Luke Kuechly

[CAPantherFan]

Tell me about this guy. Is he that good? Yasinkas seems to think he's getting much consideration. Assuming TD can't make it the entire year (sorry TD I'm pulling for you but 3 ACLs???) and somehow Beason re-injures his Achielles and Connor is gone we'd be in serious trouble at LB.....

Tom Sorensen writes that Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon would be a good fit for the Panthers, if he’s available with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. A lot of people are assuming the Panthers will take a defensive lineman with that pick. That’s possible. But I don’t think anything’s definite. If Blackmon’s available, the Panthers would give him strong consideration. He’d be a nice complement opposite Steve Smith. Plus, I also think there’s another position the Panthers are looking at that could surprise people. That’s linebacker and I think Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is a guy that’s getting a long look.

[XClown1986]

He averaged 16 tackles a game last year. Won the Lombardi, Nagurski and the Butkus Awards, and ACC Defensive Player of the year.

In 3 years he totaled 532 tackles (35.5 of those for a loss), 7 interceptions, 3.5 sacks, and 2 touchdowns.

He ran in the 4.5 range at 6'3 242lbs and did 27 reps on bench at the combine.

Oh and on draft day he will only be 21 years and 6 days old. So he's still a puppy.

So...ummm... yeah he's pretty damn impressive.

And Dick Butkus showed up personally at the Boston College Banquet to give him his Butkus Award early because he thought so highly of the kid. (He has never done that) If that says anything.

If the Panthers draft him, they have an All-Pro middle linebacker and future hall-of-famer for the next 10-15 years, if he stays healthy.

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

I also think he has the versatility to play almost every LB position as well.

[Toolbox]

The kid is special that's for sure.. but do we really need another LB when we have such glaring needs in the secondary?? claiborne falls to us we have to take him.

[x djdrew x]

if it were up to me ,

priority in the draft would be :

1) Mo Claiborne

2) Kuechly

3) best DL on board

[CAPantherFan]

If Claiborne falls I agree that's the obvious pick. If Claiborne isn't there then anything's possible and Luke may be our pick..

[KendrickPanther]

This guy is one of the best players we could expect to be available at no.9. Everyone said he was a great football player that lacked athleticism. So he comes to the combine and blows away the competition and now no one can find a flaw besides playing in the ACC. This guy is the polar opposite of Dontari Poe. He dominated in college with questions about athleticism.

The question is do the Panthers take BPA or pray TD and Beason return to health and go for a bigger need. I could see the Panthers passing on this guy then five years down the road regretting it.

[JawnyBlaze]

Assuming TD can't make it the entire year (sorry TD I'm pulling for you but 3 ACLs???) and somehow Beason re-injures his Achielles and Connor is gone we'd be in serious trouble at LB.....

With that mentality, we should draft Richardson because what if Deangelo, Stewart and Tolbert all get hurt? Or we should draft Tannehill if he's available, because what if Cam gets hurt? I've said this before, I don't want to spend the #9 on a backup MLB because it's not smart to use your top 10 first round pick to backup the 3rd best player on your team "because he might get hurt". You use it on a position where you don't already have a great player.

[JawnyBlaze]

double post

[Ken]

I want Kuechly as the 1st pick. I think he'll be the BPA at #9 AND considering LB is a need AND Rivera wants his defense to have a very strong LB core.

Here's my take on him:

Positives

- First and foremost he's a leader, with all the intangibles you want.

- Has great anticipation and has a natural instinct for the game.

- High motor, he was on a average BC defense and never seemed tired.

- Very good against the run.

- Perfect tackler and very rarely whiffs on a tackle.

- Ball hawk. Wherever the ball is, Kuechly is.

- Able to fight off blocks from bigger O Linemen.

Negatives

- Not great in pass coverage. Makes the right angles but sometimes gets beat.

- Pass Rush. Not sure if it was him or the system but wasn't a big part of his game in BC.

- Not a "heavy hitter" but makes up for it with great technique.

With Ron Rivera as HC its hard to see if we draft him he'll not improve on his weaknesses.

With a healthy TD & Beason, James Anderson and Kuechly the Panthers can claim to have one of the best LB core in the league.

[jarhead]

Tell me about this guy. Is he that good? Yasinkas seems to think he's getting much consideration. Assuming TD can't make it the entire year (sorry TD I'm pulling for you but 3 ACLs???) and somehow Beason re-injures his Achielles and Connor is gone we'd be in serious trouble at LB.....

Tom Sorensen writes that Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon would be a good fit for the Panthers, if he’s available with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. A lot of people are assuming the Panthers will take a defensive lineman with that pick. That’s possible. But I don’t think anything’s definite. If Blackmon’s available, the Panthers would give him strong consideration. He’d be a nice complement opposite Steve Smith. Plus, I also think there’s another position the Panthers are looking at that could surprise people. That’s linebacker and I think Boston College’s Luke Kuechly is a guy that’s getting a long look.

I hope they are evaluating Beasons progress.....11 month rehab at best and then we can see how he looks

[chubs2496]

With that mentality, we should draft Richardson because what if Deangelo, Stewart and Tolbert all get hurt? Or we should draft Tannehill if he's available, because what if Cam gets hurt? I've said this before, I don't want to spend the #9 on a backup MLB because it's not smart to use your top 10 first round pick to backup the 3rd best player on your team "because he might get hurt". You use it on a position where you don't already have a great player.

Well I see hat u mean but there's a difference with a player that's has been injury prone an tire his acl 3 years in a row and having a possible freak injury with d lo or any of the other backs. As much as I love td I have no faith that he can come back and stay healthy. And with beason u have a possible injury that will make him a complete different player than before.

And as far as the rb's go we have depth there. We do not at the lb position

[DaCityKats]

im all for adding LBs but not in the 1st round. it doesnt matter how good your LBs are if the opposing OL is getting hands on them. than since this team whats a blitzing LB why invest in one who hasnt done so?

[Ken]

im all for adding LBs but not in the 1st round. it doesnt matter how good your LBs are if the opposing OL is getting hands on them. than since this team whats a blitzing LB why invest in one who hasnt done so?

Yeah we need a better DL but I don't think Poe is #9 material. I think Kuechly is by far a safer pick at #9 than Poe...in fact I think Fletcher is better.

As I said Kuechly will probably be BPA and I don't see us passing on an elite LB when there are no elite DTs or CBs available.