Just because you make the Top 40 doesn't guarantee you'll be a hit. But linebackers were very much the rage in April's draft, with eight being taken in the first 40 selections, and only once in the past decade (2006, when there were 10) have so many rookie linebackers been taken that high.

Even fans caught on with the LB fever. When the Lions unveiled their new team logo and uniforms to fans and media the week before the draft, fans chanted "Curry, Curry," hoping that their team would take Wake Forest's Aaron Curry over Georgia QB Matthew Stafford.

Think about that: Fans of a team with exactly one Pro Bowl quarterback in the past 40 seasons, starved since the days of Bobby Layne, wanted a linebacker over Stafford.

Curry went fourth overall to Seattle and hasn't disappointed. But this LB class is far from a one-man show. Brian Orakpo (Redskins, 13th pick), Brian Cushing (Texans, 15th pick), James Laurinaitis (Rams, 35th pick) and Rey Maualuga (Bengals, 38th pick) all have started from Day One, quite an achievement in any season.

The other three — Chargers OLB Larry English, Broncos OLB Robert Ayers and Packers LB Clay Matthews — all are seeing more time as they eye starting spots.

The recent success of rookie LBs Jerod Mayo, Curtis Lofton, Patrick Willis, Jon Beason, David Harris and others have proven that the rumors of the potent inside linebacker's demise in modern defenses have been greatly exaggerated. And teams, especially those that run 3-4 schemes, always are on the lookout for the next LaMarr Woodley, DeMarcus Ware or Shawne Merriman as a pass-rushing demon on the outside.

That said, jumping in as a rookie and having immediate success is no easy task.

"There's a learning curve," Cowboys LB Keith Brooking told PFW. "It's something I try to communicate to all young players who come through the door: The NFL season is a grind. The guys that I've seen have the most success are the ones who keep grinding away each day."

Brooking was in Atlanta for 11 years, during which time the Falcons drafted 10 linebackers, only a handful of whom made an instant impact.

"You're going to make mistakes," he said. "You see a lot of (rookies) who get on the field — and playing linebacker, you can never do this because of all the mental gymnastics you're going through — and they don't play fast. If you make a mistake, make a mistake going full speed. The guys who have that mentality, like Curtis Lofton (in '08) — he made mistakes, but when he made them, he was going full speed. We can make up for that defensively."

Following is a progress report on each of the top eight linebackers selected in the 2009 draft:

Aaron Curry
Seattle Seahawks

Ht: 6-1 3⁄4  | Wt: 254 | Sp: 4.54
Drafted: 4th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES      4          0            0     0      0

2            YES      4          0            0     0      0

3            YES      7          1            1     0      0

4            YES      7          0            0     0      0

5            YES      9          1            1     1      0

6            YES      5          0            0     1      0

Under the microscope even more early in the season with injuries reducing the playing time of fellow starting LBs Lofa Tatupu and Leroy Hill, Curry has earned solid reviews. Widely considered the best defensive player available in this year's draft, the Wake Forest product lived up to that billing in training camp and the preseason, displaying surprisingly impressive pass-rush skills that weren't considered to be his strong suit. Blessed with tremendous pure athleticism and nonstop energy, Curry hasn't wasted any time displaying the ability to dominate in spurts — as he did in a series late in the second half against the Bears, when he registered a sack and forced a fumble, and in a 41-0 blowout win over the Jaguars, when he had a team-high nine tackles, one sack, one QB hurry, one pass breakup and forced a fumble. With a tendency to get "too geeked up," in the words of one daily team observer, and wear his emotions on his sleeve, Curry has been much better when he has made a conscious effort to play under control. That said, his natural intensity is considered a major plus.   

