Wake Forest's Curry heads deep draft for linebackers
As defenses look for more ways to confuse and clobber quarterbacks, NFL teams search for versatility at linebacker.
There will be plenty of that in the 2009 draft, with perhaps a half dozen outside linebackers expected to be selected by the middle of the second round, according to ratings by NFLDraftScout.com.
The top-rated player overall is Wake Forest's Aaron Curry, a 6-2, 254-pounder who runs like a deer, hits like a truck and plays with sixth sense-type instincts.
Next there is talented 6-3, 243-pound Brian Cushing of Southern California, which has three highly rated linebackers in the draft, including Clay Matthews and inside power man Rey Maualuga, the top-ranked inside linebacker.
One of the biggest names is James Laurinaitis, the latest in a long line of Ohio State linebacking stars. As with many of his Buckeyes predecessors, Laurinaitis was extremely productive in college but was less than scintillating in workouts at the scouting combine last month.
A closer look at the top linebackers in this year's draft (school, height and weight listed; *indicates underclassman).
Outside linebackers
1. Aaron Curry, Wake Forest, 6-2, 254: He's a big, tough, athletic player who knows himself well. "I can come in instantly and make an impact on anybody's defense,"
Curry said at the combine. "And (with) my versatility as a linebacker to be able to play in the 3-4, inside or outside, or 4-3, inside or outside, you just can't go wrong."
Curry uses strength, long arms and powerful hands to manhandle blockers and ballcarriers while making more than his share of plays behind the line of scrimmage. Although he appears tight changing directions, he can drop into pass coverage and reacts well to the ball in the air, evidenced in 2007 when he returned three interceptions for touchdowns. His athleticism was on display at the combine, where his best 40-yard time was 4.52 seconds and he had a 37-inch vertical jump.
2. Brian Cushing, Southern California, 6-3, 243: By the time Cushing flew through the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.68 seconds and leaped 35 inches in the vertical jump at the combine, scouts weren't surprised. His ability was obvious at USC and in Senior Bowl workouts in Mobile, Ala., where he appeared to be the best of the Trojans' trio of outstanding linebackers. Cushing played almost every linebacker spot in 2006 with the Trojans beset by injuries. That helped improve his versatility, showing he can be left in coverage on tight ends and some backs, to blitz or to read, react and flow to the point of attack. He has a history of knee and ankle problems, but scouts are no longer concerned about his shoulder after he hoisted 225 pounds 30 times at the combine.
3. Clay Matthews, Southern California, 6-3, 240: Determination and commitment ? with a possible tip of the hat to genetics ? finally paid off in 2008 for Matthews, who didn't become a full-time starter until three games into last season. He enters the draft with scouts buzzing about his potential after an impressive week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Matthews was a walk-on before being awarded a scholarship in 2006, based largely on great special-teams play, despite the fact his name was already legendary on campus. His father, Clay Jr., was a Trojan and an NFL Pro Bowler at linebacker; his uncle, Bruce, came from USC and became a Hall of Fame tackle with the NFL's Houston Oilers-Tennessee Titans; his grandfather, Clay Sr., was with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.
4. *Aaron Maybin, Penn State, 6-4, 249: He decided to leave school after an excellent redshirt sophomore season, but NFL teams aren't sure where he fits in defensively. In 2008, Maybin was one of college football's premier pass rushers, ranking fourth in the nation with 12 sacks and sixth with 20 tackles for loss. A tenacious defender with excellent quickness and speed, Maybin recorded at least one tackle for a loss in all 13 games and forced three fumbles, two that resulted in Nittany Lions touchdowns. He might not be agile enough to play outside linebacker and needs a lot more bulk to play defensive end at the next level. His 40-yard time at the combine was a disappointing 4.78 seconds.
5. Larry English, Northern Illinois, 6-2, 255: His pass-rushing skills as a defensive end earned English Mid-American Conference defensive player of the year honors the last two years. But he is having mixed results as he tries to fit in as an outside linebacker, where NFL scouts project him. They liked his quickness and aggressiveness at the Senior Bowl practices, and he looked explosive at the combine with a vertical jump of 36 inches. But his best 40-yard time was 4.82 seconds, and he was less than fluid in some of the linebacker drills. English relied mainly on straight-line speed to total 16 tackles for loss and a dozen sacks in 2007 and then added 17 tackles for loss and 11 sacks last year.
