Rivera Was Right To Keep Beason In The Middle

[PantherPhann89]

Beason is our MLB b/c he's the best MLB on the team as well as the best overall LB on the team. I like Kuechly and thinks that he's a great addition. I'm looking forward to watching him this season and think that he'll catch on quick. I think that our front line will be above average, (barring injuries), our LB core is well above average, (barring injuries), our Secondary (outside of Gamble)????

[panthers34]

great time to switch to a 3-4 with two great ILB's.. the 49ers have bowman and willis in the middle and they work well together

[Growl]

kind of expected Kuechly to be a pro bowler by now, based on the hype the four people on this board gave him.

Kinda curious as to what's taking him so long? Is he having trouble learning the playbook? Is he not quick enough to be an NFL linebacker?

We should probably be pretty concerned. Brian Urlacher didn't have these problems.

[Argus Plexus]

I literally choked on my dinner during the draft after our pick was made & Mel Kiper Jr kept saying we needed an ILB & we finally had someone to be the captain & heart & soul of our defense. Then I grabbed my phone & did a quick search to make sure Beason hadn't died or been abducted by aliens. Then 2 weeks later he kept saying the same things over & over on NFL 32 & SportsCenter.

I literally sent Mel Kiper Jr a personal e-mail thanking him & showing my appreciation for his kind words of motivation. Beason got the messaged too, I saw some of his tweets. Jon is pissed! Mel disrespected the beast & he's gonna take it out on the league.

Mel Kiper Jr. is the biggest fu*king tool in all of sports journalism. I wish he would retire/die in a fire.

[Pantherman]

He said he was 80% a few weeks ago so I think he'll be ready by September.

He said he was 80% a few weeks ago so I think he'll be ready by September.

:lol: LOL Ready by September. That is funny. Beason will be ready long before September comes along. He should be ready to go by the start of Training Camp.

[Atomic_Panther]

If Beason and Kuechly can both play the two linebacker spots at a high level then why keep them statically at ILB and OLB? If these guys are as smart and talented as I think they are they could be moved around to either spot before the snap to cause confusion for the offense. This seems like it would be especially true in a defense that blitzes a lot since it would make it easier to disguise the rusher.

[La Pantera]

If Beason and Kuechly can both play the two linebacker spots at a high level then why keep them statically at ILB and OLB? If these guys are as smart and talented as I think they are they could be moved around to either spot before the snap to cause confusion for the offense. This seems like it would be especially true in a defense that blitzes a lot since it would make it easier to disguise the rusher.

I definitely see this happening.

[panthers55]

The only thing that Rivera has said us that Beason is starting with reps in the middle right now....which is the right thing to do.

We do not know if he will be there to start the season. It all depends on how he had recovered. I hope and expect him to be near 100% and in the middle, but nothing is set yet.

Rivera knows defense and especially the lb position. He will evaluate the situation and put the best combination of lb's on the field. That much I know.

Exactly. It is a no brainer that you would give Beason first reps in the middle. If you think about it Fox did the same thing with Morgan when Beason was a rookie. You start the vet even if you have concerns while you give reps to the rookie who is the understudy. Kuechly gets to watch Beason and learn. And what do you have to lose. It is only May and who knows what will happen. If Beason struggles then you can always make a change later on. It makes no sense to install a rookie over a vet before training camp even starts. And as Rivera said recently Beason is a great communicator and a wonderful role model of what a great middle linebacker is all about. Kuechly will benefit from watching Beason even if he is a step slow. And who knows, if anyone can come back this year, it would be Beason.

[Snake]

Beason may be the leader but if Keuchly is what they say he is, he will be the most important piece. A LB that can cover a Pass catching TE or WR is invaluable in our Div.

[Cavscout]

Kuechly = Urlacher

http://voices.yahoo.com/in-luke-kuechly-carolina-panthers-drafted-the-11330370.html

[Davidson Deac II]

Jake also said his arm felt stronger than ever after Tommy John surgery. Didn't end up meaning poo.

He was probably right since he was overthrowing receivers on a regular basis. :)

[Riverboat Ron]

Beason may be the leader but if Keuchly is what they say he is, he will be the most important piece. A LB that can cover a Pass catching TE or WR is invaluable in our Div.

I was just thinking this the other day. Keuchly is our attempt at covering Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles. I honestly believe this was our thinking going into the draft, counter your opponents advantage with either Keuchly or Barron.

[Darth Biscuit]

I said it in another thread... if Beason is even just 80% of his former athletic self, he needs to be in the middle this season. His sheer presence lifts the defense up. If Kuechly eventually outplays him and moves inside, so be it. I don't think it will be this year or next... I think Beason will come back healthy, the only issue may be his running speed for the first half of the season simply because an achilles injury is so serious.

[MadHatter]

Exactly. It is a no brainer that you would give Beason first reps in the middle. If you think about it Fox did the same thing with Morgan when Beason was a rookie. You start the vet even if you have concerns while you give reps to the rookie who is the understudy. Kuechly gets to watch Beason and learn. And what do you have to lose. It is only May and who knows what will happen. If Beason struggles then you can always make a change later on. It makes no sense to install a rookie over a vet before training camp even starts. And as Rivera said recently Beason is a great communicator and a wonderful role model of what a great middle linebacker is all about. Kuechly will benefit from watching Beason even if he is a step slow. And who knows, if anyone can come back this year, it would be Beason.

You and I are completely in synch on this one.