Maualuga SLB?

[R.I.P._Deuce_1]

Hey....How do you guys feel about Rey Maualuga playing SLB?

I know he is a natural MLB, but if a team already had a great MLB, who is getting older, but his play has not slowed down and an in-house MLB of the future would make good planning, as well as a young WLB with big potential when healthy (*cough redskins*) LOL.

How would Maualuga fair ?....He's extremely athletic and a good blitzer..

[OneToughGame]

His best fit is a ILB in the 3 - 4. I think he'd just be a average SLB but he could be a all pro type ILB in the 3 - 4 IMO.

[Babylon]

I think he's somewhat limited and he is going to have to keep his nose clean which may be a chore. Absolutely not going to be playing on the outside, will make a highlight reel then disappear but you could do worse.

[PossibleCabbage]

Really depends strongly on scheme. When a team drafts him, it'll either be because he's dropped to the point where he is tremendous value, or because the team drafting him has a clear idea of where he will fit in their defensive schemes.

Maualuga is limited in the following departments: Range, Fluidity, Coverage, Sure Tackling, and Misdirection.

His best position is probably 3-4 ILB TED (the mucker who gets in people's way so the MIKE can run sideline to sideline). He can probably play MLB in the 4-3 if he comes off the field in nickel situations (i.e. they have two other LBs who they are comfortable with in coverage.) But nobody is going to use him in a defense where he'll be left on an island to cover, run sideline to sideline, or solo tackle a RB or WR in the open field. Those things just aren't his strengths, and there are better guys in the draft for any of those purposes.

[Hurricanes25]

I dont think he would be a good fit playing outside in any scheme. His best fit is ILB in the 3-4 sceme followed by MLB in the 4-3.

[Babylon]

I would worry about his pass defense the most. He can make the zone drops like he did at SC but i dont see him staying with a lot of the faster TEs the way the game is played today.

[parrish_lemar24DBSkins]

I think you're underestimating him a litttle, Cabbage. I've seen Rey make some very athletic INTs were he showed adequate range, coverage skills, and fluidity.

If Mayock's top 10 is accurate and the top 4 OT are gone, Maualuga could be the Skins pick at 13 if they don't trade down.

Of all three USC 'backers, I see Rey having the biggest impact early on in his career.

[TACKLE]

Sam SLB's are usually you're LB that's best in coverage because they are often required to cover the TE. Rey struggles a bit in coverage and is a pure MLB/ILB.

[keylime_5]

Rey isn't that versatile. Might be a 2 down backer on a lot of teams.

[ChezPower4]

I don't think that Maualuga projects well to SLB at the next level. I think that he could play there but any team that did that would not be getting full potential out of his abilities.

[Babylon]

I think you're underestimating him a litttle, Cabbage. I've seen Rey make some very athletic INTs were he showed adequate range, coverage skills, and fluidity.

If Mayock's top 10 is accurate and the top 4 OT are gone, Maualuga could be the Skins pick at 13 if they don't trade down.

Of all three USC 'backers, I see Rey having the biggest impact early on in his career.

Hopefully he'll be gone before the New England pick.

[Texas Homer]

4-3 MLB or 3-4 ILB.