6. Connor Barwin, Cincinnati, 6-4, 256: Although he was a decent player in college, much of it spent catching passes at tight end, he became an excellent pro prospect by catching quarterbacks as a defensive end, where he was moved last year. He shocked scouts at his new position, where his 2008 statistics included 14? tackles for loss, 11 sacks and six pass breakups. He already shows the basic skills and instincts to be a force as a linebacker. Because he lacks the size desired for NFL defensive ends, he is expected to move to outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment, especially after showing amazing athleticism at the combine, where his best 40 time was 4.59 seconds and he soared 40? inches in the vertical jump.
7. Clint Sintim, Virginia, 6-3, 256: He seems to be a player who can be productive, but he might have to move to inside linebacker to minimize his liabilities. Sintim struggled in Senior Bowl practices as an outside linebacker, where his explosion and speed are overshadowed by his inability to play in space. In college, he started on the outside in 37 consecutive games and was most effective attacking the backfield. He collected nine sacks in 2007 and 11 in 2008 and might be productive as a strict rush linebacker on the outside.
8. Marcus Freeman, Ohio State, 6-1, 239: After laboring in the shadow of better-known teammates such as James Laurinaitis in college, Freeman demanded some attention at the combine with one of the best workouts of any linebacker. He sent scouts scurrying back to watch more game films after he flew through 40 yards in 4.67 seconds, leaped 37 inches in the vertical jump and benched 225 pounds 30 times. On video, scouts will see that when Freeman wasn't struggling with leg injuries he actually outproduced Laurinaitis the last two seasons in terms of solo tackles, 105-102.
9. Tyrone McKenzie, South Florida, 6-2, 243: This total package is better than the sum of the parts. He isn't as big, strong or fast as scouts would like but manages to be productive. He transferred twice, moving from Michigan State to Iowa State before landing at South Florida. He totaled 129 tackles for the Cyclones in 2006, then added 114 in 2007 and 116 last year for the Bulls. He had an impressive Senior Bowl game, leading the North with six solo tackles and an assist. McKenzie pulled his right hamstring during the second 40-yard run at the combine and settled for a disappointing best time of 4.73.
10. Cody Brown, Connecticut, 6-2, 242: An athletic and productive defensive end in college, Brown will move to linebacker for some NFL team. He collected 32 combined tackles for loss the last two seasons. Last year, he had 10 sacks and four forced fumbles. Scouts liked the way he handled himself as a defensive end during Senior Bowl practices, but he is not big enough for end in the pros. Brown has unusually long arms (34? inches) and big hands (101/8 inches) and needs to learn how to use them for leverage.
Inside linebackers
1. Rey Maualuga, Southern California, 6-2, 249: He plays with the aggressiveness one should expect from a classic inside linebacker, and then some. Maualuga is a menace who manages to get into more than his share of big plays, even on passes. His most obvious negative seems to be overpursuing, and he will need to play with more discipline in the NFL. That includes off the field, where he has been in trouble more than once. Maualuga impressed scouts with his ability to rush the passer during Senior Bowl drills. Although he had no sacks as a senior, he did collect six as a junior.
2. James Laurinaitis, Ohio State, 6-2, 244: Can Laurinaitis break a streak of disappointment at the NFL level by standout Ohio State linebackers? He is a three-time All-American who won the Bronko Nagurski Award as the top defensive player in the nation in 2006 and added another Nagurski Award plus the Dick Butkus Award as top linebacker in 2007. Last year, he netted the Lott Trophy as best all-around defensive player. But he was clocked at 4.78 in 40 yards at the combine, reminding everybody that Chris Spielman was the last star inside linebacker from Ohio State to star in the NFL. Since then, Craig Powell, Andy Katzenmoyer, A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter have been first-round disappointments. Laurinaitis' father was a popular pro wrestler in the 1980s and 1990s known as "Animal."
