Quick Thoughts On Cushing Injury
by DreKeem on Aug 12, 2009 11:06 AM CDT
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PrintBetter now than later? That's my first reaction to this predicament. Cushing's numerous injuries throughout college are well documented and that was certainly a major concern attributed to him heading into the draft. His senior year of high school, Cushing missed three games due to a similar ankle sprain. In both his freshman and junior campaigns in college, he managed to miss five games due to injury. It's been a recurring theme throughout his career and part of the reason why Tim hates him so dearly (though, that's only a minor factor).
So what exactly does this mean? In the immediate, obvious sense of things, Cushing will miss the first pre-season game and some valuable practice time. Kubiak's exact words on the subject were that he "will be out awhile". Kubes probably isn't up to date on the extent of the injury, as Cushing just recently took the MRI.
Long term, if this is the same type of injury that forced Cushing to miss three games in highschool, things could turn out a little more troublesome than expected. As much as Cushing has been praised throughout camp, he won't get much better by watching Zac Diles from the sidelines. It's essential that he's out there exercising the playbook and refining his technique. That being said, I have no doubt in my mind that he will do all in his power to get better even without playing... whatever that means.
We'll probably know more about the length of his abscense as the day progresses, so stay tuned. More likely than not given Cushing's injury riddled past, this could linger on into much of training camp.
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*smh*
what is it about HOUSTON and our guys getting injured… pick a sport… and i can give you a list of names.
Easy Answer
They are all bleeders. We for some reason attract bleeders. T-Mac, Yao, Now Cushing, back then Ahman Green, Chris Brown.
Rumplestiltskin
My quick thought
Get used to this. Cushing’s shown a pattern for doing this since high school. He’ll probably never play a full season. He might be great when he’s in the game, but he’ll miss his fair share of games.
The true test in the life of a Texans fan is how gracefully you endure it.
by TexanKurt on Aug 12, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
It's just TC, but it has me worried
It’s being reported now that he’ll miss 2 to 3 weeks (sprained LCL), so that should put him back in time for the Monday nighter against the Vikings. If he starts the last 2 pre-season games, then he’ll be ready.
Once he starts taking NFL intensity hits he will be watching from Memorial Hermann....
THATS what happens when you hair off……just saying…..
Relax Everyone
It’s just a sprain! I have sprained my knee in sports, even hearing a crunching noise and I have finished the game, never even sat out of practice, never slowed down. Cushing is sitting down now, only as a precaution. He will be back in full force!
It will happen
Misperception
The main concern isn’t that he won’t recover, but with the recurring issue of his inability to stay healthy. Sure, he may recover, but how soon after that will he be injured?
"I'm just looking forward to something great happening in the city of Houston" - Tracy McGrady
Still waiting...
by DreKeem on Aug 12, 2009 1:45 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
As long as we can see him
In the third pre-season game, I’ll be satisfied. I still dislike him as a human though…but hopefully this works out.
What's up with Adibi?
So I’m hearing mixed messages. I get that Diles is moving to the SAM, but why is Bentley pegged to start at the WILL? Thought maybe Adibi would step in?
it's still early enough...
the team has time to expiriment with all sorts of combinations
though, I’d think it’s safe to say that AJ will be anointed a starter… eventually…
What Is The Basis For Saying Cushing Injury Prone?
Just because it is stated over and over on the internet doesn’t make it an accurate statement. True, he missed parts of two season, but he started for almost 3.5 years, and played significant minutes before starting. Are there any stats to show that he is particularly injury prone? My guess is that the is being compared to guys who started considerably fewer games.
keep reading
It was also reported, libelously, if that is such a word, that Cushing was on roids, just before the draft and certain bloggers on this site keep repeating that, too, as if it’s gospel. Also, it was reported that he once tackled a ball carrier from behind by grabbing the players pads and wouldn’t you know, THAT got on some video over at youtube where anyone can look at it, which a few bloggers did and now they think Cushing doesn’t know how to tackle any other way. So, long story short, yes, reading this blog, you might get the idea that he is just a roided up, broken down, fundamentally challenged linebacker from a school that was probably cheating by having some nerd take his test for him for four years.
