Double Trouble;2192777 said:
I would argue it's his lack of instincts and football intelligence that severely limited what is an extraordinarily gifted athlete. Tackling someone after they've already made a first down or a big play is hardly an impact play. And I hardly give credence to the # of tackles when you consider how generously they're awarded.
What Mayo was best at was getting himself out of position. His great athleticism sometimes made up for it, but he's more Kevin Burnett than the guys you listed. He's nowhere near the company of Manning and Henderson.
Part of a linebacker's job is to track down ball carriers and make plays or stop people. So, you are saying Mayo only cleaned up other people's messes 140 times and never made a big play. You don't lead the SEC in tackles and not make big plays. Mayo did it 140 times last year, and he did it with a
suspect defensive line at times and
3 true freshmen and
one junior college transfer playing in the secondary. From the Georgia game on, the young defense played well, except for one game. Mayo was the
10th pick of the draft, and that puts him in the class of
Henderson, Manning, and Lewis.
Manning #1 (First pick of the draft)
Lewis #4 (First Round)
Henderson # 10 (First Round)
Mayo #10 (First Round)
They are the four hightest drafted players from Tennessee, ever.
Mayo
is clearly one of the best players to ever run through the T. He was so good and confident that he left before his senior year, like Lewis.
You attack fast defenses with
mis-direction. If Mayo is so undisciplined, why did a coach, who has one of the most disciplined teams in the NFL take him with the 10th pick of the draft? You know, the coach that has won
three Super Bowls and won
two with the
Giants.
That defense is all about discipline. It's a two gap scheme.
Tackles are a
primary measure for a linebacker and an
important one. If you don't do it, you will not play very long. Mayo had 60 tackles in 4 games. He had 19 against Kentucky (Kentucky beat LSU.) It isn't quarterback.
I put up his 2007 stats. He isn't a DE. He played middle linebacker. If your not impressed by 140 tackles (79 solo), 1.5 sacks, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5 QB pressures, 1 FF, and 1 INT for a TD, then there isn't any hope for you. I guess being a
first team All-SEC player (AP and Coaches) doesn't mean much. The guy was a
All-American at ILB. By the way, Tennessee should have defeated LSU in the real Championship Game. The defense pretty much dominated the game and Mayo was the heart and soul of that defense. There sure wouldn't have been a SEC East Title without him. The games they won were real close, except for Georgia and Arkansas.
From 2006-2007, Mayo had
21 tackles for loss while playing in the SEC. At Tennessee, he played in 36 games and started 24. He tallied 236 tackles(137 solo), 6.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 Fumble recovery, and one INT for a TD.
In 2006 (his sophomore year), Mayo did this in three key games.
Florida 10 tackles 1 sack 2 TFL
Alabama 12 tackles 1 sack 2 TFL
LSU 12 tackles
If he doesn't get hurt at the end of the LSU game, the Vols win.
Mayo is one of the most consistent players Tennessee has ever had. If he would have come back, he would have dominated again. I saw Wilson, Burnett, and Mayo, and Mayo is the best of the three. Mayo didn't have Shawn Ellis and the rest of that 13-0 team's talent up front. The Vols were thin at DT, and Mayo still led the SEC in tackles.
In 2006, Mayo played weak-side linebacker. He did this:
83 tackles (48 solo)
5 sacks
12.5 TFL
1 Fumble Recovery
To say Mayo just gets by on athletic ability ignores all the film study he did on the Hill. He was known for studying extra film, and he was one of the smartest players to ever wear the T. He did more than just "tackle". He was the leader and set the tone for the defense.
Finally, Mayo is one of the most talented players ever to come out of Tennessee, and the NFL and the nation will soon learn about him.
