Brockers=overrated?

[Cat'sGrowl]

Either way you're taking a chance. The difference is that Keuchly pans out you get a "meh" player versus a dominant one.

The only counter argument here is that Keuchly is "more safe" which is I-85 to Foxball.

[rayzor]

keuchly isn't going to be a "meh" player anymore than anyone else. if anything he's proven that he can be just as dynamic and as much a difference maker as what we're hoping brockers could be.

just because he has a low floor doesn't mean he has a low ceiling. he's one of the best LBs to come out since beason and willis and i wouldn't have an issue with someone putting him on their level when they came out.

[Cat'sGrowl]

keuchly isn't going to be a "meh" player anymore than anyone else. if anything he's proven that he can be just as dynamic and as much a difference maker as what we're hoping brockers could be.

just because he has a low floor doesn't mean he has a low ceiling. he's one of the best LBs to come out since beason and willis and i wouldn't have an issue with someone putting him on their level when they came out.

Keuchly has zero tools to indicate he would be a dominant outside LB

[rayzor]

Keuchly has zero tools to indicate he would be a dominant outside LB

disagree with that completely. how do you see him lacking?

[panthers55]

If you move Keuchly outside, you're going to get at best, a nice role player. A solid contributor. Is that really why you want out of a top ten pick? At best he's AJ Hawk, but more than likely you're getting that other crummy white LB the Cowboys drafted a while back with the 15th or 16th overall pick whose name eludes me. We can do better. Take a chance.

Racial profiling ftw

The only reason some folks are calling him an inside 3-4 backer is because he is very versatile against the run and pass and isn't a great pass rusher which is what OLBs have become in the 3-4.

If you move him outside you get a guy who is bigger, faster, stronger and more versatile than Beason or Davis. You get a guy with great instincts like Beason who is around the ball and someone with better lateral movement and pass skills. Yeah let me the first to speak the blasphemy. Kuechly has better measurables than Beason and is similar to Patrick Willis. Can he play? Yeah he was the 2011 Butkus winner. He would be a great pick at number 9. Role player? Seriously?

[Cat'sGrowl]

disagree with that completely. how do you see him lacking?

He's built a nice reputation of being "decent" or sometimes "adequate" in pass coverage. In the ACC. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Luke Keuchly is know for being "solid" in pass coverage, as a Mike Backer.

Now let's picture his "solid" pass coverage skills trying to cover Jimmy Graham with Dres Brees getting ready to sling the ball.

He has no experience rushing the passer. He wasn't asked to do so, and you'll forgive me if I don't assume that chubby white fella will have a Demarcus Ware type knack for doing it.

He is built like a MLB. That is what he is suited to. All the work it would take to build him into an OLB isn't worth it, when his ceiling there doesn't project to be that high to begin with.

It'd be a waste of his potential and our time, not to mention the number 9 pick it would cost. There is just other options, even if they aren't considered "BPA"

[CRA]

But it literally doesn't boost the team in any capacity. It doesn't matter how great Keuchly is if there isn't a spot for him to play. Bringing him just railroads us into moving Beason outside, or just accepting crummy play from an OLB whose poor in coverage and can't rush the QB.

It's okay to incorperate need into your drafting method.

We have no clue what Rivera ultimately wants to do with this defense. No offseason and massive injuries prevented the picture from being painted. Also, with the question marks in regards to who physical will be in a Panther uniform you don't know there isn't a spot for Luke as soon as week 1.

We have a need at LB. We have a need at CB. We have a need at S. We have a need at DT and DE.

If BPA is a LB....no need reaching for another spot.

[rayzor]

He's built a nice reputation of being "decent" or sometimes "adequate" in pass coverage. In the ACC. In the Atlantic Coast Conference, Luke Keuchly is know for being "solid" in pass coverage, as a Mike Backer.

Now let's picture his "solid" pass coverage skills trying to cover Jimmy Graham with Dres Brees getting ready to sling the ball.

He has no experience rushing the passer. He wasn't asked to do so, and you'll forgive me if I don't assume that chubby white fella will have a Demarcus Ware type knack for doing it.

sorry. quit reading after that.

i'm done.

[CRA]

Positions of need on the Panthers defense more important than MLB:

DT, NT, CB, S, OLB

Question....do you have any clue what Rivera wants to do with this defense? Scheme wise? Last year didn't give him a chance to do anything but tread water.

Do you know who is going to be on our roster week 1 at LB?

There is a place for great talent. It always finds it way to the field. No need to reach drastically for need if BPA also fits a need.