It will happen
We get it
You want to have Cushing’s baby, that’s great. For the record, every single writer for “this blog” that has said anything negative about Cushing has followed it closely with “I hope he proves me wrong”. If you’re looking for blind love for anything Texan, you’ve come to the wrong place. You’ll get plenty of love for the team, but not of the blind variety.
Cushing was labled as injury prone because in his freshman year and his junior year he missed five entire games and all but a couple of plays in another each season. That’s a total of 12 games. USC only plays 12 games every season. So, due to injuries Cushing missed 25% of the snaps in his collegiate career. That’s after he had a knee injjury in high school, although I can’t find anything on the severity or the amount of time he missed. Any time that someone does something 25% of the time, I’d say it’s safe to say that person is prone to that particular trait.
Injuries in football are understandable, but they usually happen more toward the end of a player’s career rather than the beginning. When injuries happen in the beginning of a player’s career they tend to get labled because more times than not, those injuries tend to reoccur. All of this is why there were injury concerns for Cushing, which is one of the reasons he fell to us at 15. 260+ pound men who run 4.5 40’s don’t grow on trees.
So when he was drafted, several of us stated our reservations. I worried about the steroids allegations simply because usage can lead to more injuries. I don’t know if he juiced or not, but it has been a concern to many people who are smarter and more knowledgeable about football than me, so it concerned me as well but only for the injury perspective.
I’ve been accused many times of Cushing love from Tim because as soon as he was drafted I said that I wouldn’t criticize him until he gave me a reason to in a Texans uniform. I still believe that, and I’m still pulling for the guy. Having said that though, when a player that we invested a first round pick who had stated injury concerns because he missed a quarter of his collegiate stats gets hurt before playing an NFL snap (preseason or regular), I think it’s fair for anyone to lable that as a trend.
Many times in life, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it is often a duck. I hope in this case that the trend does not become the norm, but I and every writer that agrees on “this blog” will state their opinion if they observe the same trend. It’s not like we have something personal against the kid, we are just worried because of the investment that the Texans made in him and how integral he is for this defense.
I really hope this is the last time that we have to talk about Cushing in connection with injuries, and I will be more than happy to state that my concerns were unfounded if he plays 16 games this season and/or proves to be mostly healthy for his career. That doesn’t change the fact though that there is cause for concern now, and for us to not state those concerns if we have them would be an excercise in homerism.
You know... for kids.
This is what is called being an Anti-Cush
They will spill their guts and cover a lot of off-white space with seven paragraphs telling you what is wrong with him and what their scientific proof is, but finish it off with, “But I hope he proves me wrong” and they think they got it all covered. Plus, they travel in groups and hold secret vigils with chanting and ritualistic sacrifices. They think if they show one inch of give in their take, they will burst into flames or maybe worse, be forced to where a #56 jersey.
It will happen
Wow
They will spill their guts and cover a lot of off-white space with seven paragraphs telling you what is wrong with him and what their scientific proof is, but finish it off with, "But I hope he proves me wrong"
Well, we do try to base our opinions in “fact” as much as possible. If I didn’t like a guy going into to the draft, holding strong opinions of his game and character before-hand, I’m not going to go all Niagra between the legs just because the Texans take him. That’s not how I work.
However, we tack on the “proves me wrong” addendum because, you know what? I’ve been wrong before. I’ll be wrong again. If he turns out to be awesome? I’ll be excited for him and the team and happily admit I’m wrong. If I turn out to be right in my concerns? It’s not a moment for gloating. Either way, I’ll try to learn from the experience.
I'm going to blindly trust the fact that Rick Smith, Gary Kubiak, Frank Bush, Ray Rhodes, and the rest of the Texans braintrust
did their homework going into the draft and weighed their choices with a skill that I, as a fan, expect and the owner has entrusted them to have; and, that Brian Cushing was the best player for many reasons. I assure you, what you call the “facts” that you have used to form your opinions are mostly what you have been fed by the media, youtube, and blog-chatter with a penchant for donkey-downing. If that works for you, then I feel comfortable with your viewpoint, however opposing it is, and I will enjoy discussing it throughout the season.
