Just stay away from USC defense

[bs58]

Am I the only one that does not want Cushing. Steroids and injury problems. C'mon, how can we even consider this guy. I for one have a bad feeling about our RB position. Slaton could go down and them where are we? More offense, ball control, less time the other team has the ball. That is one way to protect our defense. Just my opinion.

[zanth91]

I think more people here want Matthews more than Cushing.

[GoldenHolden]

I have bounced around between Cush and Matthews. I know I am going against the board here but the more I think about it, the more I want Cushing with our first round pick. I know about the steroids rumors and I wouldn't be suprised if they were true at some point in his career but honestly I would bet around half of the prospects coming out this year have done roids at some point in their football careers whether it be in high school or college. If he failed a test at the combine then disregard this post though. His injuries were legit and he was healthy last season so I am gonna assume he isn't injury prone.

My reason for liking him is from looking at his tape. Aside from Curry, he is by far the best OLB against the run in this draft. He brings the wood when he hits. He also has experience in the pass rush from his days playing the elephant position early on at USC. His weakness will be in coverage but I don't think he is bad at coverage, I just don't think he is great at it. I want the Texans to both improve their pass rush and run defense and I think he will contribute more to those areas than Matthews will. I also like the fact that he played considerable time since his freshman year on defense and Matthews doesn't have that on his resume.

Just my .02.

[HuttoKarl]

I heard on Austin radio yesterday that if you want a player who isn't soft, look to the University of Texas. Apparently (and I'm trying to get the actual numbers) Texas has had twice the all-pro/pro-bowl players that Oklahoma or USC has had from 2000-2006. Maybe Matthews or Cushing aren't the way to go....Roy Miller in the third, anyone? Also...Texas has had twice the number of 3 year starters (drafted in rounds 1-3, I believe) in the NFL than USC in the same period.

Honestly...after getting June and Davis, LB isn't as much a priority anymore and we can probably find some good talent in another round and sure up the Defensive backfield in the first.

[bs58]

If it was only steroids on Cushing, maybe, but also injury problems. Both steroids and injuries NO WAY. Matthews , just not sold on him. Over acheived in college and over hyped because USC. I want somebody with some upside. Matthews at peak already. How important is the running game in the Texans success? I still think we are taking Slaton as a given for the season. If we use him the entire season I think we are asking for injury problems. Hope I am wrong.

[HuttoKarl]

If it was only steroids on Cushing, maybe, but also injury problems. Both steroids and injuries NO WAY. Matthews , just not sold on him. Over acheived in college and over hyped because USC. I want somebody with some upside. Matthews at peak already. How important is the running game in the Texans success? I still think we are taking Slaton as a given for the season. If we use him the entire season I think we are asking for injury problems. Hope I am wrong.

If we draft a RB, it won't be in the first. No way we draft a guy to be a 10-15 carry guy and pay him first round money. There are plenty of RB's who fit the bill in the second and third round...probably even a 4th round gem out there.

The closer we get to the draft, the more I think we'll go with a defensive back.

[GoldenHolden]

I heard on Austin radio yesterday that if you want a player who isn't soft, look to the University of Texas. Apparently (and I'm trying to get the actual numbers) Texas has had twice the all-pro/pro-bowl players that Oklahoma or USC has had from 2000-2006. Maybe Matthews or Cushing aren't the way to go....Roy Miller in the third, anyone? Also...Texas has had twice the number of 3 year starters (drafted in rounds 1-3, I believe) in the NFL than USC in the same period.

Honestly...after getting June and Davis, LB isn't as much a priority anymore and we can probably find some good talent in another round and sure up the Defensive backfield in the first.

HAha you heard on a AUSTIN radio show that UT players are tough. What a joke, of course they say that, it is their home team. I can't really remember a UT first round defensive player that has panned out in recent history. Actually I can't think of a UT offensive player that has done anything in the last few years. Atleast USC has Keith Rivers and Ellis from last season. Polamalu wasn't too long ago either.

I wouldn't mind Roy Miller in like the 4th or 5th but there really aren't any impressive DT's after Raji and Jerry. I am also not too high on UT DT's after seeing how little Okam has done.

[HuttoKarl]

HAha you heard on a AUSTIN radio show that UT players are tough. What a joke, of course they say that, it is their home team. I can't really remember a UT first round defensive player that has panned out in recent history. Actually I can't think of a UT offensive player that has done anything in the last few years. Atleast USC has Keith Rivers and Ellis from last season. Polamalu wasn't too long ago either.

I wouldn't mind Roy Miller in like the 4th or 5th but there really aren't any impressive DT's after Raji and Jerry. I am also not too high on UT DT's after seeing how little Okam has done.



