Carolina Panthers center Ryan Kalil has been added to the NFC Pro Bowl roster, joining linebacker Clay Matthews and wideout Steve Smith as the three Trojans who will be in the NFL all-star game in Miami on Sunday (4:30 p.m. on ESPN).Also, rookie linebacker Brian Cushing was originally on the roster but had to withdraw because of lingering injury... more »
Ok, just about 72 hours after all the Pete Carroll departure talk started really heating up, Mike Garrett has managed to put Trojan football back together again. With a coaching staff in place and putting the finishing touches on another stellar recruiting class, it's time for the rest of the Trojan legion to start getting in shape for next season.
That doesn't just mean players -- as fans, we too have to make sure we're in peak condition for the 2010 campaign. Seasons like 2009 have a way of contributing to that doughy midsection, as you drown painful losses in fatty foods and another pitcher of beer. But don't despair -- that's what offseasons are for. So take a page from Brian Cushing's book, and get your mad swole on:
The 2010 season will creep up on you, so don't delay. Get to work.
Former Southern Cal linebacker Brian Cushing is the NFL’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Cushing finished the year with 133 tackles (86 solo), five sacks, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. Cushing received 39 of the 50 votes for this honor.
Here is an excerpt from Peter King’s weekly Monday Morning QB (Tuesday edition) on former USC linebacker Clay Matthews:
Clay Matthews, 14 games into his NFL career, has become the Packers' biggest playmaker. The Green Bay outside linebacker, son of the longtime NFL linebacker, either sacked or pressured Ben Roethlisberger five times Sunday, had another strip-sack overturned by a replay reversal, tackled Willie Parker for a two-yard loss, forced left tackle Max Starks into false-start and holding penalties, and catapulted himself into the defensive rookie of the year race. He, Washington pass-rusher Brian Orakpo, Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd and Houston outside linebacker Brian Cushing are the leaders of the defensive rookie pack.
At Heinz Field on Sunday was Mark Malone, the color man for the Westwood One radiocast of the Steelers-Packers game, and the former Steelers quarterback said of Matthews, "He reminds me so much of his old man. Just the relentlessness and the playmaking ability. He ran around Max Starks, bull-rushed him, caused him to jump offside. He's something. I think he's probably more physical and stronger than his father.''
If you like the NFL, Peter King’s Monday Morning QB is a must read. Here are links to his Monday and Tuesday articles.
Inarguably, USC lost a lot of talent to the NFL Draft following the 2008 season.A closer look at the stats reveals just how incredibly much.The 11 Trojan draft picks from last year have played in a combined 95 games and racked up a combined 54 starts during their rookie seasons this fall -- and that's through just Week 13.... more »
(Photo of Brian Cushing looking to kill somebody by Icon Sports Media)
Check out this article from Len Pasquarelli at ESPN about the success four rookies from USC are having in the NFL this season. Here is an excerpt:
Putting four linebackers into the NFL in one year, all of them rookie starters at one point in the season, and with three of the defenders now regulars with their respective franchises, is a pretty remarkable feat. Then again, Brian Cushing (Houston), Clay Matthews Jr. (Green Bay) Rey Maualuga (Cincinnati) and Kaluka Maiava (Cleveland) all appear to be special players.
The quartet has combined to start 33 games through the first 12 weeks of the season. Cushing, a viable candidate for defensive rookie of the year honors, and Maualuga both have started every contest for their teams. Matthews, the son of former NFL standout outside linebacker Clay Matthews and a one-time walk-on at USC, has started eight games for the Packers, after opening the season as a situational pass-rusher
This weeks highlights of former Trojans features Clay Matthew, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Rey Rey, Steve Smith, Matt Cassel and Brian Cushing. Fight on and FUCLA!
(Video Courtesy of Eric Espinoza and the USC video operations department)
Here are some week 9 highlights of former Trojans now playing in the NFL. This week features
David Buehler, Dwayne Jarrett, Reggie Bush, Terrell Thomas, Steve Smith, Kevin Ellison, Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga (Cinco Ocho), Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu and Brian Cushing.
Fight On!
(Video created by Eric Espinoza and the USC video operations department)
For four out of seven weeks of this NFL season, a USC rookie has won the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week award. Mark Sanchez won the award three times and Clay Mattews won in week 6. This week Brian Cushing is nominated. Cushing had 10 tackles, one sack and an interception last week vs. the Bills. Houston defeated Buffalo 31-10.
In Pete King’s Monday Morning Quarterback awards section this week, he wrote about former USC linebackers Brian Cushing and Clay Matthews. Both were his defensive players of the week, or as he called it "the USC rookie linebacker alumni section."
Here is what King has to say about Brian Cushing:
The Texans went to Cincinnati and laid a 28-17 beatdown on the red-hot Bengals, thanks to four touchdown passes from Schaub and two important second-half turnovers by Cushing, who forced fumbles in the third and fourth quarters that Houston recovered. Cushing added an interception on the Bengals' last drive of the day. For the season, he's led the Texans in tackles in four of their six games.
And Clay Matthews:
In the Pack's 26-0 whitewashing of Detroit, Matthews had two sacks, another tackle for loss, a pass batted down and five tackles. Green Bay held Detroit to 71 net passing yards, and Matthews played the biggest role.
(AP Photo)
Cushing and Matthews were also nominated for this weeks Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. To vote for either of them click here.
Linebacker U appears to have moved to L.A.Three Trojan linebackers will be playing big roles when the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans meet on Sunday, as Keith Rivers, Rey Maualuga and Brian Cushing will be starting for their respective teams. Rivers and Cushing lead their teams in tackles so far this year.Read all about this cool connection in this... more »
Last week Mark Sanchez won the Pepsi NFL rookie of the week award. Sanchez is again nominated for this honor along with former USC linebacker Brian Cushing.
Sanchez led the Jets to a 16-9 win over their hated rival the New England Patriots. Sanchez finished the day 14 for 22 with 163 yards and one TD. Cushing helped the Houston Texans defeat the Tennessee Titans 34-31 by recording 10 tackles (two went for losses) and deflecting a pass. To vote for either Mark Sanchez or Brian Cushing, click here.
(0)