It will happen
yeah i hear ya
All the Cushing haters should go donkey-down on a mule, then brush your teeth.
Rumplestiltskin
My concerns about Cushing, again for the record
1. Missed 25% of his games at USC (at least)
2. Steroids accusations (true or false, they are there. In the intermediate term, this is especially worrisome because of 1. above)
3. Poor fundamentals, especially in tackling and coverage
4. Poor lower body strength
5. USC’s system.
Going back to 2004, which is my arbitrary point for Carroll’s influence reaching his recruiting at USC, the team has had 23 players drafted. Of these, 10 were on D and 13 on O, and the vast majority were drafted in the 1st or 2nd.
The list is littered with busts, from Bust himself to Leinart to Jarrett to many others. Defensively, the list is similar. From a practical standpoint, the best NFL performers from USC since 2004 are (in no particular order) Sedrick Ellis, Lofa Tatupu, Ryan Kalil, and probably Keith Rivers.
This is not an outstanding track record by any means.
So there it is.
I suppose the odds could be in your favor
Just from the aspect of expectations vs draft position, regardless of intitution of higher learning. I guess for that reason we should be donkey-down on all 1st and 2nd rounders. Let’s look at all those players and see how many have never been injured; OMG: none of them. How about if any of the defensive players ever missed a tackle? All of them! Any QB’s ever overthrow a receiver?; any receiver ever drop a pass?; any OL ever miss a block?; I think they all have…well, based on the “facts”, I think we can all confidentally predict “BUST!” I think that is the criteria for objective opinions. Is it not? Tell me I’m wrong.
It will happen
by Rip Jersey on Aug 13, 2009 12:32 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Again, wow!
You utterly and completely missed the point. I made absolutely no comparison of expectations versus draft position.
I’m done with this conversation.
by bigfatdrunk on Aug 13, 2009 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions
did to
USC alumni drafted in 1st or 2nd round. So it is part of your method on analysis. So why just USC? Why not all of the first 2 rounds? Is USC that bad that they just don’t measure up? Lot of busts. Guess the odds are with you on being right. That doesn’t make you a fan though…sorry, makes you a detractor in my book. Perpetuating the myths makes it reality in your mind. USC, roids, an all-american that can’t tackle, destined to spend more time in the trainers office than the field…your list is sad. You can’t have any glory, dude, when this kid does something good. You have spoken loudly!
It will happen
by Rip Jersey on Aug 13, 2009 1:04 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
This will be it. Promise.
This conversation has already jumped the shark.
By your logic, I can’t be critical of…well, anybody, because they might get drafted by the Texans. And if I AM critical, I have to immediately forget all criticisms because that player’s with the team now! YAY PLAYER!!!
David Carr and Petey Faggins recommend your post.
Remember the old SBN days?
For those who don’t know, all of the SBN blog sites used to be separate and distinct. This meant that for each site, you had a different Username, Password, and Signature.
Back then, my sig was something along the lines of:
“We can be critical of the draft picks, but in the end we always support the new Texan.”
I still stand by that sentence….and maybe add “and FA acquisitions” in the middle. But this just doesn’t seem like a philosophy that Rip buys into.
There will obviously be no resolution here. So Rip, you’ve got to drop the issue. Each time you attack someone for attacking Cushing, you only bring on a 15-comment repeat of the last time it happened. {Yes, I realize I replied to BFD’s comment….but that was mainly due to the title question & 1st half of my comment.}
And to be as honest and psychologically confusing as possible, how exactly do you justify attacking Texans’ fans when you don’t believe in attacking Texans’ players in any way/shape/form? Seems a tad hypocritical.
by Shake on Aug 13, 2009 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
yes and you should stop
When you are making numbered lists of why a hometown player who the team has high hopes on, to fail, and your derision becomes incessant, it is embarassing to say the least. But continue with your derision if you want. Its a free blog. I do appreciate your opinions, as always.
It will happen
by Rip Jersey on Aug 13, 2009 1:13 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
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