From 2000-2008, Oklahoma players drafted - 36 players. 7 in last two years. We'll take out the past two years because its too soon to label anyone (like Okam) quite yet.

2000-2006 11 of 29 Sooners became multiyear starters - 38%. 77% (17 of 22) Longhorns drafted in that window are multiyear starters.

10 longhorns got major second deals...4 Sooners did.

8 all pro/probowlers from that period from Texas...4 for the Sooners.


VS USC????

multiyear starters from USC in that period? Only 9 of 32 (28%).
huge second deals? 10 for Texas of 22. 4 from USC.
probowl/allpro Trojans? Texas - 8, USC - 3 (palmer, palomalu, tutupu...out of 32)


Those are FACTS. If the Longhorns are soft, then USC is a fluffy little cotton ball. Don't buy into the Soft Longhorn crap you hear the idiots like Kiper and McShay talking about. It's just not true. Even Chris Simms who I don't think is "hard" played without a spleen...that's not soft.

Scaife, Rogers, Hampton, Vasher, Ced Griffin, Leonard Davis, Jammer, Dockery, Roy Williams to name a few.

[Texian]

From 2000-2008, Oklahoma players drafted - 36 players. 7 in last two years. We'll take out the past two years because its too soon to label anyone (like Okam) quite yet.

2000-2006 11 of 29 Sooners became multiyear starters - 38%. 77% (17 of 22) Longhorns drafted in that window are multiyear starters.

10 longhorns got major second deals...4 Sooners did.

8 all pro/probowlers from that period from Texas...4 for the Sooners.


VS USC????

multiyear starters from USC in that period? Only 9 of 32 (28%).
huge second deals? 10 for Texas of 22. 4 from USC.
probowl/allpro Trojans? Texas - 8, USC - 3 (palmer, palomalu, tutupu...out of 32)


Those are FACTS. If the Longhorns are soft, then USC is a fluffy little cotton ball. Don't buy into the Soft Longhorn crap you hear the idiots like Kiper and McShay talking about. It's just not true. Even Chris Simms who I don't think is "hard" played without a spleen...that's not soft.

Scaife, Rogers, Hampton, Vasher, Ced Griffin, Leonard Davis, Jammer, Dockery, Roy Williams to name a few.

They actually hate it when you give them the facts and call their bull. They would much rather be able to make stuff up as they go along. Anything that will support their way of thinking at the time. Facts what facts, I ain't got time to be looking up any stinking facts.

[HuttoKarl]

They actually hate it when you give them the facts and call their bull. They would much rather be able to make stuff up as they go along. Anything that will support their way of thinking at the time. Facts what facts, I ain't got time to be looking up any stinking facts.

I don't have time to look them up either...thankfully, Geoff Ketchum at Orangebloods.com and ESPN Austin and Rivals.com had some time on his hands to dispel a myth for me.

:)

[jxjx999]

I think more people here want Matthews more than Cushing.

I like Cushing, Mike Mayock's analysis said it best, " Cushing is the prototype SAM linebacker, while Matthews is a great special teams player and a good nickel Backer." Clay may be far better in coverage, but we are talking Linebacker here. Punch the running backs in the mouth, preferably behind the line of scrimmage, and cover tight ends, and zones. Cushing is not a liability in coverage he i just not as smooth as Clay. Not many Linebackers are.

[GoldenHolden]

From 2000-2008, Oklahoma players drafted - 36 players. 7 in last two years. We'll take out the past two years because its too soon to label anyone (like Okam) quite yet.

2000-2006 11 of 29 Sooners became multiyear starters - 38%. 77% (17 of 22) Longhorns drafted in that window are multiyear starters.

10 longhorns got major second deals...4 Sooners did.

8 all pro/probowlers from that period from Texas...4 for the Sooners.


VS USC????

multiyear starters from USC in that period? Only 9 of 32 (28%).
huge second deals? 10 for Texas of 22. 4 from USC.
probowl/allpro Trojans? Texas - 8, USC - 3 (palmer, palomalu, tutupu...out of 32)


Those are FACTS. If the Longhorns are soft, then USC is a fluffy little cotton ball. Don't buy into the Soft Longhorn crap you hear the idiots like Kiper and McShay talking about. It's just not true. Even Chris Simms who I don't think is "hard" played without a spleen...that's not soft.

Scaife, Rogers, Hampton, Vasher, Ced Griffin, Leonard Davis, Jammer, Dockery, Roy Williams to name a few.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6391546.html

[HuttoKarl]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/6391546.html

Compare UT with other schools and only Miami has produced better from 2000-2006. Facts don't lie.


http://texas.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=938753

USC had 3 probowl/allpro players drafted in that period. Texas had seven. More than twice as many with less total Longhorns drafted.