Brian Orakpo
Washington Redskins

Ht: 6-3  | Wt: 260 | Sp: 4.64
Drafted: 13th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES     2            0          0     0      0

2            YES     0            0          0     1      0

3            YES     4            1          0     0      0

4            YES     7            1          0     0      0

5            YES     2            0.5       0     0      0

6            YES     5            1          0     0      0

After a bit of a slow start for Orakpo in his first two weeks, he notched 3½ sacks in his next four games. He has struggled to get off blocks, mostly against the run, but is using his athleticism to make plays. On running downs, Orakpo is the "Sam" linebacker — a position he never played at Texas — and he's learning proper technique on the fly. He hasn't been bad in this area, but he's not disengaging as well as he needs to. In passing situations, Orakpo goes to his more natural DE position as a three-point pass rusher. He lines up next to DT ­Albert Haynesworth, and they are starting to make a good stunt combination with his recent flourish. Orakpo is in no danger whatsoever of having his role altered. He'll keep working with LB coach Kirk Olivadotti on his technique and should make further strides.

Brian Cushing
Houston Texans

Ht: 6-2 7⁄8  | Wt: 243 | Sp: 4.69
Drafted: 15th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES      8           0          0      0      0

2            YES      10         0          0      1      0

3            YES      8           0          0      2      0

4            YES      7           0          0      0      0

5            YES      6           0.5       0      0      0     

6            YES      9           0          2      2      1

The Texans, seeking bulk at linebacker, targeted Cushing in the draft, and he was quickly penciled in as the starter on the strong side. Though he missed the preseason with a knee injury, Cushing has proved a quick study, leading the team in tackles through six games. He has been solid in pass coverage, which was not regarded as his strength at USC. While the Texans' run defense struggled early in the season, it has been much better in the last three games, holding opponents to just 135 yards rushing in that span. And Cushing, who has been nothing short of what he was advertised to be, has been a big part of Houston's improved defensive play. "He's just a playmaker. He's very sound in what's he's doing," Texans head coach Gary Kubiak said this week. He added, "When you get in crunch time, he tends to make even more plays. He's playing like a veteran, playing like a four- or five year player right now."

Larry English
San Diego Chargers

Ht: 6-2 1⁄8  | Wt: 255 | Sp: 4.84
Drafted: 16th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            NO       1            0         0      0      0

2            NO       1            0         0      0      0

3            NO       2            0         0      1      0

4            NO       2            1         1      0      0

6            NO       4            1         0      0      0

A somewhat surprising selection by San Diego on Draft Day, the plan is for English to be brought along slowly this season. A converted defensive end out of Northern Illinois, he was limited in the preseason by a hamstring injury, causing him to fall a bit behind in learning the scheme. Slated to be more of a pass-rush specialist in 2009, the rookie didn't see a ton of field time in the first month, although when LB Shawne Merriman missed most of Week Three with an injured groin, English came in and made some plays in relief. He notched his first NFL sack and forced fumble vs. the Steelers in Week Four, and he followed that up with his highest tackle total and another sack in the next game. With Merriman set to become a free agent after the season and not expected back in San Diego, the Chargers are grooming English to be their future starter at right outside linebacker. While his playing time and contributions are likely to be sporadic in '09, the club clearly has major plans for this year's first-round pick.

Robert Ayers
Denver Broncos

Ht: 6-3 1⁄8  | Wt: 272 | Sp: 4.82
Drafted: 18th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             NO       0          0         0      0      0

2             NO       0          0         0      0      0

3             NO       1          0         0      0      0

4             NO       2          0         0      0      0

5             NO       3          0         0      0      0

6             NO       2          0         0      0      0

The basics of defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's 3-4 scheme came to Ayers with relative ease, but he's still trying to figure out the nuances. It's far too early to stick the bust label on Ayers, even though his numbers thus far leave much to be desired. He just hasn't had enough opportunities to be called a major disappointment due to the fact that he's stuck behind Elvis Dumervil, who has played at an elite level through the early portion of the season. Ayers, who played mostly defensive end in college at Tennessee, is getting most of his snaps in nickel situations when Dumervil shifts to the left side, clearing a spot for the rookie at right outside linebacker. Close observers say he showed enough physical ability in training camp to inspire hope that he will develop into the playmaker the Broncos hoped they were getting on Draft Day. It's going to take him more time than many would have liked, but he still has a shot to be very good.

