Cushing to mike (1 Viewer)

[Larry Thomas]

Texans move Cushing to middle for rest of season

By JOHN McCLAIN

Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle

Oct. 25, 2010, 12:20PM

Strong side linebacker Brian Cushing has been moved into the middle, where he will replace the injured DeMeco Ryans for the rest fo the season.

Cushing, who played all three linebacker spots at USC, will start at middle linebacker against Indianapolis on Monday night

“(We coaches) met and talked about this at length, and we decided that Brian is the best fit for middle,” coach Gary Kubiak said after practice today. “Brian has the talent and the leadership ability to do what we need at that position”

Kevin Bentley, who underwent arthroscopic knee surgery three weeks ago, will replace Cushing on the strong side. He will be backed up by Xavier Adibi, who did not practice because he is recovering from a hamstring injury. Adibi is expected to be available for the game against the Colts

 

[BigSteelThrill]

 

[saintfool]

so is there any value to adibi or bentley? i'm not real high on bentley but perhaps to adibi?

 

[GridironMenace]

so is there any value to adibi or bentley? i'm not real high on bentley but perhaps to adibi?

Bently is starting. While you may not be real high on him, as long as he is starting he makes Adibi worthless. Bentley is the pickup. While I wouldn't expect numbers like Cushing puts up, he is certainly worth a stash. Game 1 vs. Colts this week isn't a great week to judge production since LB'er vs. Indy don't put up great numbers.

 

[Jene Bramel]

This should be very interesting indeed.

 

[Jene Bramel]

so is there any value to adibi or bentley? i'm not real high on bentley but perhaps to adibi?

Bently is starting. While you may not be real high on him, as long as he is starting he makes Adibi worthless. Bentley is the pickup. While I wouldn't expect numbers like Cushing puts up, he is certainly worth a stash. Game 1 vs. Colts this week isn't a great week to judge production since LB'er vs. Indy don't put up great numbers.

Unless I'm missing something in the translation, I'd expect Diles to be the every-down OLB here. Unless we see/hear otherwise, I wouldn't pick up Bentley except in the deepest of leagues.

 

[southeastjerome]

So while standard and tackle based leagues love this, where does this leave his value in big play leagues? He probably takes a little bit of a hit.

 

[saintfool]

so is there any value to adibi or bentley? i'm not real high on bentley but perhaps to adibi?

Bently is starting. While you may not be real high on him, as long as he is starting he makes Adibi worthless. Bentley is the pickup. While I wouldn't expect numbers like Cushing puts up, he is certainly worth a stash. Game 1 vs. Colts this week isn't a great week to judge production since LB'er vs. Indy don't put up great numbers.

Unless I'm missing something in the translation, I'd expect Diles to be the every-down OLB here. Unless we see/hear otherwise, I wouldn't pick up Bentley except in the deepest of leagues.

WLB - Diles; SharptonMLB - CushingSLB - Bentley; AdibiI would think they'd like Bentley at MLB to back up Cush. Adibi would be backed by Sharpton while Bing and Keglar float.

 

[jsharlan]

Traditionally the strong side holds good IDP value in the Houston defense(which sucks btw). That being said I imagine Cushing and Diles will be the nickel linebackers, limiting the value of Bentley on the strongside. Bentley is a veteran leader type, Im not surprised he will be put in the lineup first, I am a little surprised he's not in the middle. Adibi can never stay healthy and imo, the coaches are probably losing confidence in him. tbh I don't think Cushing's value changes much. He was already going to be the lead for tackles and blitzes, he will continue to do so from the middle as the best linebacker on the field. Diles value will get a slight uptick as a 3 down back.

 

[GridironMenace]

so is there any value to adibi or bentley? i'm not real high on bentley but perhaps to adibi?

Bently is starting. While you may not be real high on him, as long as he is starting he makes Adibi worthless. Bentley is the pickup. While I wouldn't expect numbers like Cushing puts up, he is certainly worth a stash. Game 1 vs. Colts this week isn't a great week to judge production since LB'er vs. Indy don't put up great numbers.

Unless I'm missing something in the translation, I'd expect Diles to be the every-down OLB here. Unless we see/hear otherwise, I wouldn't pick up Bentley except in the deepest of leagues.

