Rey Maualuga (1 Viewer)

[jgb95]

Hey Guys please move if need be......

After watching numerous games and highlight reels about Rey Mey I fail to see how he can't be ranked the #1 Fantasy IDP.

I'm mainly worried about the fact that if this kid needs a babysitter on the road (rumor I heard about) the Bengals could be the worst landing spot for this kid.

My team is currently stacked at almost every position and we only start one RB.

I'm usually one to draft BPA every year but this year I only have one NEED.

I have the 1.03 and I'm looking for the best overall player.

Here's a look at my current roster:

QB Aaron Rodgers

QB Tom Brady

QB Jon Kitna

RB Ronnie Brown

RB Deangelo Williams

RB Frank Gore

RB Pierre Thomas

WR Reggie Wayne

WR Larry Fitzgerald

WR Greg Camarillo

WR Malcom Kelly

WR Marques Colston

WR James Jones

TE Kellen Winslow Jr.

TE Kevin Boss

K John Kasay

P Nick Harris

OC Nick Hardwick

OG Logan Mankins

OG Mike Pollak

OG Maurice Williams

OG Eric Steinbach

OG Leonard Davis

OG Dan Federkeil

OT Matt Light

OT Ryan Clady

OT Chad Clifton

OT Zach Strief

OT Orlando Pace

CB Brandon Flowers

CB Charles Tillman

CB Darrelle Revis

CB Kelvin Hayden

S Laron Landry

S Antonie Bethea

S Adrian Wilson

DE Julius Peppers

DE Osi Umenyiora

DE Jared Allen

DE Aaron Schobel

DE Wale Ogunleye

DT Jovan Haye

DT Chris Canty

DT Brandon Mebane

ILB Paul Posluszny

ILB Gary Brackett

OLB Thomas Howard

OLB Demarcus Ware

OLB Ernie Sims

OLB Will Witherspoon

OLB James Harrison

OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa

PS:

OB Xavier Adibi

WR Andre Caldwell

OT King Dunlap

OB Antwan Barnes

QB Kevin O'Connell

RB Gary Russell

OB David Hawthorne

OT Ray Willis

We start 11 O and 11 D. IDP's are position specific and we get:

2 TK, PD, FF, FR

12, 10, 8 - Sack (DL, LB, DB)

6 INT

This is a 12 team salary cap dynasty league.

I feel as though my main need is a STUD ILB. I also need another S but i can more than likely grab one in the 2nd round (i have the 2.02)

Please let me know what you guys think.

Thanks

 

[T Bell]

Why on earth would Maualuga be ranked #1 overall, regardless of his NFL destination?

 

[jgb95]

Tackles and big play abilities as we get 10 points for sacks.

NOT OVERALL

JUST IDP

 

[Anthony Borbely]

It's hard to justify a higher ranking unless he plays 3 downs...and right now, my guess is he doesn't.

 

[jgb95]

issue for me this year is do i just go BPA or fill a need?

How do you rank the ILB's for a dynasty league?

How would you rank the TOP 3 for this league and for my team?

Thanks

 

[T Bell]

Tackles and big play abilities as we get 10 points for sacks.NOT OVERALL JUST IDP

Sorry, I knew you were talking IDP rankings.I've watched a lot of Maualuga in college, being a USC fan living in SoCal. I've compared him to Trotter both physically/athletically, and also because he's best used as a battering ram who you point into a gap and tell to go charge. He's not a heady MLB type like a London Fletcher.That's what makes his situation with Marvin Lewis so strange. Lewis prefers to use a read-and-react scheme, with DL's (especially DT's) who occupy blockers in a two-gap scheme, and have his very disciplined LB's with great gap responsibility flow to the ball to make plays for him. He doesn't like undisciplined LB's, and you saw that in 2002 when he had another very athletic but undisciplined LB in Lavar Arrington, who Lewis relegated to a strict pass rushing role resulting in a career high in sacks for Arrington but little else. Maualuga "should" have landed with a guy like Jim Johnson or Wade Phillips who knows how to harness an attacking LB and play to that player's strengths. I just don't see Cincy and Lewis' scheme as being a good fit for Maualuga, and all of the things that will bug Lewis about Maualuga's game will only serve to limit his willingness to play him on all three downs, or maybe even at all.

