In reality, Maualuga is somewhere in between where both guys are arguing, IMO. Maualuga probably won't go top 5 and he's a little tight in coverage. At the same time, I wouldn't say so much that his instincts are questionable but moreso his play can be undisciplined at times- he'll over-pursue on running plays and can get sucked-in on play action. At the same time, he can play sideline-to-sideline and might be the best linebacker in the draft when he's moving forward. Maualuga should go in the 8-16 range.
With his injury history, I wouldn't say that. But he's probably the most versatile linebacker in the draft, akin to Bobby Carpenter. The Jets have Pace, Thomas, and Gholston on the outside. The Jets mostly need another ILB to pair with Harris, and it should be noted Brian Cushing's worst game this year was when he had to slide to middle linebacker for a game(I believe it was against Arizona?) The team that drafts Cushing would be wise to draft him to play on the strongside.
At one time Cushing was known for his speed, injuries seem to have turned him into a power player. His draft position will be greatly affected by his 40 time. He came to SC as a 4.5 man, few people think he still has that speed.
Spikes has a chance of being the first linebacker drafted - he most likely won't fall to us. Sintim is not a safe pick for us - he would have to move inside on our team...I like him as a prospect though. I think he can make the transition, but he's not a "safe" pick.
Huh? Every pick technically isn't "safe," but Sintim is a LB in college that will play LB as a pro. Sure he might have to adjust to being a pro, but he's one of the most polished players in the draft and IMO one of the few who's almost a lock to be a solid player.
He's a 3-4 OUTSIDE linebacker on UVA. I think he'd have to make the transition from outside to inside if he was drafted by the Jets. I see him being a really good 4-3 strongside linebacker. From what I've seen, the guy can't really play man coverage...but what linebacker can these days.
It's still linebacker to me. Chris Long played 3-4 DE in college, now he's playing 4-3 DE and doing just fine there. I know he's an outside linebacker in the 3-4 in college. College 3-4 isn't a pro 3-4, and in Sintim's case I care more about the fact that he's been well coached to be a LBer and that he's athletic and stout enough to move inside and outside in a 3-4. I know he's an outside linebacker in the 3-4. And he's do it fairly quickly because he's been well coached.
Long proved at UVA that he could play starting with his hand in the ground. Sintim plays a lot of snaps with his hand on the ground too. I was just saying it's not a safe pick, because he'd have to make the transition. He's an awesome pass rusher, and he's a great prospect, but he might be a better fit in the 4-3.
Your first sentence sounds like you agree with me but somethin contradictory has to be thrown in. Long learned to play with his hand on the ground, and Sintim learned to play in space and as a pass rusher. What're you saying with this? I didn't see me deny that he could fit the 4-3, because fact is as a good LBer he fits either system OK. I don't even know where this is going anymore...so I'll just say sure.