The previous poster asked about value to Bentley and Adibi. I wasn't saying that Bentley was going to be a 3 down LB'er. I was just saying that it was Bentley that is going to start at SLB and between the 2 players (Bentley and Adibi) Bentley is the more valuable. I agree with you that Diles and Cushing are the two to own, however, the SLB in Houston's system seems to be a pretty good playmaker position. Now that could have just been the product of Cushings raw talent, but Bentley is worth a pickup in deeper leagues to find out IMO.

 

[Warpig]

While watching the game last night, I noticed Cushing and Diles on the field almost the whole game. Those are pretty much the ONLY LB's I saw all game. Assuming they were in a nickel or dime defense the entire game so I couldn't tell who the 3rd LB is. I did notice that Bentley came on to give Diles a breather a couple/few times. But I still don't know who the SLB/WLB is. Diles still put up some nice numbers...double digit tackles.

 

[GridironMenace]

Yeah, I saw the same thing. Houston was in their nickel defense just about the entire game. That game tells us nothing about the LB'er except:

1) Cushing and Diles are the only 3 down LB'ers

2) Cushing takes a HUGE hit on fantasy relevance this season

#2 goes to show you how good DeMeco is, IMO.

 

[jsharlan]

We always play nickel all game when we face the Colts. Manning always has them in at least a 3 WR set all game.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm wishing I hadn't been so wishy-washy last week in hedging my arguments on Cushing. I had reservations that Cushing would be able to pull off the transition successfully enough to hold LB2+ value, but wimped out by saying that the relatively poor competition for tackles might allow him to produce.

Gary Kubiak said he was pleased with Cushing, but I saw more Rolando McClain than Brian Urlacher last night. Though the nickel defense sometimes makes the OLB look better in the box score than he otherwise would, the 10-2 disparity in solos is meaningful in this case. Cushing flashed at times, but was often tentative and reading and reacting rather than playing downhill.

To be clear, I'm not saying that Cushing can't succeed in the middle. There's a laundry list of OLBs that have pulled off the transition well in recent years. But they've had the entire offseason to adjust. Were I a Cushing owner, I'm hoping to see him scream up the learning curve or for the coaches to consider swapping Zac Diles with Cushing.

We'll get a good idea of how this is going to go with better rush attacks than a gimpy Donald Brown, Mike Hart (who averaged 7.0 ypc yesterday) and Jarvarris James upcoming.

 

[johnnyboy8102]

I'm wishing I hadn't been so wishy-washy last week in hedging my arguments on Cushing. I had reservations that Cushing would be able to pull off the transition successfully enough to hold LB2+ value, but wimped out by saying that the relatively poor competition for tackles might allow him to produce.

Gary Kubiak said he was pleased with Cushing, but I saw more Rolando McClain than Brian Urlacher last night. Though the nickel defense sometimes makes the OLB look better in the box score than he otherwise would, the 10-2 disparity in solos is meaningful in this case. Cushing flashed at times, but was often tentative and reading and reacting rather than playing downhill.

To be clear, I'm not saying that Cushing can't succeed in the middle. There's a laundry list of OLBs that have pulled off the transition well in recent years. But they've had the entire offseason to adjust. Were I a Cushing owner, I'm hoping to see him scream up the learning curve or for the coaches to consider swapping Zac Diles with Cushing.

We'll get a good idea of how this is going to go with better rush attacks than a gimpy Donald Brown, Mike Hart (who averaged 7.0 ypc yesterday) and Jarvarris James upcoming.

Remember Jene, Urlacher has only been averaging 3 solos per game the past month. So Cushing actually DID look like Urlacher last night! lol

 

[Jene Bramel]

I'm wishing I hadn't been so wishy-washy last week in hedging my arguments on Cushing. I had reservations that Cushing would be able to pull off the transition successfully enough to hold LB2+ value, but wimped out by saying that the relatively poor competition for tackles might allow him to produce.

Gary Kubiak said he was pleased with Cushing, but I saw more Rolando McClain than Brian Urlacher last night. Though the nickel defense sometimes makes the OLB look better in the box score than he otherwise would, the 10-2 disparity in solos is meaningful in this case. Cushing flashed at times, but was often tentative and reading and reacting rather than playing downhill.

