How and why Kuechly played perfect coverage

[Khaki Lackey]

For once the refs did the right thing. I guess they figured if they gave tom another PI off an uncatchable ball, it would be too obvious.

Rule or no rule, the Pats didn't deserve the ball on the goal line after throwing up a wounded duck that got picked.

[Clicheking]

Are some of you even Panthers fans??

[footballisasport]

I just watched the play. By the time Luke begins to hug Gronk, the ball is already thrown and is almost in Lester's hands, so that cannot be holding. The ball was also underthrown and Gronk could not have caught it so no PI there. I don't see what people are bitching about. Watch the play yourself and see when Luke begins to hug.

The bottomline is, the Pats lost and those in the media have their fruit of the looms all in a wad. Remember our media is control by only a few. And FYI, the Pats lost to the Jets and it was the same game didn't go the Pats way so it was controversial.

 

These fools act like Refs never pick back up flags they throw down. And if you look at the game, outside of the bais prism  of the media, you can see that both Kuechly and Grun was practically out of bounds and he wasn't HUGGING him, Grun is a bigger dude than Kuechly, he CONTAINED HIM. The other guy came across and caught the ball that was way to low. and short. It sad listening to these folks sit and make this out to be more than what it is BUT I remember that they keep doing it with other "lesser teams" who beat their chosen teams. Listening to these Brady Worshippers on NFLN, especially that female, they are spinning this like a spider making a damn web.

[firstdayfan]

I think we should be a little less biased and think about if that had went the other way.  Zod would have had to shut the Huddle down bc of all the people saying "the refs gave it to the pats".  Yes it might have been the right call but its still a tough one to swallow.  If the ref doesn't throw the flag no one would even be talking about this.  But the Patriots have a right to be mad and everyone saw something different.  I definitely think it was a controversial call and I hate that it ended like that bc it was a huge win for the Panthers.

[teeray]

Id rather him turn and look for the ball and see Lester get the INT anyway rather than bear hug a player on a team that the refs tend to love.

No. No. No. I get what you are saying. But your man is more important than the ball. Your man will usually tell you where the ball is. But when you start looking for the ball that is how guys get wide open.

[panthers55]

meh. it was a risky play but you play to win these types of contests.

 

luke demonstrably didn't do anything wrong. he played within the constraints of the rules.

 

as far as i'm concerned he's a hero for covering his man well enough to make it difficult to return towards the ball and allowing lester to step in front of it.

Disagree.  If you are playing a receiver who is clearly better than you are, then you do what you can to stop him from catching the ball at all costs.  But Kuechly is the best cover linebacker in the game.  He could have played him straight up and still stopped him.  He didn't need to risk a penalty in the endzone with no time on the clock at that point.  Everyone knows from middle school on that you have to look like you are going for the ball to avoid PI. Truth is that Lester saved his butt on that play or it was clearly a penalty. 

[panthers55]

No. No. No. I get what you are saying. But your man is more important than the ball. Your man will usually tell you where the ball is. But when you start looking for the ball that is how guys get wide open.

Gronk was clearly facing Brady and looking for the ball.  Kuechly should have known that the ball was coming and turned his head.  Plus you shield him with his hands you don't bear hug him.  Lester saved his butt and there is no 2 ways about it.  I love Kuechly but it was a poor play on his part and that is all I am going to say about it.  We won and I was there and was very happy and still am.

[panfan32]

 

 

Sorry, Been a Panthers fan since 1995. Live in Fayetteville, and will have to say that No there was no interference, but that should have been called at least defensive holding on Luke. You cannot not drape or bear hug a receiver. 

 

With that said, yes the PI call was a bad call and All I have heard/read all morning is the Pats were screwed over.  The ball was 3-4 yards in front of Gronk, he had 3 defenders between him and the ball and the ball was barley INT by Lester who damn near had to do a face plant to get to the ball.

 

As Always the Pats fans are going to cry like little bitches because there team lost. I do not remember anyone here screaming the the PATS Superbowl titles should be vacated due to the their cheating during the 2003 SB win. Which was documented with evidence they had used game film of opponents defense in 2003-2003 as well.

 

And just have to put this out there, does anyone seem to think that leg sweep on Charles was planned? Someone look at the tape. It appears the RT was not knocked down but more or less fell and then purposly leg sweep Charles right at the knee. I have to re-watch the game footage, but I think it was planned. Everyone knows that Bill is one of the dirtiest coaches in the NFL.

 

Let me know what your feelings are on that issue.

[panfan32]

Repeat post. Sorry dont know how to delete it

[frash.exe]

Honestly it couldve been called either way depending on how the refs felt at the time. You could make a case that the ball was uncatchable or that the pick validated Kuechly's contact, and you can make a case the other way as well. We got really lucky they didn't call it because it is the patriots after all, but sometimes these judgments play into wins and losses and for the panthers, close losses due to penalties are no stranger

[Fox007]

No. No. No. I get what you are saying. But your man is more important than the ball. Your man will usually tell you where the ball is. But when you start looking for the ball that is how guys get wide open.

 

 

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

You are wrong...what Keek did was and could have been a penalty if they chose to keep it so.

 

He had him stapled to the back of the endzone.....find the ball....win the game.

[caatfan]

  If the ref doesn't throw the flag no one would even be talking about this.

Really? You mean it would be better if the officials just missed the interference completely? The play was probably posted on youtube 5 min. after the game ended. It's all over the place. IMO no flag thrown would have been much worse.

 

The flag was correct since the receiver was clearly wrapped up. The pick up was also correct since the TE couldn't have caught it.

[g5jamz]

If Brady had thrown a ball 3-5 feet higher where it was where Gronk could've gone up and made a play, it WOULD have been PI. 

 

NFL article stating just that...and Brady post-game interview.  Seems he's taking it better than a lot of ESPN commentators.  Looks like he needed a little cool-down time in the locker room. 

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000284507/article/tom-brady-throw-should-have-been-better-on-last-play

 

Which makes you want to go back to that play in the Buffalo game and see where the ball was and if the WR could've made a play on it.  Doesn't matter.  Keuchly makes so many stud plays and hard to fault him in situations like this, BUT the Panthers coaching staff has to take the Buffalo game and THIS game to let the guys know what to expect and more than likely who's going to be asked to make the play in that situation and play smart.  When we face the Aints, guess who'll be getting that route target.  Brees is a pretty accurate guy too.  The media whining over this call will make us less likely to get that call in the future, so we have to be smarter with the coverages. 

[firstdayfan]

Really? You mean it would be better if the officials just missed the interference completely? The play was probably posted on youtube 5 min. after the game ended. It's all over the place. IMO no flag thrown would have been much worse.

 

The flag was correct since the receiver was clearly wrapped up. The pick up was also correct since the TE couldn't have caught it.

 

That penalty happens on every single hail mary and no one ever complains.  There have been tons of examples of penalties on final plays that don't get called.  Hell Brady didn't even see the play, he knew it was a bad pass and that it wasn't getting to Gronk.  He only reacted because it WAS thrown and picked up.  And half the people, myself included would have never even mentioned it.  

 

How many youtube videos are there of the apparent intentional grounding on the final drive?