Luke Kuechly - The Right Choice

[Zod]

Two Words... Phillip Dillard

Who is that you ask? Most casual Panthers fans don't know. He was the backup middle linebacker to Jon Beason. Phillip Dillard, the 6'0 4th round draft pick of 2010 waived by the Giants and signed to the Panthers practice squad. If Beason went down this season again, Dillard was our guy. Yikes.

Put yourself in Hurney and Rivera's shoes. Yes, your interior DL is hurting, but you have two young prospects already taken in the third round last season. You also have a veteran coming back who did not play a down last season to rotate in and out with the young guys.

Now look at your LB needs. You have three terrific linebackers. Davis probably won't play a full season again due to three ACL injuries, I'm sorry to say. Beason is an all pro but coming off a torn achilles. His prognosis is good, but there are no guarantees. James Anderson is the only player on the squad that is a high level pro linebacker who stands a good chance of starting and finishing the season.

So on draft day this kid Luke Kuechly drops in your lap. He is the best LB in the draft. He played in a very similar LB scheme at Boston College. He is smart, very smart. He is also probably automatically the best cover LB on the squad in a division full of talented TE's. He can play in the middle, he can play in the outside. Hell, I bet he could play fullback. He can shore up a ton of questions marks going into the season.

In short, he gives the Panthers the most value at #9 than any other player on the board and we are lucky to have him.

They got it right.

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[GotSwag?]

Well said. I agree 100%. I didnt originally, but after actually doing research on LK, Im on board.

[Ricky Spanish]

nope.

hope I'm wrong though.

[beastson]

Listen we're definitely not going through what we went through last year. ST turn a big hurting from injuries at LB. You forgot to mention Connor no longer here as well

[JawnyBlaze]

Well, I still believe you don't pick a player at #9 "in case one of your starters goes down" unless you're set at all your other position groups. I'm slowly but surely making myself appreciate this pick though. I've never doubted Kuechly's talent level, and if the defensive guru Rivera thinks we need three 1st round picks and a 3rd round pick in our LB corps, then I'm on board. Long live Rivera.

[FLPaNtHeR]

I think in few years when we look back at 2012 nfl draft this will be one of the best picks! Great pick imo and lets get it done in round 2!

[osd22]

I think in few years when we look back at 2012 nfl draft this will be one of the best picks! Great pick imo and lets get it done in round 2!

100% agree

[JefDav84]

You couldn't have summed this up any better. Everything you said is exactly how I viewed it. With questions at linebacker, and a young developing D-line, this was the obvious choice.

[Rags]

I'd like to see what Ron does with the kid.

He's really versatile, and athletic, can cover pretty well too.

Wonder if he's any good on blitzes.

[CatofWar]

Anderson, beason, and kuechly. That's a strong fuging corps. Put Davis back at the joker on 3rd down to help the pass rush. Solid.

[Darth Biscuit]

I think that this is right in line with what Hurney said they would do and with his history in the first round. Pick a guy that is as sure fire as he can find, even if it's not at a position of greatest need.

I would also be willing to bet they've got their eyes on DT and CB prospects lower in the draft to fill those holes. Good players are out there you just have to find them. Not all the stars in the league were first round picks.

[Cary Kollins]

I agree with OP.

[Pimpdaddy]

This was definitely the right choice to head off a disaster brewing with the linebacking core. Its not the glamours pick we had hoped for but the defence will be better. What is it with Panther LB's? Guess they're jinxed. Hopefully with a full year to prepare, Mcdermott and Rivera can get some solid production out of our defence with implementing their scheme.

[KittyLover]

I think it was a good pick. Look how bad we were last year without our starting line backers. I think he was the best player available at the time of our pick. I trust Hurney in the first.