CBS: Texans To Release Cushing

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

Cushing's pre-injury 3 season peak in Houston is 2009-2011. He plays 44 out of 48 games and has 9.5 sacks and 6 INTs. That's a sack every 5 games and an INT every 7.

Demeco's peak in Houston is 2006-2009. He plays 64 of 64 games and has 7.5 sacks and 2 INTs. That's a sack every 9 games and an INT every 32.

That's what I mean by more impact plays.

Demeco was healthier and a better tackler, but they were low impact tackles. He was a guy who made tackles a few yards downfield. If the DL didn't keep the OL off of him he was awful at shedding blocks because he was undersized and not very physical. He was a smart and instinctive player who played above his physical talents and was a ton of fun to root for, but he wasn't a high impact player in Houston. He had a bigger impact in Philly so maybe it had something to do with how he was used in Houston.

Cushing didn't have the tackling numbers. Instead of diagnosing plays he flew to the ball which worked well in Wade's defense. He was super physical and owned the point of attack. He was very good in coverage his first 3 years which is rare for a big, point of attack MLB. He couldn't stay healthy and because of that had a career that is more about peak than longevity.

And like I said, Sharper is right there with both guys statistically and was a part of some solid defenses.

Forget about Sharper that's a red herring - it's a two man contest.

OK maybe Cushing in a stretch, of 2 - 3 years was better, but if we are gonna talk career vs career then DeMeco is the man.
Oh and as long as you are qualifying the results here's my question ?
How much would we want to discount Cushings stats and performance in general without the PEDs ?

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Forget about Sharper that's a red herring - it's a two man contest.

OK maybe Cushing in a stretch, of 2 - 3 years was better, but if we are gonna talk career vs career then DeMeco is the man.
Oh and as long as you are qualifying the results here's my question ?
How much would we want to discount Cushings stats and performance in general without the PEDs ?

Sharper's not a red herring.

Player A
125 Tackles 3.5 Sacks 1 INT 1 FF, 99/2/1/1, 86/1/0/2, 93/1/0/1

Player B
95/5.5/0/0, 105/4/0/3, 96/2/0/3

Player C
86/4/4/2, 53/1.5/0/1, 81/4/2/2

Tell me the player that doesn't belong on that list. All 3 are comparable and you aren't remembering how good Sharper was on some very solid defenses that get dismissed because the expansion offenses were so inept.

As for longevity or career vs career, Demeco played 6 years and 86 games for the Texans. Years 5 and 6 were shells of years 1-4. Cushing played 9 years and 104 games with the Texans. Years 4-9 were injury plagued and not nearly as good as years 1-3, but they were still better than the Demeco 34 years (2010-2011).

Overall career numbers are
Demeco
479 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 FF
Cushing
428 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 8 INT, 9 FF

Whether you are talking peak or career, Cushing is the best Texans MLB and probably the best Texans LB until Clowney plays another season or two.

If you want to disqualify Cushing for the PED test I have no problem with that. I won't guess who is clean in the NFL with no offseason testing, so I assume they all are. But I'm truly ok if you want to assume they are clean without evidence to the contrary.

[nunusguy]

I don't know where you are digging up your numbers ?
Wiki shows 939 total/combined tackles for DeMeco and 664 for Cushing while each has 13.5 sacks.
After your imagination we've only got the record for PEDs and one guy has never been busted but the other was busted twice.
FYI Cushing is a couple years younger so he might increase his totals if he
continues to play so maybe get back to me then if his totals are more impressive later.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I don't know where you are digging up your numbers ?
Wiki shows 939 total/combined tackles for DeMeco and 664 for Cushing while each has 13.5 sacks.
After your imagination we've only got the record for PEDs and one guy has never been busted but the other was busted twice.
FYI Cushing is a couple years younger so he might increase his totals if he
continues to play so maybe get back to me then if his totals are more impressive later.

You are counting Demeco's numbers for the Eagles in a best Texans LB discussion. That may have been a simple mistake, or you may actually believe what he did for Philly qualifies him as the best Texan. If so I immediately nominate Tony Boselli for best Texans OL.

You are also using assisted tackle numbers to get to 939. That's fine, but it will actually help Cushing even out the tackles numbers since he had far more assisted tackles.

I think you should keep to opinions because stats are not your thing.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

You are counting Demeco's numbers for the Eagles in a best Texans LB discussion. That may have been a simple mistake, or you may actually believe what he did for Philly qualifies him as the best Texan. If so I immediately nominate Tony Boselli for best Texans OL.

You are also using assisted tackle numbers to get to 939. That's fine, but it will actually help Cushing even out the tackles numbers since he had far more assisted tackles.

I think you should keep to opinions because stats are not your thing.

OK I don't care because I thought we were comparing complete career vs complete coreer, no matter then forget about the part of DeMecos career in Philly because just in 6 seasons in Houston DeMeco vs Cushings 9 season career had 13 % more tackles (480 vs 424). In other words Cushing had a career in Houston that was 50% longer than DeMeco's Texans career while the 'Bama backer compiled greater tackle totals. Hell if DeMeco would have been 9 years in Houston he would maybe have doubled up Cushing.
That was a silly nomination of Boselli, you should have gone with Ed Reed, even sillier because look at all of the interception stats you could have used.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

OK I don't care because I thought we were comparing complete career vs complete coreer, no matter then forget about the part of DeMecos career in Philly because just in 6 seasons in Houston DeMeco vs Cushings 9 season career had 13 % more tackles (480 vs 424). In other words Cushing had a career in Houston that was 50% longer than DeMeco's Texans career while the 'Bama backer compiled greater tackle totals. Hell if DeMeco would have been 9 years in Houston he would maybe have doubled up Cushing.
That was a silly nomination of Boselli, you should have gone with Ed Reed, even sillier because look at all of the interception stats you could have used.

I agree Ed Reed would have been the better choice.

I loved Demeco Ryans and think he's the 2nd best LB in Texans history. I think if the Texans hadn't switched to a 34 he might be the best LB in Texans history.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by barrett

I agree Ed Reed would have been the better choice.

I loved Demeco Ryans and think he's the 2nd best LB in Texans history. I think if the Texans hadn't switched to a 34 he might be the best LB in Texans history.

And I think he was the Texans best LB not to include the edge/OLBs in the 3-4 like Jadeveon Clowney which is where he plays when he' not a 4-3 or 3-4 DE.