The Mock for Open Minds

[rayzor]

Can he (Luke) play every spot?

I'm not sure about WLB, but I think so. He showed some athleticism I didn't think he had. Very smart player with good instincts, which is probably why his game film didn't look like he would have good combine numbers showing above average athleticism.

agreed here. i was of the opinion that while he was probably the smartest D player in the draft this year and was more impressive as a tackler than anyone i've seen in a while, i thought he was limited to the Mike position just because i didn't see him being "quick" truth is, though, that he is and those combine numbers proved it.

he's solid enough in overage that i would feel good about him dealing with any TE or slot receiver if needed. he didn't blitz much, but i don't think it was because he wasn't good at it. they wanted him to control things in the middle of the field and from his production it's hard to argue with that decision.

that said, i think he's got enough speed to take care of QBs or RBs behind the line of scrimmage. if he was asked to blitz i think he'd be as solid as anyone we could want. he's not as fast as TD (was?) or james anderson, but few are. at this combine he was the 3rd fastest LB (or 4th if you count bruce irvin as an OLB). that 4.58 40 is just flat impressive.

i wouldn't consider him a particularly hard hitter, but he's as good of a tackler as you are going to find.

i don't see him taking beason's place any time soon, but if we needed someone to step up there he'd be better than anyone.

the thought of beason and keuchly playing ILB when we run a 3-4 gets me a little excited, actually.

i've said this before...i'd rather us take a DT or CB, but if we drafted keuchly at the 9 spot i wouldn't be pissed. imo, he's among the top 3 defensive players in the draft. in fact i wouldn't argue against the idea that the only defensive player better than him is claiborne.

i've dismissed the idea of keuchly in the past, but if that was the pick i'd be on board with it pretty easily.

[Kuech the Sneak]

I actually really do like this mock, good reasoning behind every pick. Don't know if Wolfe will be there that late and might be better to stay at DT for passing downs

[LinvilleGorge]

IMO, if you're drafting a 4-3 LB in the top 10, he has to be a beast of a Mike or a Will. I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Sam who comes out of the game on passing downs.

[rayzor]

IMO, if you're drafting a 4-3 LB in the top 10, he has to be a beast of a Mike or a Will. I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Sam who comes out of the game on passing downs.

not sure if this is what you meant, but you wouldn't have to do that with keuchly. he's a stout as anyone in pass D. great coverage skills.

[Kuech the Sneak]

IMO, if you're drafting a 4-3 LB in the top 10, he has to be a beast of a Mike or a Will. I don't want to spend a top 10 pick on a Sam who comes out of the game on passing downs.

He doesn't have to come out on passing downs, Anderson played SAM last year and stayed in for passing downs

[HeatCheck]

There were passing downs against our defense ha

[Rags]

>Worry about Beason, a proven beast, missing one season so draft a LB in the top 10 when we have way more pressing needs and he's not even the bpa

>Think were set at WR and putting hopes on a 6th round draft pick who had a pretty okay rookie season but is coming off a injury and we should ignore WR in the draft or even signing one in FA.

HUDDLE LOGIC

look, not knocking Kuechly, but there is almost no reason to take him. What happened to Beason is not even close to the situation with Dan Morgan, and there is zero reason to hit the panic button for a single season of not having Beason. Even our OLB problem isn't top 10 bad, especially when no lb this draft is worth a top 10 pick, none make that big of an iimpact, and we have bigger holes and no matter what, Kuecbly will not be te bpa.

[koolkatluke]

>Worry about Beason, a proven beast, missing one season so draft a LB in the top 10 when we have way more pressing needs and he's not even the bpa

>Think were set at WR and putting hopes on a 6th round draft pick who had a pretty okay rookie season but is coming off a injury and we should ignore WR in the draft or even signing one in FA.

HUDDLE LOGIC

look, not knocking Kuechly, but there is almost no reason to take him. What happened to Beason is not even close to the situation with Dan Morgan, and there is zero reason to hit the panic button for a single season of not having Beason. Even our OLB problem isn't top 10 bad, especially when no lb this draft is worth a top 10 pick, none make that big of an iimpact, and we have bigger holes and no matter what, Kuecbly will not be te bpa.

Wes Welker wasn't drafted Colston was a 7th round pick. We were a top 5 offense last year. We couldn't stop people on defense.

You will be the same person talking about Drafting another WR in 2 years if Smith is still the only 1 catching 70-80 balls.

Sooner or later you have to give time to let people develop.

[MHS831]

Sooner or later you have to give time to let people develop.

Amen

[MHS831]

The thread called for open minds, and then people come on here to tell everyone this is wrong. I blame public schools.

[Rags]

Wes Welker wasn't drafted Colston was a 7th round pick. We were a top 5 offense last year. We couldn't stop people on defense.

You will be the same person talking about Drafting another WR in 2 years if Smith is still the only 1 catching 70-80 balls.

Sooner or later you have to give time to let people develop.

I'm not knocking Gettis, I love him and I think he can be great. And I know we need to focus on defense.

I'm just curious as to why we seem okay with drafting a inside linebacker because Beason was injured for a season and we're panicking, and okay with Gettis coming in off of an injury and not worried about WR depth at all.

[Actionman0z]

I'm not knocking Gettis, I love him and I think he can be great. And I know we need to focus on defense.

I'm just curious as to why we seem okay with drafting a inside linebacker because Beason was injured for a season and we're panicking, and okay with Gettis coming in off of an injury and not worried about WR depth at all.

Good points. Its gonna be a crap shoot

[koolkatluke]

I'm not knocking Gettis, I love him and I think he can be great. And I know we need to focus on defense.

I'm just curious as to why we seem okay with drafting a inside linebacker because Beason was injured for a season and we're panicking, and okay with Gettis coming in off of an injury and not worried about WR depth at all.

I agree with the LB part that's why I didn't post about it. I do think we need a back MLB but we can get that later in the draft.

[Rags]

Yeah with Dan Connor likely gone, I expect us to get a backup MLB either through FA or the draft, but we shouldn't take Luke at 9. Bigter needs than ILB and no one really knows if he can play outside.