Post by I definitely have a cock~~~ on Aug 19, 2015 10:38:39 GMT -5
–- Lorenzo Mauldin physically is much bigger than Ralph Macchio.But the 6-4, 259-pound New York Jets' linebacker feels a bit like Macchio's "The Karate Kid" character in his first training camp. The rookie knows his place in the pecking order on the Jets' defense. So instead of looking at his relationship with Calvin Pace as a competitive one, Mauldin sees the starter as a mentor like Mr. Miyagi."It is not competitive because I am a pup still," Mauldin said. "I am still learning. It is like (Pace is the) sensei and (I am) Daniel-san. Just basically taking all that information from him and hopefully later on down the line when his career is over, I can just take his place."
During the spring workouts, Mauldin might've felt like he was trying to beat the "Cobra Kai" all by himself. But now he feels like he's moving faster than he did in the spring and that could be trouble for opposing offensive lines in the future.The Jets' rookie could be seen on Tuesday in practice relentlessly rushing the quarterback from his outside linebacker position with a vigor that has caught head coach Todd Bowles' attention.Part of that has to do with the fact that the rookie is learning the defensive playbook. The third-round pick out of Louisville is also figuring out his role a bit more.
Bowles has liked the energy he has seen from the second-team linebacker. But Mauldin has plenty of room for improvement."He's got a high motor," Bowles said. "You like the kid's motor and he's got some good pass-rush moves. But he has to learn the overall game. He is pretty young that way."The linebacker had his share of learning moments in his preseason debut when he missed on a sure sack on one play before later drawing a roughing the passer penalty on another in the first half against Detroit."Made a couple of mistakes but that was my first game so I had to get the jitters out," Mauldin said. "I look forward to the next game against the Falcons and doing better than I did that last game."
Mauldin knows his role can grow the more he learns the playbook and the more he learns from Pace."If I know what I am doing, I play a lot more," Mauldin added of his knowledge of the Jets' scheme. "But if I don't, I will be a situational pass-rusher, so I've heard. Just being able to understand what I am doing when I go out there, that will determine my playing time."
> espn.go.com/b...nner-karate-kid
During the spring workouts, Mauldin might've felt like he was trying to beat the "Cobra Kai" all by himself. But now he feels like he's moving faster than he did in the spring and that could be trouble for opposing offensive lines in the future.The Jets' rookie could be seen on Tuesday in practice relentlessly rushing the quarterback from his outside linebacker position with a vigor that has caught head coach Todd Bowles' attention.Part of that has to do with the fact that the rookie is learning the defensive playbook. The third-round pick out of Louisville is also figuring out his role a bit more.
Bowles has liked the energy he has seen from the second-team linebacker. But Mauldin has plenty of room for improvement."He's got a high motor," Bowles said. "You like the kid's motor and he's got some good pass-rush moves. But he has to learn the overall game. He is pretty young that way."The linebacker had his share of learning moments in his preseason debut when he missed on a sure sack on one play before later drawing a roughing the passer penalty on another in the first half against Detroit."Made a couple of mistakes but that was my first game so I had to get the jitters out," Mauldin said. "I look forward to the next game against the Falcons and doing better than I did that last game."
Mauldin knows his role can grow the more he learns the playbook and the more he learns from Pace."If I know what I am doing, I play a lot more," Mauldin added of his knowledge of the Jets' scheme. "But if I don't, I will be a situational pass-rusher, so I've heard. Just being able to understand what I am doing when I go out there, that will determine my playing time."
> espn.go.com/b...nner-karate-kid