A Year Later
Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who might start against Arkansas, said he's much more knowledgeable with the defense than a year ago.
``Last year, my goal was to just fit in and get comfortable with the scheme,'' Maualuga said. ``Now I'm getting down to business. I've got all my checks down. It's a huge difference.''
Bastard!~ You killed Oscar Lua!
Rey Rey should definitely be the starter. Who cares if Lua is captain? If PC wants to play favorites or whatever, fine let Lua start. Then let the "next Junior Seau" come in for the second defensive series and play thereafter.
Obviously, who starts may be irrelevant, as we may use this new "elephant" defense for over half the game. For now, it's wait and see on the new formation. However, in the 3-4 it does not say Lua is in the game. So PC may start with the conventional 4-3 defense (thereby having Lua and Dallas Sartz start), then quickly go to a 3-4 if need be.
Same goes for Sartz regarding Lua's situation. Who cares if your captain? PC and SC should play the best!!!
Which begs one of the most important questions circulating for some time: Why the hell is Rivers starting? Did you see him in the Rose Bowl??? Gosh, that was terrible. Aside from the ND game last year, Rivers has not shown me much! Start Kaluka....or at least the "Hitman" Thomas Williams!
My ideal starting LBs in the 4-3 would be Crush at SLB, Mauler at MIKE, and Kaluka at WILL! Second team would be Sartz, Lua, Rivers...and yes, I believe the starters on the updated depth chart should be second string. After watching the Rose Bowl (and losing my bet), it becomes apparent that we need athleticism and speed more than experience. What did experience do when trying to shut down VY? Not much....man we need these young studs in there from the get-go!!
What do you guys all think??
FIGHT ON!!
The Mauler Maualuga... plays like a starving animal. He eats hog heads for dinner. For desert he chews the bones. Heavy metal football. Even Ozzy, who bites the heads off of bats, would be proud of this guy. Arkansas is destined to look like a set in a horror movie.
Silence of the Lambs becomes Slicing of the Ribs.
And don't forget to add a shot of Jack with that beer...
Rey Maualuga is the next Junior Seau. Enough said.
I hope Rey starts, he obviously has much more potential and ability than Lua. Yes Lua is a captain, but he should show some leadership and accept his role as a back-up MLB in the new Carroll defense.
I wonder if we will see some different starters after about the 2nd game. You have situations where some guys look good in practice, where as other guys really excel in games. Some guys are practice players but are not able to perform before hostile crowds and in the games.
We shall see what the makeup of the starting lineups look like after the Nebraska game.
Boy, can't wait for Maualuga to be unleashed in backwards and backwoods Fayetteville! He's got the physical part down, no doubt. But I'm really glad to see he's concentrating on the mental aspect, where to position yourself, how to react at the snap. Great photo in SI's cfb preview issue. If you're advertised as a ferocious hitter, that's how you should look, not smiling and posing like a model, a la the Texas DB. But remember, leave the fury bottled on the field and weight room, only. You should be wearing the #55, but you're taking over a great Trojan and fellow Samoan at 58, Lofa Tatupu. Go out and earn that All-American status you're capable of!
Unleash the Beast that is #58, Rey Mauluga, and the USC Defense!
Rey is the man, Oscar can be captain of the special teams.
macho man you're such an animal........!!!
John Redcorn, since you solicited a response, I'll give you one: I agree. The best players should play, period. Start Cushing and Maualuga. I haven't seen Kaluka play much, but he's probably better than Keith Rivers. I agree, he wasn't that good except for that classic against the Crying Irish. No way that Dallas Sartz moves back to Safety, huh?
As a Trojan diehard, my second-favorite coach is Karl Dorrell. You have my blessing to be at You-See-Ell-Gay for another 20 years, then we'll run the win streak on you Bruin scum to 28!!!
"I own tha police!" - Rey Maualuga
I love some of these comments, "I haven't seen Kaluka play much, but he's probably better than Keith Rivers"
That why we have coachs, you know guys that have seen every guy actually play.
"Why the hell is Rivers starting? Did you see him in the Rose Bowl??? Gosh, that was terrible."
I saw alot of terrible defense in the Rose Bowl.
Maybe rivers is starting because he is better than the injury prone Kaluka.
USC will be fine and too much talent is a good thing.
I am sure PC has everything under control, as does Oscar and Rey. They both deserve to be out there, and as the season erupts, there will be plenty of time and opportunity to observe their hard work. Strength,focus and intelligence are required during competition which must be directed towards their opponents, and not each other . In the end, we will see them both standing side by side with the whole team, and not just as individuals. Oscar and Rey stay focus towards Conquest.
Rivers is actuallyplaying exceptionally well in the 3-4 or elephant defense as it is called. Rivers gets moved inside where he is special. If he is in attacking mode, he is an all american quality linebacker. He is not 225 pounds, but is up to 240 pounds now and runs a 4.5 40.
Maiva is more instinctual and better against the pass, much like a Matt Grootegood was. USC has an embarrassment of riches at linebacker as their 3rd string would start most places in the country. Sit back and enjoy the speed on this defense cause it is going to be something special.
After watching the Rose Bowl (and losing my bet), it becomes apparent that we need athleticism and speed more than experience. What did experience do when trying to shut down VY? Comment
The break down at the Rose Bowl was the DE's losing containment of VY ALL GAME LONG and a breakdown in the Coaching for not correcting it ALL GAME long.