Linebackers take the stage

02.23.2009

INDIANAPOLIS -- A capsule look - in alphabetical order - at the players considered by most analysts to be the top linebackers in the 2009 NFL Draft. The linebacker workout at the 2009 Scouting Combine can be seen Monday on NFL Network.

Aaron Curry, Wake Forest

THE SKINNY: NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock ranks Curry as the best player in the draft and also its safest pick. Scouts believe he can play in just about any scheme, he was just about unblockable last fall, when he won the Butkus Award.

THE FAT: Curry was a lightly-recruited 195-pounder coming out of high school. He's become a 254-pounder who holds his ground in the middle and can make plays sideline to sideline. He's likely to become the highest draft pick ever for a Wake Forest program that's emerged with a group of smart, tough players like Curry leading the way.

THE QUOTE: "I love the game of football and in the environments I've been in, everybody around me has experienced that. They realize that when Aaron Curry steps in the weight room, he's serious. He's working hard and he's going to go until the whistle blows. You're going to have to drag Aaron Curry out of the weight room. You're going to have to drag Aaron Curry off the practice field, out of the film room."

Brian Cushing, USC

THE SKINNY: He might fit best as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 defense, but he's another guy who seems to have the smarts, versatility and big-time college experience to step in to just about any NFL scheme.

THE FAT: Cushing was recruited to USC out of New Jersey as a strong safety, and he's also played defensive end and even moved inside when needed. Scouting reports say his speed and instincts are his two greatest assets, and he's a strong tackler, too.

THE QUOTE: "I've played in a 3-4 and a 4-3. There's not one position that I felt I needed to play or one that I was out of position. The biggest thing to me was just taking care of business and playing anything. I feel I'm a natural linebacker with my best trait being just my instincts."

Larry English, Northern Illinois

THE SKINNY: He had double-digit sacks as a 4-3 defensive end in both his sophomore and junior seasons, bringing the scouts in droves to Dekalb. He drew extra attention from offensive blocking schemes in his senior year, too, but he's shown that he's strong and athletic enough to mix it up with just about anybody.

THE FAT: English (6-foot-2, 255) was often dominant at the Mid-American Conference level, then drew solid reviews for his work against the big boys at the Senior Bowl last month. He hasn't done much linebacker work, but he has the Combine and his pro day to show he can.

THE QUOTE: "There are a lot of good players in this draft; I feel I'm among the top. With my motor and athletic ability and my desire to learn and become better I put myself right up there at the top."

James Laurinaitis, Ohio State

THE SKINNY: Three-time All-American, two-time Ohio State captain and all-around tough guy. If he plays like an Animal, you've probably heard by now he comes by it naturally. He's got the ingredients, and the Combine workout gives him a chance to show he stacks up physically with the rest of the bunch.

THE FAT: Another versatile, smart linebacker in this bunch - and that's good news for teams in the linebacker business come April. Laurinaitis figures to contribute at least in a part-time role right away and might be calling the defenses by his second season. He measured here at just under 6-foot-2, 244.

THE QUOTE: "Staying in school for my senior year, you can never get too advanced mentally -- there's always room to grow there. And being able to be a leader and call out things. And really, having to step up as a leader even more so than my junior year. We had some adversity this year, so I think guys battling through adversity and being mentally tough, that was a benefit to see a team mature through the year."

Clay Matthews Jr., USC

THE SKINNY: You know the name, and you know the bloodline. If you watched the Rose Bowl or any of the Senior Bowl practices, you know he's capable of playing like his dad did, too. He's a strong special teams player, a high-motor guy and a natural pass rusher who had 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles last fall.

THE FAT: Former walk-on who really only had one big college season, but it was a very big one. He was originally recruited by just Division I-AA schools and junior college, but decided to follow the family tradition and give it a shot at USC. Good call.

THE QUOTE: "I was too young to really understand and appreciate what my father was doing at the time. I think I was more interested in what food I was going to get at the game rather than watching him. But I know he was durable, he was accountable, and overall I think he was just an outstanding player who really got after it. And that's what I emulate my game after."

Rey Maualuga, USC

THE SKINNY: These USC guys are everywhere, aren't they? Maualuga is the bully of the bunch, a true inside linebacker who brings plenty of pop to his tackles. He has a proven college record, a nose for the ball and loves to hit.

THE FAT: He just looks scary, doesn't he? His 40-yard dash time will be important as a perceived lack of top speed is about the only hole analysts have tried to poke in his game. He's down five pounds from the Senior Bowl in an effort to prove he's good enough to make sideline-to-sideline plays in the NFL.

THE QUOTE: "It's that whole model of being rediscovered (at the Combine). People may know my name, but people don't know who I am. Like they say, first impression counts. Just to be out here, just to meet the coaches, shake their hands and compete against these guys, it's great. They know my name just being at SC, but they don't know who I am competing against guys and competing under pressure. That's what I felt coming in here was my biggest job to do."

Brian Orapko. Texas

THE SKINNY: He played some linebacker in college, but he was mostly a pass-rushing terror of a defensive end. He has big-game experience (3 sacks vs. Oklahoma the last 2 years) and he's big enough to play 3-4 outside linebacker at 6-foot-3, 263. But he's willing to play anywhere and play fast.

THE FAT: Probably has a more consistent body of work than the other guys hoping to switch to 3-4 outside linebacker. He's a workout warrior who came to Texas as a 210-pounder and hopes to leave a very high pick in the NFL Draft.

THE QUOTE:"I think I can be a top-five player in this draft. I think have the potential, the athleticism and also the learning curve to be. It's not about the best player available. It's about the best player that's needed. So we'll see."

Other names to keep an eye on during Monday's workout:

**Florida State's Everette Brown, an explosive pass rusher who may transition from college end to 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL.

**Virginia's Clint Stitim, the rare college prospect who's actually played outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

**Penn State's Aaron Maybin, another DE/OLB ‘tweener who emerged last fall with a big year and is trying to ride that momentum into this draft.

**Southern Mississippi's Gerald McRath, a speedy early entry who had huge tackle numbers at the Conference USA level.

**TCU's Jason Phillips, an inside linebacker and a four-year, 50-game college starter who was a huge part of TCU's under-the-radar but loaded defense.