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Originally Posted by nunusguy
Does his size & strength justify that much of a premium over the other guys ? I dunno, but it's always been my understanding that the SAM is the least important position among the three 4-3 LB positions and a pick in the top half of the first round is a very steep price to pay for that position, unless the player is truly exceptional ?
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While I've seen a ton of USC games over the years I can't say I've really watched one with the intent of really scouting one player...even if I did it doesn't mean I know what to look for (but I did consider Rey-Rey to be a little over-hyped, very good for sure, but over-hyped). My big problem with taking a SAM in the first is that traditionally he will likely come off the field in nickel situations, and in today's NFL teams spend a lot of time in nickel packages. I wasn't crazy about taking a player who you know off the bat isn't going to be on the field for a big chunk of plays. Kubiak seems to think that Cush could be part of our nickel package though so that may not be an issue with him. I disagree that the SAM is the least important though. It's just the least glamorous, but if you don't have a good one it can make life very hard on the rest of the defense.
As much as pass defense is talked about we were just as bad against the run last year. I saw a stat the other day (can't remember where) that showed that the Texans were among the worst in the league at giving up yards on first down. Not all of that was due to run defense....but improved run defense means more obvious passing downs....and more opportunities for Mario to cut it loose and knock the QB silly. Having a true SAM with the size and strength to mix it up and hold the edge is the second best thing we could have done to help the run defense....first would have been a true hog at NT, but there weren't any of those available. From what I've heard the SAM in this scheme isn't necessarily going to be a guy that racks up a lot of tackles, but will help to force plays to the MLB and WILL. In other words people will probably call him a bust when he's not making a lot of tackles even though the defensive scheme isn't asking him too. That's also why I have a hard time scouting players. I'm not knowledgeable enough to know, or be able to spot, what a players responsibilities are for a certain team...even if you know what type of defense a team is running and what the general responsibilities are, they can change slightly from game to game or play to play based on the call.
Diles was the SAM last year for the sole reason of getting the three best LB on the field, and there's nothing wrong with that. He had earned it too, but he did not have the size/strength for an ideal SAM...especially if we are going to be running a lot of 4-3 under like has been hinted at where the SAM plays a lot of 9-technique and is almost another d-lineman in some ways. They have talked about Cushings ability in pass coverage and I will take their word for it until I see otherwise, but he should also be able to harass the TE's and keep them from getting an easy release off the line better than we have done in the past as well.
If PK says that Cush was getting blasted on the film then that makes me worry a little, but I understand why they went with a player like Cush. I have no doubt that every play of Cushing's career was reviewed at some point by someone before he was picked though. He might not be the right guy, and we won't know for sure for a few years. He's here, as soon as they get the contract done that is, so we'll just have to watch and see. If I happen to see an old USC game I 'll try and watch a little myself too.