Jump to content
  • Welcome!

    Register and log in easily with Twitter or Google accounts!

    Or simply create a new Huddle account. 

    Members receive fewer ads , access our dark theme, and the ability to join the discussion!

     

Kuechly Earns Respect


Rip Saw

Recommended Posts

I was glad to read what Beason had to say about Kuechly - was a bit concerned there might be some unhealthy ( for the teaM ) rivalry going there

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Despite being a top-10 pick in the most recent NFL draft, Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechlyicon-article-link.gif continually talks about being a rookie and needing to earn the respect of his fellow linebackers.

He already has it, according to linebacker and team leader Jon Beasonicon-article-link.gif.

"He kind of stays in his lane because he's a rookie, but we've opened the door and said, 'Hey, you're one of us,'" Beason said. "We don't treat him like a rookie, and we don't expect him to play like a rookie, either."

The relationship between Beason and Kuechly could have gone the other way. Beason has been the Panthers' starting middle linebacker for all but the first four games of his rookie season in 2007, while Kuechly played in the middle throughout his record-setting college career.

How they'll line up still is to be determined – Beason was in the middle for the first practice of training camp Saturday – but they're already on the same page.

"Jon Beason has been as professional about this as you can be," Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said. "With people being like, 'Oh, Luke's here to take your place,' Jon has embraced Luke.

"Jon understands that if Luke plays well, he plays well. If James Andersonicon-article-link.gif plays well, he plays well. If Thomas Davisicon-article-link.gif plays well, he plays well. It's a huge plus when you have guys who feel like that about their teammates."

Rivera praised Kuechly's attitude, his aptitude and his athleticism.

Beason took his admiration a step further.

"Right out of the gate, he's adjusted great. I've never seen a rookie linebacker come in and pick it up as fast as he has," Beason said. "He's a pro. He stays late, studies, asks a lot of questions. He's very athletic and has great ball skills.

"He's prototype – fits the bill. He's going to help our defense tremendously, and I like him, too. He's a good kid."

more

http://www.panthers....e3-238bff4d7f4e

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel like Luke had their respect the day he was drafted. I understand the guy wanting to earn the respect. But I'm sure from day one when he was drafted. He got the instant respect from this team. Luke is going to be a beast this year. All the luck to this kid this season. The LBer core will be one of the best in the league this year. Can't wait.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel like Luke had their respect the day he was drafted. I understand the guy wanting to earn the respect. But I'm sure from day one when he was drafted. He got the instant respect from this team. Luke is going to be a beast this year. All the luck to this kid this season. The LBer core will be one of the best in the league this year. Can't wait.

I don't think anybody on this team gets instant respect but just like with Cam when you come in and you prove your chops and do you're one of the guys, no questions asked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think he knows the game and it's nuances very well. One of those nuances is like any other professional relationship which is being respectful to ones peers. This coupled with his ability makes the other guys respect him and will make him a leader on this team. Suspect he will be one of the most respected guys on the team by the end of the year if things keep going this way. Don't think there will be any problems between him and Beason as everyone knows Beason is a class guy. At the end of the day it's his defense but I think he will welcome the Kuechly and the value he brings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can't wait to see what these guys will look like when they all gel and know each other movements on the field.I can tell we are going to have a really good LB core as a long as everyone stays healthy because the chemistry seems to be in the right place.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Kuechly was the correct draft choice. Top defenseive player in the draft in my opinion. And our defense sucked last year. No brainer.

6'2 245 4.58 27 reps on bench 38 inch vert. Unreal instincts and IQ. Ball skills....

Im happier than a pig in poo now that he's on our team

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


  • PMH4OWPW7JD2TDGWZKTOYL2T3E.jpg

  • Topics

  • Posts

    • Just because all draft picks are a gamble doesn't mean you don't have a better chance at hitting on a better player the higher you're drafting. It would literally be like someone saying, I'll give you 1 or 2 free spins on a slot machine, and you say you'll take the 1 because you're not likely to win anything anyways with 1 or 2, so why bother? The Cowboys desperately wanted T-Mac, but because they were 4 picks behind us, they weren't able to get him.  If you told Cowboys fans that had they lost 2 more games last year in a lost season, that it would get them the player they wanted so badly, would they in retrospect go back and lose those games to get their guy? 95% of them would take that trade off in a heartbeat, and the others who wouldn't are the fans who would rather enjoy an extra win or two in a poo season to then set themselves up to be better for the next decade. I also think the fans who argue against this thinking, get too caught up in the "well that means you're going to be rooting against us late in the season even if we still have a shot at the playoffs." Which isn't true, it's saying if you're telling me right now we'd make the playoffs but lose in the first round, that I'd rather end up 8-9 or 9-8 and just miss the playoffs because in our opinion, the benefits that come along with that outweigh the benefit of the players getting 1 game of playoff experience.
    • In relation to tanking. I think you can count on one hand the number of people here who actually want us to lose football games. When accounting for it across the fanbase it amounts to maybe 2% of the entire Panthers fanbase. But you engage with some internet trolls and think haters are coming out of the woodwork and hey look at that it's all a conspiracy that leads to Bryce Young haters. Do you hear yourself sir? If it sounds ridiculous that's because it is. I mean at this point do you see Bryce haters in your dreams? As far as the culture of this franchise goes we seem to be doing better in that department via what we are building right now and with the people we have in place. But we also shouldn't just make assumptions just yet either. The rubber still needs to meet the road. And going back to previous seasons I think we can acknowledge although tanking obviously isn't a thing there were some times where we thought our culture was improving but really it wasn't. Yes I'm looking directly at some of those wins under Wilks. If the culture had truly changed we would not have lost to the Steelers who have been mediocre for years at home the way we did and they were starting Mitch Trubisky ffs. We did not change our culture for the better and we won games that ultimately meant nothing. It was just a brief mirage. We've done this for years now. The harsh truth of the matter is the Panthers have not had a winning season or been to the playoffs in going on 8 years but in those years they've been trying to convince themselves they aren't poo but in the process all they've done throughout most of that time period is squander better draft position and we were still the worst team in the league for our troubles. At the end of the day we should be able to just be adults and reconcile with that. And no that isn't being "pro tank" or any other boogeyman term it's simply recognizing reality.
    • He's an asset in a game manager role. But as soon as you have to ask him to go out there and try to make plays and not just take what the defense is giving him... well, Darnolding happens.
×
×
  • Create New...