To be clear, I'm not saying that Cushing can't succeed in the middle. There's a laundry list of OLBs that have pulled off the transition well in recent years. But they've had the entire offseason to adjust. Were I a Cushing owner, I'm hoping to see him scream up the learning curve or for the coaches to consider swapping Zac Diles with Cushing.

We'll get a good idea of how this is going to go with better rush attacks than a gimpy Donald Brown, Mike Hart (who averaged 7.0 ypc yesterday) and Jarvarris James upcoming.

Remember Jene, Urlacher has only been averaging 3 solos per game the past month. So Cushing actually DID look like Urlacher last night! lol

I'm speaking more to on-field technique, but the point is well taken. FWIW, I think Urlacher has a chance to be a top fifteen player in the second half given a very favorable schedule (BUF, MIN, MIA, PHI, DET, NE, MIN, NYJ, GB).

 

[jhframing]

Give Cushing a couple games to get comfortable in the middle and the numbers will be there...

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

if cushing puts up decent to good stats next week this thread can be deleted, the pozlusny thread will suffice

 

[saintfool]

i was reading elsewhere - SB nation maybe - that there is some pressure to get sharpton on the field. this is especially the case if the season gets away from them (which is pretty much has)....

 

[jsharlan]

Man if the season is over at 4-3, it looks like only a handful of teams need to bother playing anymore.

 

[John 14:6]

Man if the season is over at 4-3, it looks like only a handful of teams need to bother playing anymore.

I kind of wish they'd get rid of the eye rolling smilie...

 

[saintfool]

Man if the season is over at 4-3, it looks like only a handful of teams need to bother playing anymore.

they're falling behind both teams in their division. they have a pretty difficult schedule going forward, i think. they haven't had an important win since week one. and, oh yeah, their defense is wretched. clearly they are primed for a deep playoff run...

 

[jsharlan]

Hey the Saints have 3 losses too, I guess you can start looking forward to the draft. We are 1-1 in the division, we haven't fallen behind anything yet. The Titans and Colts have the same tough teams to play down the stretch. You sound like the fickle fans in Houston, declaring the season over before the halfway point while they still have a winning record. Ridiculous. The Texans have been a strong second half team over the last couple years, if they follow that trend, its too early to give up on them. Also no one said anything about a 'deep playoff run', just that "the season hasn't gotten away from them" by week 8. I dunno where you heard there is pressure to get a mid round rookie LB who has been banged up all year on the field but theres no evidence to it at all. Cushing and Diles won't come off the field, Sharpton's only chances are for Bentley to struggle.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Bring the conversation back to Cushing's production and potential at MLB please.

 

[saintfool]

Hey the Saints have 3 losses too, I guess you can start looking forward to the draft. We are 1-1 in the division, we haven't fallen behind anything yet. The Titans and Colts have the same tough teams to play down the stretch. You sound like the fickle fans in Houston, declaring the season over before the halfway point while they still have a winning record. Ridiculous. The Texans have been a strong second half team over the last couple years, if they follow that trend, its too early to give up on them. Also no one said anything about a 'deep playoff run', just that "the season hasn't gotten away from them" by week 8. I dunno where you heard there is pressure to get a mid round rookie LB who has been banged up all year on the field but theres no evidence to it at all. Cushing and Diles won't come off the field, Sharpton's only chances are for Bentley to struggle.

this is kind of the point. cushing isn't a natural MLB and forcing him to play that role might not be serving him or the defense very well. bentley is merely a stopgap. why not let sharpton try his hand? no one is suggesting cushing or diles change the number of plays on the field. instead what is being discussed is letting them play their natural positions and let sharpton get some valuable playing time.*if* the texans fall behind in the season to other teams within their division and/or conference then i could see sharpton auditioning/evaluated by kubiak and co.

 

[jsharlan]

Because they need a defensive leader calling the plays at MLB. Not a rookie who hasnt seen the field yet. It would be more likely for Bentley to move back to the middle than Sharpton. Honestly I only see his chances this season as playing one of the outside spots.

 

[Ryan Sitzmann]

I just caught the last couple of snaps of the Texans/Chargers game and Cushing was lined up on the outside with Diles in the middle. Interesting.

