Mauldin could become the Jets Top Pass Rusher

[Elias]

Finding the Fits: Lorenzo Mauldin could become Jets' top rusher
Rob Rang CBS Sports.


Prior to the draft, some theorized that because Todd Bowles might change his approach to generating pressure on the quarterback in New York than he showed as defensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals.

The theory went that because Bowles was inheriting an even better defensive line than the one he coached in Arizona, he might rely more on the big guys to rush the passer in New York rather than blitzing aggressively as he did in the NFC West.

The addition of Mauldin, however, gives Bowles the talented and passionate edge rusher to continue blitzing when he'd like.

The 6-foot-4, 259 pound Mauldin possesses the burst to cross the face of tackles, as well as quickness and an effective swim move to slip by them. Because he locates the football quickly and plays with passion, Mauldin plays faster than he timed in workouts (4.85 seconds in the 40 yard dash). He's also relatively pro-ready, starring as both a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 rush linebacker for the Cardinals and showing similar versatility throughout Senior Bowl week.

It isn't just his own talent that could lead to success in the NFL for Mauldin, however. He also could be in line for early playing time. Mauldin joins an outside linebacker group that was led in sacks last year by the 34-year old Calvin Pace, who mustered "only" five quarterback takedowns. Should Bowles elect to blitz with the same abandon in New York that he did in Arizona, Jets fans can expect the club's top rushing outside linebacker to finish better than fifth on the club in sacks in 2015.

Further, don't be surprised if that outside linebacker is Mauldin.

 

[jets82]

I hope so, we need more pressure coming from our LBs. Not just your typical 5-7 sack season. I mean a complete monster in the making, 10 plus every year. Ofcourse I'm hoping we drafted the next Ray Lewis but that is most likely a pipe dream. Players like that come around once every 25 years or so. Anyway, we need someone to take over for Pace and either Coples needs to lose 15-25 more pounds to make him a true pass rushing LB or we need to move him to the d-line where he truly belong and find a replacement for him as well.

 

[ucrenegade]

I agree love this kids passion and motor

 

[cysporsche]

He might have a huge heart and all the passion in the World; however, he is too chunky to be a speed rusher, he needs to drop 10-15 from his 267.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[Superman55]

Makes you wish Coples had half his passion for the game.

#1 rule of drafting players - only draft players who love football.

Maudlin does and Coples doesnt. He's a classic case of being naturally good at it, so he always did it.

It's like Clowney at SC and the difference between his soph year and jr year. The love was gone his final year. It's all over the film. It became a job and what did he have, 3 whole sacks? Gross.

This guy has heart.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Makes you wish Coples had half his passion for the game.

#1 rule of drafting players - only draft players who love football.

Maudlin does and Coples doesnt. He's a classic case of being naturally good at it, so he always did it.

It's like Clowney at SC and the difference between his soph year and jr year. The love was gone his final year. It's all over the film. It became a job and what did he have, 3 whole sacks? Gross.

This guy has heart.

Great Post, Super

Dead on the money with Clowney, and yes, if Coples had Mauldin's passion he would be a MONSTER.

He's still pretty good as it is, on talent and physical ability alone, but if he had Mauldin's passion he'd be unstoppable.

 

[jets82]

He might have a huge heart and all the passion in the World; however, he is too chunky to be a speed rusher, he needs to drop 10-15 from his 267.

Go Jets...Cyborg

I disagree but if Mauldin needs to drop that weight then imagine the weight Coples has to drop who still weighs about 280 at least? Mauldin is a football player, born and bread and his heart more so then anything. He will be just fine at whatever weight he plays at. Coples appears to be the problem or should I say concern.

 

[cysporsche]

Makes you wish Coples had half his passion for the game.

#1 rule of drafting players - only draft players who love football.

Maudlin does and Coples doesnt. He's a classic case of being naturally good at it, so he always did it.

It's like Clowney at SC and the difference between his soph year and jr year. The love was gone his final year. It's all over the film. It became a job and what did he have, 3 whole sacks? Gross.

This guy has heart.

Kevin, We really don't know a thing about Mauldin except he had a very rough start in life going from foster home to foster home. As far as College careers go, Coples was much better IMO. The only problems with Coples is he was doing great his junior year @ UNC as a DT, then he's switched to DE his senior year. Then he comes to the Jets and he's playing out of position as an OLB after Rex switches him to OLB. Put him back on the DL and let him mature in one position. Playing out of position can destroy a players career.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[Superman55]

Kevin, We really don't know a thing about Mauldin except he had a very rough start in life going from foster home to foster home. As far as College careers go, Coples was much better IMO. The only problems with Coples is he was doing great his junior year @ UNC as a DT, then he's switched to DE his senior year. Then he comes to the Jets and he's playing out of position as an OLB after Rex switches him to OLB. Put him back on the DL and let him mature in one position. Playing out of position can destroy a players career.