 

[jgb95]

Thanks T Bell

That's the type of info I need.

I need to try and trade down or out of the 1.03.

Thanks

 

[Biabreakable]

issue for me this year is do i just go BPA or fill a need?How do you rank the ILB's for a dynasty league?How would you rank the TOP 3 for this league and for my team?Thanks

If you are going to make the pick at 3 overall I do not think you should be thinking about defense. If you need defense and you have Rey at the top of your board then trade down to like pick 10 or whatever you are comfortable with being a high enough pick to get your guy.If you cannot trade the pick then just take one of the best 3 players on offense and take defense with your 2nd round pick. Rey might not be there but someone else really good will be. There are a wealth of linebackers to choose from in this draft.

 

[PatsWillWin]

I'd be shocked if you couldn't grab Wells/Moreno/Brown and trade him for a solid LB.

 

[Jene Bramel]

The Bengals have been moving away from Lewis' read-and-react philosophy to more of Mike Zimmer's downhill schemes. Pat Sims, Tank Johnson, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga -- all expected to play downhill and should be successful doing so.

If you're looking for a sure LB2+ performer in this year's group, I'm not sure you'll find one. Maualuga may never prove capable enough in the nickel to tack on those extra 8-15 solos to make himself a top 15 performer. Lauranaitis has the highest floor probably, but he just doesn't strike me as downhill and rangy enough to hit 95 solos consistently. Curry remains up in the air, as does Levy and some of the OLB prospects like Cushing.

Ordinarily, I wouldn't call out my brethren, but this is probably Woodrow's first go at an IDP ranking. I just can't see any reasonable argument for Laurinaitis at 12 and Maualuga at 20. I wouldn't say they're absolutely and without question 1 and 2 in a tackle neutral scoring system, but they almost have to be in the top four as players who have well above-average chances to be every down MLBs by opening weekend 2010, if not much, much sooner.

 

[ADP]

Honestly, based on your team. I would trade down to #7 and pick up another 2nd round pick for your trouble. Then at #7 I would take Laurinaitis or Maualuga as 1 of them will be there. No way you take a LB at #3. You trade down and pick up a draft pick and still get your guy at #7. (what the raiders should have done). In the second round I agree safety should be your target and it should be W. Moore. If you pick up the extra 2nd rounder you can then look to draft another ILB like D. Levy as he will most likely be there. That would give you 2 promising rookie ILBs and a safety in first 2 rounds. That would be a successful draft based your needs. Also, FWIW, I think you need a DT as well. I would target B. Raji in the 3rd round (if you have pick). He will be a force.

 

[T Bell]

The Bengals have been moving away from Lewis' read-and-react philosophy to more of Mike Zimmer's downhill schemes. Pat Sims, Tank Johnson, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga -- all expected to play downhill and should be successful doing so.If you're looking for a sure LB2+ performer in this year's group, I'm not sure you'll find one. Maualuga may never prove capable enough in the nickel to tack on those extra 8-15 solos to make himself a top 15 performer. Lauranaitis has the highest floor probably, but he just doesn't strike me as downhill and rangy enough to hit 95 solos consistently. Curry remains up in the air, as does Levy and some of the OLB prospects like Cushing.Ordinarily, I wouldn't call out my brethren, but this is probably Woodrow's first go at an IDP ranking. I just can't see any reasonable argument for Laurinaitis at 12 and Maualuga at 20. I wouldn't say they're absolutely and without question 1 and 2 in a tackle neutral scoring system, but they almost have to be in the top four as players who have well above-average chances to be every down MLBs by opening weekend 2010, if not much, much sooner.

I would definitely defer to Jene on what the Bengals are doing with their scheme. In addition to being an astute observer of all things defense and IDP, he's actually a Bengals fan if you can believe it!

