NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock said we might have to look back four decades to find another crop of linebackers like the trio coming out of Southern California.
Outside linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews and insider linebacker Rey Maualuga are all expected to be first-round picks in this weekend’s NFL draft.
But Mayock said that despite their common college, each player possesses a unique set of skills.
“There are three distinctly different type of players, even though people like to lump them together,” Mayock said.
Height-weight: 6-3, 243
Strength: Respected for his mental and physical toughness for playing through injuries in college, he has elite speed and the ideal body type for an NFL outside linebacker.
Weakness: Inexperienced as a primary pass rusher and in dropping into pass coverage.
Height-weight: 6-3, 240
Strength: Went from walk-on to future first-round pick at USC, and experts think he’s still got plenty of room to improve. Could be a star on special teams immediately.
Weakness: Not as strong a tackler as Cushing and Maualuga and is not a polished pass rusher.
Height-weight: 6-2, 249
Strength: A ferocious hitter with good closing speed, a key skill for chasing down players in the open field.
Weakness: Sometimes considered undisciplined and will miss while trying to make the big play (a la Nate Webster).
Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262 or ljones@denverpost.com