Go Jets...Cyborg

Calvin Pace - remember Arizona felt they couldn't maximize his position change...he did okay for himself, right? Coples to me is a very similar talent. Just my opinion. But I agree on your college analysis. Spot on.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

Calvin Pace - remember Arizona felt they couldn't maximize his position change...he did okay for himself, right? Coples to me is a very similar talent. Just my opinion. But I agree on your college analysis. Spot on.

4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, Quinton Coples should be WRECKING GAMES week in and week out. This guy has all of the physical tools to be an impact player, and sometimes we need to remind people of what that means, but an impact player is a difference maker, the kind of guy who makes individual plays that impact the outcome of games.

Couples should be one of those guys, not some of the time, but all of the time. Unfortunately, until now, he's been content to just skate by on his talent and physical ability and be a good (not great) player. Hopefully Bowles can get him to a place, mentally, where he wants more, where he's no longer satisfied just to be good.

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

As I said above, I'm hoping Bowles can get more out of Coples by getting Coples to want more out of himself, but Teddy Atlas has a saying and there's a lot of truth to it; people who are born round don't die square.

Lets face it, most human-beings are content to go through life just being average. Most of us don't have a burning desire to be great at what we do, we're content to be good, good enough to make a good living at it, for most people thats human nature. The guys who want more, who demand more from themselves, who have a genuine obsession to be great, those people are unusual. Indeed you find a good number of them in competitive sports, they are drawn to competition, but even most athletes are content to be good. If that wasn't the case there would be a lot more players in the Hall of Fame, because most of these guys who make it to this level are terrific athletes with freakish physical ability. Coples, IMO, is on the high end of that scale, but I don't see the drive to be great, and frankly thats been the knock on him going back to college, thats why he slid in the draft, based on talent alone most scouts agreed he should have been drafted considerably higher, but they questioned his passion and we're seeing a lot of the same things in his pro career, physical freak, good player, occasionally makes jaw-dropping plays, but leaves you thinking, why can't he do that more often?

 

[DonMaynard]

I see a win win situation here. Maudlin could very well create the kind of competition that would light a fire under Couples . We could be looking at quite a tandem at OLB with those two guys for years to come.

 

[Lakerfan80]

It's guys like Mauldin who come out of nowhere and become those very good pass rushers. Guys like Houston, Dumervill, Barwin, Kruger, Wake and others. Perfect spot to draft a 3-4 OLB not the top 10.

 

[Superman55]

It's guys like Mauldin who come out of nowhere and become those very good pass rushers. Guys like Houston, Dumervill, Barwin, Kruger, Wake and others. Perfect spot to draft a 3-4 OLB not the top 10.

Agreed on it being a good spot to take an OLB. Every OLB projected in the top 10 had one flag or another...heck, look where Gregory ended up landing...

 

[Superman55]

IMPY
‏@imppyy
@RichCimini do you think there's a chance Enzo Mauldin starts at outside backer week 1? #Jetsmail

@RichCimini: No, I don't see that happening. I could see him in a sub package, but starting in the base 3-4 defense? That would be a surprise. Mauldin has ability, but there are many aspects to the outside-linebacker position -- setting the edge, rushing and dropping into coverage. It's a lot for a rookie to learn. According to Bowles, Mauldin is working on both sides -- Sam and Rush linebacker. He wants to get a feel for his strengths and weakness before putting him in one spot. If he can handle some pass-coverage responsibilities, he could land in the Sam position (strong side), currently manned by Calvin Pace.

 

[Elias]

Do you guys think Babin gets cut?

 

[sg3]

Yep

IMO he was another one of WRECKS senior citizen good ol boy pickups like Jason Taylor and Ed Reed who had pretty much nothing left on the field but made the coach comfy and took playing time and growth and development away from younger players that made WRECKS nervous

 

[Elias]

Yep

IMO he was another one of WRECKS senior citizen good ol boy pickups like Jason Taylor and Ed Reed who had pretty much nothing left on the field but made the coach comfy and took playing time and growth and development away from younger players that made WRECKS nervous

I thought he played well and at times was the only one that could create pressure without the blitz. I do remember getting upset at him a few times though for boneheaded penalties.

 

[cysporsche]

Do you guys think Babin gets cut?

Between his age, bonehead penalties and too many younger players, Babin is history.

Go Jets...Cyborg

 

[ucrenegade]

Do you guys think Babin gets cut?

It is going to depend how fast the younger guys pick up the defense. You don't just cut a nfl pro for younger guys because maybe they can play. Babin is a nfl veteran knows he can play at this level. I don't see him getting cut if he d does until pre-season.