Beason could return and be injury prone for the rest of his career for all we know or a shell of his former self...we don't know, we assume he returns in a scenario with only positive outcomes b/c we want it that way.

Giants haven't had great needs when they have drafted in certain areas. They have in others and opted to go BPA instead. They put an emphasis on BPA early. The talent finds it way to the field.

[Cat'sGrowl]

We have no clue what Rivera ultimately wants to do with this defense. No offseason and massive injuries prevented the picture from being painted. Also, with the question marks in regards to who physical will be in a Panther uniform you don't know there isn't a spot for Luke as soon as week 1.

We have a need at LB. We have a need at CB. We have a need at S. We have a need at DT and DE.

If BPA is a LB....no need reaching for another spot.

But we do know what Rivera wants to do with the defense. This is a Jim Johnson 4-3. We pride ourself on zone blitzes and versatility by your players. If you don't have players who fit that mold, and whose talent suffers a significant drop off, then you aren't building your defense to be the best it can be.

And now you're equating the need at LB with the need at DT or CB, which I think you know there is a difference.

[panthers55]

sorry. quit reading after that.

i'm done.

He doesn't have a clue obviously.

Tackling machine. Great instincts. Field general. Luke Kuechly already had all the buzz words typically attributed to the top inside linebacker prospect in every draft. But few people touted his athleticism - until Monday, when the former Boston College standout ran a blistering 4.50 unofficial 40, which would tie Robert McCune for the top time since 2000 by an inside linebacker. (40-yard dash results). He also led the inside linebackers with a 38-inch vertical jump. The "official" 40 time will likely be adjusted down a bit, but that won't affect the bottom line. With that type of speed, and noted instincts in coverage, Kuechly has shown the ability to be a three-down linebacker in the NFL who can hold his own in coverage against running backs and the growing list of freakishly athletic tight ends. That's exactly while Kuechly is a virtual lock for the first round despite playing at a position that has lot a lot of draft value in recent years. A source told NFLDraftScout.com last week that Kuechly, who posted 532 tackles in just three college seasons, might be the "safest" player in this draft. Alabama's Dont'a Hightower enjoyed a strong workout himself, posting a pair of unofficial 4.62 40 times at 265 pounds. - NFLDraftScout.com

[Sloth]

Non pass-rushing LBs taken top ten over the last ten years:

2011: 0

2010: Rolando McClain

2009: Aaron Curry

2008: Keith Rivers, Jerod Mayo

2007: 0

2006: A.J. Hawk, Ernie Sims

2005: 0

2004: 0

2003: 0

2002: 0

Pretty horrid group (excluding Mayo who is very good and McClain who looks bad but gets more time).

Also, positional value kills him (and DeCastro). Willis ran a 4.37 at his pro-day, was wildly regarded as an unbelievably freak player and couldn't crack the top 10.

Kuechly is a possibly elite talent at MLB who might have the athleticism to play Sam or Will. If our probowl MLB comes back from injury, and there is no reason to expect he won't, we just drafted a SLB with a top 10 pick.

[panthers55]

But we do know what Rivera wants to do with the defense. This is a Jim Johnson 4-3. We pride ourself on zone blitzes and versatility by your players. If you don't have players who fit that mold, and whose talent suffers a significant drop off, then you aren't building your defense to be the best it can be.

And now you're equating the need at LB with the need at DT or CB, which I think you know there is a difference.

If you had a clue about Jim Johnson's 4-3 you would know the key group are linebackers. The next is a strong nose tackle who can stop the run. Who else runs Jim Johnson's 4-3 and Mayock said would that Kuechly would be a slam dunk at 15 for them. Yeah, the Philadephia Eagles.

[CRA]

But we do know what Rivera wants to do with the defense. This is a Jim Johnson 4-3. We pride ourself on zone blitzes and versatility by your players. If you don't have players who fit that mold, and whose talent suffers a significant drop off, then you aren't building your defense to be the best it can be.

And now you're equating the need at LB with the need at DT or CB, which I think you know there is a difference.

Rivera isn't a one trick pony. That is why he is such a good defensive mind. Give him time and his D will scheme around his talent.

I am saying we have needs across the board. Top 10, you draft BPA. Factor need in later in the draft.

We have bodies at DT. Young bodies. Adding a raw rookie, will most likely just add someone who shouldn't see the field. We might have something at DT developing already. DT play is a need...reaching with a top 10 draft pick on a raw rookie doesn't sound like a sure fire way to address it.