 

[jgb95]

Honestly, based on your team. I would trade down to #7 and pick up another 2nd round pick for your trouble. Then at #7 I would take Laurinaitis or Maualuga as 1 of them will be there. No way you take a LB at #3. You trade down and pick up a draft pick and still get your guy at #7. (what the raiders should have done). In the second round I agree safety should be your target and it should be W. Moore. If you pick up the extra 2nd rounder you can then look to draft another ILB like D. Levy as he will most likely be there. That would give you 2 promising rookie ILBs and a safety in first 2 rounds. That would be a successful draft based your needs. Also, FWIW, I think you need a DT as well. I would target B. Raji in the 3rd round (if you have pick). He will be a force.

In the process of trying to move down right now..THANKS FOR THE INSIGHT!!!!

 

[kellumsboys]

looks like he might be used on the strong side.

but would he be a 3 down LB ?

that would help.

 

[T Bell]

looks like he might be used on the strong side.

but would he be a 3 down LB ?

that would help.

That's probably the LB spot he's least equipped to handle, unless he is used to shoot gaps from there a lot. He's not disciplined and coverage isn't really his strong suit.

 

[BearsFan]

Why is an expected 2-down LB rated that highly in the rookie IDP rankings?

Is Rey going to assimilate coverage skills all of a sudden?

 

[J Giles Band]

Why is an expected 2-down LB rated that highly in the rookie IDP rankings?Is Rey going to assimilate coverage skills all of a sudden?

You might consider that Curtis Lofton (last year's 2nd best rookie LB) was a 2-down LB... Not to mention this draft class doesn't exactly have too many can't miss LB prospects beyond Aaron Curry and even he isn't in an ideal situation.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Why is an expected 2-down LB rated that highly in the rookie IDP rankings?Is Rey going to assimilate coverage skills all of a sudden?

The rookie rankings are essentially dynasty rankings. There are some, Bloom included, that Maualuga has the skills to handle the nickel role. Long term in Cincinnati, it's possible that Brandon Johnson poaches those snaps, but I think Maualuga is an every down player by 2010 if not earlier. I like his role better than Curry (today) and his downhill playing style better than Laurinaitis. Since I'm not expecting much out of DeAndre Levy unless something changes in Detroit, it's Maualuga by default.

 

[J Giles Band]

Why is an expected 2-down LB rated that highly in the rookie IDP rankings?Is Rey going to assimilate coverage skills all of a sudden?

The rookie rankings are essentially dynasty rankings. There are some, Bloom included, that Maualuga has the skills to handle the nickel role. Long term in Cincinnati, it's possible that Brandon Johnson poaches those snaps, but I think Maualuga is an every down player by 2010 if not earlier. I like his role better than Curry (today) and his downhill playing style better than Laurinaitis. Since I'm not expecting much out of DeAndre Levy unless something changes in Detroit, it's Maualuga by default.

I'm in total agreement Jene...

 

[Brehh]

Take the RB. Your D will be fine

 

[jgb95]

Take the RB. Your D will be fine

if i can't trade down.we can only start 1 RB!

 

[jgb95]

tough to get anyone to do anything right now.

once the draft starts it'll be easier.

I can do it for 2010 1st and 2011 2nd but was really trying to move down at this point.

That's in the bank for draft day.

 

[J Giles Band]

Uh oh, here we go... Bengals.com reports Maualuga worked at the SAM in the Bengals base defense in mini camp today and moved to MLB in the nickle. Certainly, this could just be to see how he looks there, but I can totally see the Bengals preferring to keep Dhani Jones at MLB and using Maualuga to push Jeanty at SAM. Not sure they're willing to trust the pivotal MLB spot (with reads and calls necessary) to a rookie who comes with questions related to his discipline on the field (as well as off).

I hope my speculation is premature.

Michael Johnson apparently worked some at the SAM today as well.

 

[Kirby]

Uh oh, here we go... Bengals.com reports Maualuga worked at the SAM in the Bengals base defense in mini camp today and moved to MLB in the nickle. Certainly, this could just be to see how he looks there, but I can totally see the Bengals preferring to keep Dhani Jones at MLB and using Maualuga to push Jeanty at SAM. Not sure they're willing to trust the pivotal MLB spot (with reads and calls necessary) to a rookie who comes with questions related to his discipline on the field (as well as off).I hope my speculation is premature.Michael Johnson apparently worked some at the SAM today as well.