 

[JaxBill]

Despite the change in position, this writer calls out Cushing and implies he's never been he same since the PED suspension.

http://blogs.chron.com/fantasyfootball/2010/11/post_171.html

Rick Smith has made it known to me in the past that HE is in charge of bringing in personnel, but I've talked to people in the war room who have said that Kubiak has had final say in the past. Rick Smith didn't want two of the defensive backs who were drafted over the last few years, but Kubiak overruled him. I can't put that on Rick Smith's ticket, but Smith and Kubiak are the brain-trust behind Amobi Okoye, Antonio Smith's big contract despite not being a big time pass rusher, cutting Tramon Williams who is playing great CB in Green Bay, taking Kareem Jackson and drafting Brian Cushing who looks VERY average after his suspensions for banned substances. Multiple sources around the league have told me that they felt like the rumors of potential PED use surrounding Cushing had enough smoke behind it to keep them from taking him, but the Texans either didn't have that info, didn't believe it or chose to ignore it. He better jump back into Beast Mode or Mr. McNair is going to wonder if he was duped by the old bait-and-switch.

 

[jsharlan]

I never liked that writer, Antonio Smith has been the best defensive player on the team this year. And he wants to bash Cushing while forgetting to mention he was moved to a new position and doesn't have a good Demeco Ryans next to him anymore. Last year he missed the whole preseason, and then the first 4 or 5 games of the season his production started off slow before he got comfortable and it ramped up. I think something similar is possible this year as well as he missed time and has to get comfortable again.

 

[jojoh07]

The Texans plan to move Brian Cushing back outside after he struggled in two games at middle linebacker

Kevin Bentley, who'd been playing SAM linebacker, will move into the middle, probably on early downs. Coach Gary Kubiak said Cushing will still play inside on some snaps, most likely in nickel sets. Cushing managed just 10 total tackles in two games at the Mike. He had 17 in two on the strong side.

THANK GOD.

 

[Jene Bramel]

The Texans plan to move Brian Cushing back outside after he struggled in two games at middle linebackerKevin Bentley, who'd been playing SAM linebacker, will move into the middle, probably on early downs. Coach Gary Kubiak said Cushing will still play inside on some snaps, most likely in nickel sets. Cushing managed just 10 total tackles in two games at the Mike. He had 17 in two on the strong side.THANK GOD.

Kubiak appears to still be hedging his bets, saying that Cushing will play inside on some snaps and Bentley on others, but this shouldn't be too surprising.The writing seemed to be on the wall last week when the Texans played more 46 on base downs than they have since last season (and lots more Tampa-2 coverage on passing downs) to mask their current issues. Cushing was one of the two OLB on the line in the 46 and took a couple of snaps outside in the 4-3, too.

 

[jsharlan]

unfortunately for Cushing owners, Frank Bush is terrible and can't disguise his blitz calling at all, decreasing Cushing value as a pass rusher. They seriously have one of the most vanilla defensive playcalling in the league.

 

[Bonka]

Really wonder if Cushing will put up solid numbers again even after moving back outside. The PEDs are obviously a concern. Right now I'm stuck with deciding whether I want to trade Bishop for Cushing due to bye week issues. I tried getting him for Hawk but got this as a counter. It does look like Cushing has a good schedule (opposing rushing rankings anyways) except the Broncos in week 16 at least.

 

[jsharlan]

The PEDs are over hyped media crap imo. The dude is just as ripped as he was before. This is more a matter of him getting back up to game speed and a larger part due to poor play by the rest of the defense. Opposing offenses are having so much success throwing the ball out wide they continue to do it and the front 4 haven't gotten a push all year. Alot of Cushing's production last year was in part because Ryans sucked up blockers leaving Cushing free to make a play on the ball. He doesn't have that luxury anymore. I think there is too much turmoil in the Houston defense right now to get reliable production out of anyone.

 

[Larry Thomas]

unfortunately for Cushing owners, Frank Bush is terrible and can't disguise his blitz calling at all, decreasing Cushing value as a pass rusher. They seriously have one of the most vanilla defensive playcalling in the league.

Yeah... Couple weeks back I think it was Mariono and Esiason were talking about that. Their best defense is pound the rock with Foster and dominate TOP.