J.J. Watt or Luke Kuechly

[KARASMATIC444]

Luke because it is close enough. They a  both on another level from most players. If its close i pick the panthers He is our guy and we need to enjoy what we have. Now do one that says josh norman or richard sherman and you will see its not blind hommerism 

[The Disciple]

I'd take Kuechly everyday! Watt can easily be made ineffective by running away from him or running quick game on passes. Yeah he had a fumble recovery for a TD last night but he didn't cause the fumble. Don't get me wrong, Watt is a beast. But Kuechly does a lot more and has to do more than just get a call and shoot a gap.  Diagnosing a offense presnap, audibling, and reading run pass takes a lot more than putting your hand in the dirt and getting after it. At the end of the day Watt has the sexy numbers that everyone likes. But I am convinced if we sent Kuechly after the QB more often, his numbers would look sexy too.

[ajax4132]

Watt is a freak but the homer in me takes luke

[nctarheel0619]

I'd take Kuechly everyday! Watt can easily be made ineffective by running away from him or running quick game on passes. Yeah he had a fumble recovery for a TD last night but he didn't cause the fumble. Don't get me wrong, Watt is a beast. But Kuechly does a lot more and has to do more than just get a call and shoot a gap.  Diagnosing a offense presnap, audibling, and reading run pass takes a lot more than putting your hand in the dirt and getting after it. At the end of the day Watt has the sexy numbers that everyone likes. But I am convinced if we sent Kuechly after the QB more often, his numbers would look sexy too.

 

[Jimmy]

We had our JJ Watt type player already in Julius Peppers. Watt is doing the same type of things Peppers did a few years ago for us. Let's see how a dominant MLB does for us. Right now I'd take Luke because the MLB has much more of an impact on total defense

[BuffaloBills62]

This post only showcases that you haven't watched a Panther game. Luke didn't have Star or Short in his rookie campaign. He was the only presence for us down the middle in 2012 (you know, the season where he took us from a bottom feeder defense into a top ten one -- 18 spots). Regardless of his weaknesses in pass coverage, he's still more than capable of covering WRs, TEs and RBs. For instance, he can be baited into defending the run on a play action pass but somehow he'll fly 15 yards down the field and deflect or knock the ball out of the receiver's hands. Very few linebackers in the league possess that ability and athleticism. At this moment, Davis is superior in pass coverage but Luke is unquestionably the quarterback of our defense. Without Thomas, our front seven is not as effective but without Luke... we're back in the stone age. That's the difference.

JJ Watt is a beast but he doesn't diagnose plays in under 1.5 seconds at the line of scrimmage and then direct traffic. Again, if Watt was that influential, he'd keep that Texan defense from self destructing.

pure homer right there folks.

 

take a look everyone.

[nctarheel0619]

Does he? Like I've said continuously, when Cushing goes out with injuries, The Texans' defense surrenders 55 more rushing yards, 78 more passing yards and 6.8 more points. Watt might have more individual, highlight reel plays but he does not 'take over'.

Is Watt the better player between the two? Duh. BUT is Watt the more important piece on his own defense? As the numbers indicate, no.

 

If you want to go that route, we can do that.  Is Greg Hardy more important than Luke then?  OBVIOUSLY so.  

[Peppers90 NC]

Luke makes more plays, Watt makes more big plays.  And I dont care whether it's a 3-4 or a 4-3, Watt is the best, most disruptive defensive player in the league.

[Peppers90 NC]

In crunch time, the Colts had 2nd and 2.  They run a stretch play, Watt busts through the line and takes them down for a 2 yard loss.  On third and short, he bats down a pass to give his offense a chance.  He took over the 4th quarter of that game as much as any defensive player could possibly do.  How anyone questions that is beyond me and I dont even think it's worthy for debate.

[nctarheel0619]

Riiiiight, I'll trust that judgement when this is the fanbase that viewed Hardy as expendable no more than 9 months ago.

Sorry, but Hardy isn't going to cure our injuries, bring back Johnson from decline, get Star out of his sophomore slump and make Klein into a more consistent tackler.

 

I never viewed Hardy as expendable, I've wanted that dude to have a long term contract since he went off two years ago.  

 

Secondly, the last part sounds like excuses.  Hardy played week one and we got damn good pass rush for 3+ quarters on a team that beat one of the teams we lost to horribly.  Hardy might not do those last things you wrote about, but he is a lot better than Ealy, Horton, and Addison combined at this point.    

[nctarheel0619]

Glad the poll is showing a little faith in my fan base, 31-19 right now.  I was worried for a second though.  

[Peppers90 NC]

So he takes over a series and that counts as the entire game? Let's stop with the hyperbole.

There's no question that Watt makes an impact but I'll take guys like Earl Thomas and Luke Kuechly over JJ Watt.

good for you and i dont really care either.  and no, not just one serious, the entire 4th quarter.  had you watched you may know what im talking about fanboy,

[nctarheel0619]

No, it sounds like you're making excuses for why our defense isn't as strong as last year. Hardy coming back wouldn't change much. We've been bitten by the injury bug and our boys are still sleepwalking because of the soft practices. So far, Addison has 4 sacks and is trending 12. Not bad for a situational pass rusher. Short is on his way to 6 sacks as well. If Star could just penetrate some more (I'm blaming some of his struggles to his weight loss too), we'd be fine without Hardy.

What injuries are you talking about?  Thomas Davis for 1 and a half games?  And what else?  Josh Norman?  The injuries we have on offense are the ones that are killing the team, and that has zero to do with the defense.  I disagree, Hardy is essential for this defense to work.  We were gashed by the run constantly the past three weeks and he is much better in run support than Mario "situational pass rusher" Addison.  

[nctarheel0619]

Against Pittsburgh, Bell amassed most of his rushing yards up the middle and on Johnson's side. Hardy being back in the line up wouldn't make us into uber badasses again. Yes, he's better than Addison but what we're struggling with goes beyond 'talent'. We're not there mentally yet. Davis and Kuechly are missing easy tackles, Star is getting pushed around, Johnson is invisible, etc.

 

I get what you are saying.  Hardy would mask at least one of those problems, and like I said help out in the run game.  All in all, we better hope we get AJ Green news every week vs these next 5 opponents.