get the most out of your guys. He can (and will) still blitz....but he's a lot more useful to us when he's strong side, spotting the TE release and being in position to cream the RBs.
Exactly, in fact, I think Jamie Sharper played OLB in Baltimore before coming here and playing ILB in our 3-4 under Capers. Also, taken from a site breaking down the Phillips 3-4 Also, here's a quote from an article on the emergence of Brady James in this scheme, I think inside, Cushing can play with his instincts more. Here's hoping for a bounce-back year from the now no-longer-overtraining one.
???? It's my way of saying these coaches haven't gotten any on-field experience with these guys yet and that even the best-laid plans could change when they do.
Oshiomogho Atogwe? [rquoter] Spoiler UPDATE: Where might Oshiomogho Atogwe be playing this fall? ESPN AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky says he can't see how the Houston Texans or Jacksonville Jaguars wouldn't go after the newly available safety. --- Oshiomogho Atogwe's numbers in 2010 -- 73 tackles, nine passes defensed, three interceptions, without missing a game -- were right in line with his career averages, and he's not yet 30 years old. So why did the St. Louis Rams release him? ESPN NFC West blogger Mike Sando says the decision was about money, pure and simple. He explains that due to the terms of Atogwe's contract, if the Rams wanted to retain the safety, they would have owed him an $8 million bonus on top of his $5 million salary. "The St. Louis Rams like free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe and value having him on their team," Sando says. "They do not view Atogwe as an elite game-changer in the secondary, however, and that is why they released him Friday." Sando adds that a return to St. Louis is still a realistic possibility. "Atogwe hit the market last offseason and still re-signed with the Rams," Sando says. "That could happen again until we hear otherwise." "The hope here, at least from the Rams' perspective, should be that Atogwe understands the situation and doesn't take business personally. That can happen if the Rams have been forthright with Atogwe throughout the process. But if there's a better opportunity for Atogwe elsewhere, he owes the Rams nothing."[/rquoter]
Ha, I replied to him on twitter with some reasons why I can see the Texans not giving him a look: Houston wont pay necessary money @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans, (#Jaguars) wouldn't give a very close look to safety O.J. Atogwe, released by Rams "We're going with who we got" -Kubiak @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans wouldn't give a very close look to safety O.J. Atogwe "We like our guys" - Kubiak @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans wouldn't give a very close look to safety O.J. Atogwe Atogwe not a former Bronco @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans, wouldn't give a very close look to safety O.J. Atogwe, released by Rams "Making change is tramautic" - Bob McNair @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans wouldn't give a very close look to safety O.J. Atogwe "We dont need much help.Wade said he can work with what we got" - Bob McNair @espn_afcsouth Can't see how #Texans wouldn't give a look to O.J. Atogwe Off-topic: 'Gene Wilson to KC?(from ESPN) Spoiler The Kansas City Chiefs are set at one safety position thanks to Eric Berry. The other safety? That's up in the air. Rookie Kendrick Lewis started 11 games (including the playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens), but Jon McGraw started five and played in 12. If McGraw leaves in free agency (he is an unrestricted free agent), where could the Chiefs look to replace him? ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson suggests they could go after Eugene Wilson, freshly released by the Houston Texans. As Williamson notes, Wilson has history with Chiefs GM Scott Pioli -- they won a pair of Super Bowls together with the New England Patriots.
completely agree, the downside of a 3-4 (even a hybrid) is the tendency to be liable on runs up the middle. Cushing CAN blitz, but his run stopping ability is probably his greatest asset, and would close the option for runs up the middle. . . We definitely need more options at OLB though. I like Barwin outside but no one else stands out.
Is that really the downside of a 3-4 or did you read that it was the downside of Wade Phillips and the 3-4 and applied it universally? Because I don't recall the good Raven 3-4 teams and the good Steeler 3-4 teams being vulnerable to the run up the middle.
I see what you are saying, I think I read that and applied it universally. Good point, you are correct after thinking about it. Regardless, I still feel that strongside inside LB is probably the best place for Cushing. . .
