Before you decide that Luke is playing poorly...

[Jeremy Igo]

Before you go and tell your friends how poorly Luke is playing, I would like you to take a closer look at a play that when watched in real time looks like a Kuechly missed tackle and nothing more.

 

 

First of all, this is a base 4-3 defense with Klein at the top of the screen on the line of scrimmage lined up against the tight end in the Sam position. AJ is usually in the weak side LB position, but because of the injury to Thomas Davis, he was playing the strong side.  Luke in the middle, and that is Chase Blackburn in the weak side spot where AJ Klein would have been playing if TD was healthy. Also notice Josh Norman over covering Smith in the Slot.

 

 

The Ball is snapped, a run is immediately read. AJ Klein is sealing the edge with the tight end. Look at who pops out on Kuechly right away. That is the Ravens 300lb center. The only free man to disrupt the full back enough to plug the hole is Chase Blackburn. Also worth noting that both Star and Cole are matched up 1 on 1. No double teams here.

 

 

Cole and Star fail to disrupt the guards. Blackburn fails at the point of attack, and the RB easily finds the hole. Notice Kuechly sees whats happening and is trying to release himself from the center's hold. Also, notice Josh Norman now recognizes the play.

 

 

Kuechly manages to almost get an arm on the back while still being pushed by the Ravens center. This forced the runner to the right.

 

 

Kuechly now sheds the center, only to find Josh Norman in his way. Norman over persued to the right and became another obstacle for Luke to fight through.

 

 

 

The play ends with Kuechly getting enough of a grab on the runner to slow him just a bit and giving DeCoud and Harper time to make the tackle. It was a gain of 9 yards. Without Kuechly being the player he is, it could have gone all the way.

 

Like I said, this play happens so fast, the easiest thing to see is Luke falling down as he gets an arm on the runner. Very easy to place the blame on his shoulders. But looking at all that is happening, I don't think it is fair.

 

The good news is if Davis is back, Klein can once again be in his normal spot and maybe makes this play where Blackburn could not.

 

[fieryprophet]

Star and Cole need to step it up.

[Cary Kollins]

Davis is one of the most important players on this team. Hopefully he can get back to 100% soon.

[chknwing]

lukes the qb of the defense, its his job to make sure people are in the correct spots.  Rivera says the main issue is people not in the right position.  Outside of lukes individual play which is top notch, hes in charge making sure carolina is in the correct defense for what the offense is showing and if not yell out changes.  Thats the part of his game right now that he is not doing well with imo.

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

Anyone not understanding that we are losing the battle up front just does not understand Football.

Luke is fine...the DTs destroying the OL is what keeps Luke clean to make plays. So far they are getting blocked and the lack of push from the DEs is the domino effect.

[Mojo]

 

 

Or he could have just made the tackle.  Can't put that on Norman really.

[Jeremy Igo]

lukes the qb of the defense, its his job to make sure people are in the correct spots.  Rivera says the main issue is people not in the right position.  Outside of lukes individual play which is top notch, hes in charge making sure carolina is in the correct defense for what the offense is showing and if not yell out changes.  Thats the part of his game right now that he is not doing well with imo.

 

This was the correct defensive call.

 

 

It was executed terribly.

[greghardy'sAK-47]

said in another thread that the linebackers have played better, but there is no denying the fact that the tackles have been slow to react and are not getting much push.  watching some of the replays on tv from endzone perspective and you get a good view on just how quickly the olines are getting to the 2nd level of the panther defense in the past two games.  

[PantherFeez]

Charles is standing up and playing wide + the nose tackle is right over the center in the 1 tech This looks like a 3-4 alignment

[rayzor]

Or he could have just made the tackle.  Can't put that on Norman really.

 

with just one arm and the runner starting to change direction while the center is still pushing him backward?

 

 

yeah....anyone could have made that tackle.

[Jeremy Igo]

Charles is standing up and playing wide + the nose tackle is right over the center in the 1 tech This looks like a 3-4 alignment

 

Its just the screen grab. He was down by the time the ball was snapped.

[Lumps]

Luke is trying to do too much, that's the issue. He is surrounded by garbage behind him and crap play in front of him.

[@bobbyagnese]

Short is playing excellent. Star and Cole, not so much.

[chknwing]

short needs to start, period.