This is what I figured would happen. No way they take their defensive captain/leader out. He'll probably play SAM for 2 years and then switch to the middle.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Uh oh, here we go... Bengals.com reports Maualuga worked at the SAM in the Bengals base defense in mini camp today and moved to MLB in the nickle. Certainly, this could just be to see how he looks there, but I can totally see the Bengals preferring to keep Dhani Jones at MLB and using Maualuga to push Jeanty at SAM. Not sure they're willing to trust the pivotal MLB spot (with reads and calls necessary) to a rookie who comes with questions related to his discipline on the field (as well as off).I hope my speculation is premature.Michael Johnson apparently worked some at the SAM today as well.

This is what I figured would happen. No way they take their defensive captain/leader out. He'll probably play SAM for 2 years and then switch to the middle.

Yeah, it's unfortunately not surprising. I didn't want to voice the concern for fear it may actually happen.We're going to find out very quickly whose in control of this team and this defense. If it's some combination of Mike Brown and Marvin Lewis, you'll see the safe, boring, fundamental, rarely out of place but no big play making and not downhill Dhani Jones in the middle again. If it's Mike Zimmer, and the team line that this defense will become more aggressive line is valid, there's no reason the downhill, aggressive with an attitude Maualuga shouldn't be in the middle.You'll hear that the SLB position is easier to learn, that this puts two athletic players on the outside, that this will keep the defense from making the one big mistake that a young and overpursuing talent might make, etc, etc. That's a reasonable argument, but silly in this scenario. This is Dhani Jones for the sake of pete. Dude has a Travel Channel show. I'm pretty sure Maualuga ate a plate of nails as a bedtime snack last night. Mike Zimmer had a bunch of backups playing well by the end of last year. Maualuga should be getting every spare snap at MLB.It wasn't too long ago that we saw the Chicago Bears make a similar mistake in Brian Urlacher's rookie season. It only took a few weeks to correct that error. I'm not suggesting that Maualuga will develop the coverage skill that Urlacher had, but I think it's a similar error in judgment. We saw the same things happen to Thomas Davis before he was finally put in the role many hoped for him.Also, while I realize that this is early in minicamp, but trying Michael Johnson at SAM on base downs is also a misuse of time and resources. You won't be seeing him there in the base defense and he wouldn't rush from that side in a 3-4 look.Consider this a vote of no-confidence in the Bengals. I had one foot back on the fanwagon after this draft. If there's any indication that Maualuga gets his potential impact blunted on the strong side (Rashad Jeanty is a very underrated run stopper IMO), I'm cutting both feet off so I don't have to worry about getting either of them on the wagon again./endrant. I'll try to go back to my mostly impartial self now.

 

[Biabreakable]

I wonder if the Bengals would play some flex 3-4 this year?

That way you could have Johnson outside with Jones and Rey in the middle. Rivers, Geathers, Jeanty or someone else as the other outside LB.

This looks somewhat similar to what they were trying to do before when they took Pollack and Thurman.

 

[5Rings]

Great thread on Rey--can we move Jpg95s Assistant Coach questions to the appropriate forum? The IDP forum is my favorite right now just because of conversation without WDIS questions littering it like what happens in the Pool.

Back to Rey--I can't see how Marvin doesn't start the guy at Mike. He was the best MLB in college last year going to a team with a big void in the middle. He teams up with ex-teammate Rivers at Will, and you have Jeanty at Sam. Seems like a pretty simple lineup and a very athletic and promising group as well.

I'm a big Rey fan, and I love his situation. This 2 down talk has tempered my expectations, as I admit to loving Dizon's situation so much last year I took him over Rivers and Mayo, so I know I sometimes value situation > talent. That said, if given the choice, I still think I would take Rey as LB1 in dynasty format based off of what I saw at USC. While he is not as athletically gifted as a guy he's been compared to way too much (Junior Seau), I think he has the ability, position (MLB), and opportunity to be a longterm highend LB2/low end LB1.

 

[Maroney=Sped]

With Rivers apparently out today and against the inept Browns offense in bad weather, what does everyone think about Maualuga's chances to rack up a bunch of tackles today?