Clay Matthews
Green Bay Packers

Ht: 6-3 1⁄8 | Wt: 240 | Sp: 4.66
Drafted: 26th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             NO        1         0         0      0      0

2             NO        2         1         0      1      0

3             NO        1         0         0      1      0

4             NO        3         0         1      0      0

6             YES       5         2         0      1      0

After being hampered by a hamstring injury throughout the offseason and preseason, Matthews lost valuable practice time and is began the season second on the depth chart behind Brady Poppinga at right outside linebacker. But there's a good reason the Packers gave up a second-round and two third-round draft picks to select Matthews in the first round, as the USC product has developed into a steady producer. In the first three games, Matthews, who was widely considered one of the better pure pass rushers available in the draft, played about 50 percent of the time, coming in on sub packages in the Packers' constantly shifting 3-4 scheme. Matthews made a big splash on a national stage in Week Four when he stripped the ball away from Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and then ran 42 yards for a touchdown. Matthews got his first start in Week Six and thrilled his coaches and teammates with a performance that included five tackles (three for loss) and two sacks.

James Laurinaitis
St. Louis Rams

Ht: 6-1 7⁄8  | Wt: 244 | Sp: 4.78
Drafted: 35th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1             YES      14        0         0      0      0

2             YES       8         0         0      0      0

3             YES       3         0         0      0      0

4             YES       9         0         0      0      0

5             YES       6         0         0      1       1

6             YES       5         0         0      1       1

Picking up where he left off at Ohio State, where he was a three-year standout and two-time captain, the son of a professional wrestler has been a tackling machine for the Rams. He quickly made a case for himself as the team's first legitimate middle linebacker since London Fletcher with an eye-opening 14-tackle effort in his pro debut in Seattle. A self-made overachiever with excellent intelligence, the Rams' second-round pick in the draft has been much stronger at the point of attack than team insiders expected and has displayed very good range in pass coverage. Going all out in his game preparation with a tremendous work ethic, he also has done a more-than-adequate job calling the defensive signals. Laurinaitis tailed off a bit in the Rams' Week Three loss to the Packers due to a banged-up shoulder, but he bounced back with a team-leading nine-tackle effort in Week Four vs. the 49ers. He's picked off passes in his last two games.

Rey Maualuga
Cincinnati Bengals

Ht: 6-1 3⁄4  | Wt: 249 | Sp: 4.86
Drafted: 38th overall

Week   Start   Tkl       Sack      FF   PD   Int

1            YES        8         0          0      0      0

2            YES        4         1          2      0      0

3            YES        5         0          0      1      0

4            YES       2          0          0      0      0

5            YES       8          0          0      0      0

6            YES       1          0          0      0      0

Maualuga slid on Draft Day amid whispers about his character, but the Bengals happily stopped his slide, and they have reaped the benefits to date. Off the field, Maualuga is said to be humble and has received raves for his work in the community. On the field, he has transitioned to strong-side linebacker successfully, beating out veteran Rashad Jeanty late in the summer and playing as if he will be a long-term fixture in the Bengals' defense. In time, Maualuga could move back to his natural position of middle linebacker, but for now, his physicality and playmaking ability make him a force outside in Mike Zimmer's 4-3 scheme — a system in which he fits very well. He stood out in the Week Two win at Green Bay. His second forced fumble of the game was recovered by the Bengals, and the offense responded by scoring the eventual game-winning TD. Also, he notched his first career sack, closing quickly on QB Aaron Rodgers. However, his play has been a little uneven of late, with an impressive game in Week Five at Baltimore sandwiched between outings in which he did not make a big impact.

PFW has launched its brand-new NFL Draft Newsletter series, with the first issue now ready for mailing. Produced by PFW's player personnel department under the direction of Nolan Nawrocki, the series consists of four information-packed issues. For more info or to subscribe — click here for PDF e-pub or here for print format.