Luke Kuechly

[milkman]

Originally Posted by beach tribe

Especially a guy who would be playing LILB for us. That said, I do think he would make a good thumper, just don't know if that's the best route for us to go, all things considered.

The thing is, the idea that he can be a thumper is a projection based in his size.

I would argue that a guy that hasn't shown he is a thumper has the desire to be a thumper.

It took DJ 5 years to finally get to a point that he plays a more physical game than the one he played in college.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by milkman

The thing is, the idea that he can be a thumper is a projection based in his size.

I would argue that a guy that hasn't shown he is a thumper has the desire to be a thumper.

It took DJ 5 years to finally get to a point that he plays a more physical game than the one he played in college.

Kuechly sheds blocks EXTREMELY WELL.

I agree that there would be an adjustment period, but Boston College prospects are renowned for developing extremely well into pros.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Kuechly sheds blocks EXTREMELY WELL.

I agree that there would be an adjustment period, but Boston College prospects are renowned for developing extremely well into pros.

I am not taking a guy that could be a thumper to replace a guy I know is a thumper.

We can argue all night about it, and my position won't change.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by milkman

I am not taking a guy that could be a thumper to replace a guy I know is a thumper.

We can argue all night about it, and my position won't change.

That's because you're an old fart who won't learn new tricks.

What do we ask thumpers to do?

Attack the line of scrimmage, slam the hole, shed blocks and rack up tackles in the box.

There is nothing to suggest Kuechly will be anything other than stellar in this role.

His ability to shed blocks are as good as anybody. He doesn't hit with authority, but he doesn't miss tackles either by going for the big hit. He will require less than a season's worth of development and be as good as anybody in the league by his second season.

He is a sure thing.

He's not necessarily who I'd take at 11, but he's a sure thing.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

That's because you're an old fart who won't learn new tricks.

What do we ask thumpers to do?

Attack the line of scrimmage, slam the hole, shed blocks and rack up tackles in the box.

There is nothing to suggest Kuechly will be anything other than stellar in this role.

His ability to shed blocks are as good as anybody. He doesn't hit with authority, but he doesn't miss tackles either by going for the big hit. He will require less than a season's worth of development and be as good as anybody in the league by his second season.

He is a sure thing.

He's not necessarily who I'd take at 11, but he's a sure thing.

Aaron Curry was a sure thing.

[buddha]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

That's because you're an old fart who won't learn new tricks.

What do we ask thumpers to do?

Attack the line of scrimmage, slam the hole, shed blocks and rack up tackles in the box.

There is nothing to suggest Kuechly will be anything other than stellar in this role.

His ability to shed blocks are as good as anybody. He doesn't hit with authority, but he doesn't miss tackles either by going for the big hit. He will require less than a season's worth of development and be as good as anybody in the league by his second season.

He is a sure thing.

He's not necessarily who I'd take at 11, but he's a sure thing.

He's a sure thing? Sure to do what exactly? You must be very easy to impress if you looked at that video and came up with, "sure thing!"

Kuechly is servicable...not dominant. If you're taking a LB at this point in the draft, he had better be dominant. We're the same team that passed on Patrick Willis. Think about it.

Belcher is good enough, and Kuechly won't be an improvement anytime soon, if ever.

I'd go offensive line, CB, or defensive line at that position if the right guys were there. If not, trade down and get more picks.

[Direckshun]

Originally Posted by buddha

He's a sure thing? Sure to do what exactly? You must be very easy to impress if you looked at that video and came up with, "sure thing!"

Well, let's watch it together:

Originally Posted by Chiefs=Good

0:07: Play isn't even run to his side, so whatever. Eludes a block, stays on his feet.
0:14: Anticipates the slant, and fronts it well.
0:21: Stays with the slot and fronts it well.
0:30: He's mostly negated by a blocker, but appears to be spinning into the play should it continue.
0:35: Playing the 9-tech off the RT, and play isn't run to him. Darts into backfield to get in on the tackle.
0:43: Drops into shallow zone, doesn't get any safety help whatsoever, not remotely his fault -- two corners let him go.

(A theme you'll notice is that all of Kuechly's teammates suck.)

0:55: Plays to a draw with lineman... gets in on tackle.
1:02: Never bites on the misdirection, makes tackle.
1:12: Clowns a blocker and ends a broken play.
1:18: In the Mike backer position, holds up blocker and makes the play while being facemasked.

(Another theme you'll notice is that Kuechly slips or holds blockers very well.)

1:36: Bites on a trickplay. Otherwise, not his play to defend.
1:43: Plays the hot route but has plenty of juice to get outside and get in on the tackle.
1:51: Safeties caught sleeping. And the corner plays the short route rather than the long route.
2:01: Just basic zone defense here.
2:07: Plays the Urlacher role in coverage, then gets in on the tackle.
2:26: Does a good job shedding the pulling guard, but RB runs away from the block for some reason.
2:31: Reads the draw immediately, but his own teammate gets in his way.

I could go on and on and on.

Basically: a lot of perfect positioning, playing within himself, doing as much of a job as he can.

But no big hits. No sexy highlights.

Bah.

Football is an emotional sport to watch, but you can't build your team emotionally. If you want a player to give you an erection from some decapitation on SportsCenter, then you're not keeping your eyes out for all the other people who make plays like that work.

Kuechly is not a sexy pick, much like Mayo wasn't. He does his job perfectly, but because that job doesn't employ bone-crunching hits or tons of sacks, people dismiss it.

Building a football team is a smart man's job, and I think Kuechly's a smart pick.

Originally Posted by buddha

Kuechly is servicable...not dominant. If you're taking a LB at this point in the draft, he had better be dominant.

If we take Kuechly, our linebackers will be dominant.

Hali-Kuechly-Johnson-Houston

What each person does in this corps enables the others to do their jobs even better.

Hali's abilities make Houston's job easier. Johnson's job makes Hali's job easier. Kuechly makes Johnson's job easier.

That's the whole point -- that's what the Right 53 is.

It's not necessarily getting the best players with the best highlights.

It's about getting the players that fit and make everybody else's job exponentially easier.