Kuechly’s top 5 toughest players he’s faced

[JawnyBlaze]

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/luke-kuechly-panthers-5-toughest

 

good read

[bigpoppa]

#6

[LinvilleGorge]

Interesting there's two centers on there. Everyone always makes a big deal out of the chess match going on between Luke and the opposing QB but a lot of people forget that there's an  even bigger chess match going on between him and the centers as well as the centers adjusts protections and Luke calls adjustments on our lineup.

[Khyber53]

Dang, that was a really good read! Not just for the subject matter, but just well put together. 

[Khyber53]

4 minutes ago, LinvilleGorge said:

Interesting there's two centers on there. Everyone always makes a big deal out of the chess match going on between Luke and the opposing QB but a lot of people forget that there's an  even bigger chess match going on between him and the centers as well as the centers adjusts protections and Luke calls adjustments on our lineup.

Casual fans have no idea just how important a center is to a team. Heck, a lot of long-time fans write the position off as the least important along the line. If you don't believe me, go back and look at how folks on this board reacted to Garrett Bradbury being selected in the first round. Go back and see how many people groaned where we took Ryan Kalil.

[Mr. Scot]

I'd kinda forgotten about The Players Tribune. It's a really good site.

[LinvilleGorge]

13 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Casual fans have no idea just how important a center is to a team. Heck, a lot of long-time fans write the position off as the least important along the line. If you don't believe me, go back and look at how folks on this board reacted to Garrett Bradbury being selected in the first round. Go back and see how many people groaned where we took Ryan Kalil.

To be honest, I didn't love the idea of Bradbury at #16. But that's just because I was all in on an edge rusher. I had a strong suspicion that due to the strength of this edge rusher class someone was going to fall and there was going to be someone there at #16 who would be a top 10 lock in just about any other draft class. Turns out that was Brian Burns. Montez Sweat was the guy I really wanted but I think it was largely a combination of health concerns and off field concerns that made him a late 1st rounder.

Bradbury was near the top of my list in the 2nd round but then he went and blew up the Combine and I knew that was the end of that pipe dream.

[mc52beast]

Not too surprised at seeing two centers, look at what Kalil meant to the Panthers .

 

Honorable mention should go to CMC, dude put some sick moves on him at training camp

[dpm0409]

Excellent read there, thanks for posting!

[AU-panther]

1 hour ago, Khyber53 said:

Casual fans have no idea just how important a center is to a team. Heck, a lot of long-time fans write the position off as the least important along the line. If you don't believe me, go back and look at how folks on this board reacted to Garrett Bradbury being selected in the first round. Go back and see how many people groaned where we took Ryan Kalil.

Just because a center is important doesn't mean you should draft one early in the first.  You have to consider replacement value.

Go look at the top 10 graded centers and I'm pretty sure their average draft position is lower than say edge rushers.  Also their cost in free agency is a lot less than other positions relative to the same production.

Simply put your chances of finding quality production at the center position later in the draft and/or cheaper in free agency is a lot greater than a lot of other positions.

I'm never a huge fan of trading up at draft time, but I'll give Hurney one thing, he swung for the fences with his draft picks this year.  Edge, LT, and QB are three of the highest value positions he could have gone after.  If even 2 of those 3 become above average starters I would call the draft a success.

 

 

[CRA]

1 hour ago, Khyber53 said:

Casual fans have no idea just how important a center is to a team. Heck, a lot of long-time fans write the position off as the least important along the line. If you don't believe me, go back and look at how folks on this board reacted to Garrett Bradbury being selected in the first round. Go back and see how many people groaned where we took Ryan Kalil.

speaking of Cam's play early on....we all talk about the shoulder and the foot. 

But we can't forget, Cam is also use to Kalil handling all calls and business at the line.  Cam probably has depended on his C more than any other vet QB in the NFL.  And Cam even spoke about how greatly he missed Kalil right before the season started. 

[Khyber53]

3 hours ago, CRA said:

speaking of Cam's play early on....we all talk about the shoulder and the foot. 

But we can't forget, Cam is also use to Kalil handling all calls and business at the line.  Cam probably has depended on his C more than any other vet QB in the NFL.  And Cam even spoke about how greatly he missed Kalil right before the season started. 

True, very true. And Paradis was having to learn how to deal with a different style of QB than he had ever had. There are soooo many moving pieces in the problems of the first two games of the season that no one can really point to just one thing.

[Khyber53]

3 hours ago, AU-panther said:

Just because a center is important doesn't mean you should draft one early in the first.  You have to consider replacement value.

Go look at the top 10 graded centers and I'm pretty sure their average draft position is lower than say edge rushers.  Also their cost in free agency is a lot less than other positions relative to the same production.

Simply put your chances of finding quality production at the center position later in the draft and/or cheaper in free agency is a lot greater than a lot of other positions.

I'm never a huge fan of trading up at draft time, but I'll give Hurney one thing, he swung for the fences with his draft picks this year.  Edge, LT, and QB are three of the highest value positions he could have gone after.  If even 2 of those 3 become above average starters I would call the draft a success.

 

 

Me, I look at long term team success and long-term QB success and it often parallels getting just the right center. If it costs you a first rounder, but solidifies your line and provides your field general QB with his master sergeant center, then you just make that investment. It's not spectacular, but its the kind of investment that keeps paying you back again and again.

 

[AU-panther]

20 minutes ago, Khyber53 said:

Me, I look at long term team success and long-term QB success and it often parallels getting just the right center. If it costs you a first rounder, but solidifies your line and provides your field general QB with his master sergeant center, then you just make that investment. It's not spectacular, but its the kind of investment that keeps paying you back again and again.

 

but you can get the right center outside of the first round or cheaply in free agency, more so than other positions.

How many of the top ranked centers were 1st picks?  I think Brady has done ok with mid round guys.

I think this fan base might view centers a little different than most because of the success we did have with Kalil.   Still doesn't change the fact thought that its a position that you can get good productions from later in the draft or cheaper than in free agency relative to other positions.

Of course there are always exceptions.