3. Darry Beckwith, LSU, 6-0, 242: A classic, old-fashioned inside linebacker who relies on instinct and toughness more than great athleticism. Beckwith's numbers were down while he played in 10 games last year, finishing with 51 tackles and one for loss. He understands his place and responsibilities in the defensive scheme and is willing and able to take on blockers but sometimes has a little trouble shedding them quickly. He ran the 40 in 4.75 seconds at the combine but was able to manage a 26?-inch vertical jump. Teams are checking his medical reports closely because he missed games in each of the last three years with knee injuries.
4. Dannell Ellerbe, Georgia, 6-1, 236: Injuries have hampered Ellerbe recently as he struggled through 2008 with a sprained knee and wasn't able to do a full workout at the combine because of a torn chest muscle. He is a bit undersized for the position. He relies on his athleticism and aggressiveness to beat blockers to the ballcarrier but struggles disengaging from blocks. In 2007, he collected 93 tackles (12 for loss) while starting at each of the three linebacker positions. But his 2008 season was a disappointment because of the knee sprain, and he finished with 33 tackles.
5. *Gerald McRath, Southern Mississippi, 6-3, 231: He is undersized, looks more like a strong safety than a middle linebacker and seems to run around people rather than take them on. But he certainly has the speed to make that tactic work, as evidence by a blistering time of 4.49 seconds in 40 yards at the combine. McRath earned his second consecutive first-team all-Conference USA selection in 2008, finishing with 137 tackles (78 solo), giving him a career total of 386 tackles (32 for loss) and 7? sacks.
6. Scott McKillop, Pittsburgh, 6-1, 244: McKillop was the 2008 Big East defensive player of the year and twice a unanimous first-team all-Big East linebacker who racked up 288 tackles and seven sacks the last two seasons. He showed potential as a true freshman, stepping in for injured star H.B. Blades to make 13 tackles against West Virginia. He is a productive, instinctive player who sorts through the traffic well to get to the ballcarrier and has a sense of how and when to slide through oncoming blockers. Although his best 40-yard time at the combine was 4.79 seconds, he showed he is explosive by bursting through 10 yards in 1.59 seconds.
7. Jason Brinkley, South Carolina, 6-2, 252: He made an immediate and dramatic impact in 2006 after transferring from Georgia Military College. He built his reputation on being an enforcer who thumped his way to 107 tackles in 2006. He was sidelined by a knee injury after four games in 2007 but seemed to remake himself last year, dropping almost 20 pounds and improving his speed. At the combine, Brinkley sped through 40 yards in 4.67 seconds, leaped 35? inches in the vertical jump and showed that he is plenty strong by benching 225 pounds 26 times. He has the strength to be a force inside and the speed to rush off the edge.
8. Jason Phillips, TCU, 6-1, 239: Although not the kind of linebacker who overpowers opponents, Phillips is instinctive, persistent and consistent. He totaled 315 career tackles and three interceptions and was the only player in Mountain West Conference history to earn first- or second-team all-conference honors in four consecutive seasons. Scouts were impressed when he was clocked in 4.60 seconds for 40 yards at the combine. However, Phillips has a torn meniscus in his left knee, an injury he believes he suffered at the combine. He may need three months to rehabilitate the joint but should be ready for training camp.
9. Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic, 6-1, 242: An intense, physical three-year starter who made 154 tackles (84 solo) in 2008 when he earned first-team all-Sun Belt honors for the second consecutive year. He had 131 tackles in 2007. His 13 tackles in the 2008 Motor City Bowl against Central Michigan demanded attention from scouts. Joseph redshirted at Boston College in 2004, then transferred home to help his mother with finances. At his Feb. 26 pro day, Joseph had a best time of 4.83 seconds in the 40.
10. Josh Mauga, Nevada, 6-2, 243: He was never named to an all-conference team, but Mauga was versatile enough to make plays regardless of position or scheme. He played outside in the 3-4 early in his career and at both the middle and strongside positions in the 4-3 as a senior. He was the Western Athletic Conference leader in tackles (11.7 a game) through the first seven games of the 2007 season, but a knee injury kept him out until he posted 11 tackles in Nevada's bowl loss to New Mexico. Last season, Mauga played through a torn chest muscle, managing 54 tackles and 3? sacks. Because of the injury, he did not work out at the combine.
