Buyer Beware: Luke Kuechly - Dallas Cowboys Forum

RS12 · 03-03-2012

Buyer beware for the team that drafts the stud linebacker out of Boston College, Luke Kuechly in this April’s NFL Draft.

After tallying 532 career tackles after just 3 years of college football, Kuechly was already a top prospect before his good showing at the NFL scouting combine, running a 4.58 forty yard dash. However, over the years, the value associated with drafting inside linebackers early has diminished.

Over the last few years, outside, pass rushing linebackers have been a must have on draft day, going early and often in drafts, as evidenced last year by both Von Miller and Aldon Smith getting drafted in the top 10.

However, if you look as recent as the 2009 NFL Draft, Aaron Curry was considered the “safest pick” in the draft, getting selected 4th overall, and only surviving 2 seasons on Seattle‘s roster. Was Curry a bust? Or did Curry simply not produce accordingly with that big contract he received being drafted 4th overall? Who did Seattle have playing defensive line for them back in 2009? Red Bryant was on that roster, but he had not yet emerged as a dominant player.

http://www.footballticketsonline.com...kets+Online%29

Deep_Freeze · 03-03-2012

Interesting article, although in any teams case including ours, its more about only buy Luke if you got the DL in front of him to support him, not that he is a bad player.

Wonder how good Lee and especially Carter could be if we improved our DL....

Risen Star · 03-03-2012

I'm having a hard time finding the logic in this.

So beware buyer because Aaron Curry didn't pan out in Seattle?

Dmoore Esq · 03-03-2012

So buyer beware on one of the most productive players in the country, who also tested well at the combine, because some other inside linebackers didn't live up to expectations when playing behind poor DLines? What's the point in this? It appears to me that he's going to be a solid pro. Will he put up better numbers if he has a DLine that keeps people off him? Of course. That doesn't change how good a player he is.

Risen Star · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmoore Esq

So buyer beware on one of the most productive players in the country, who also tested well at the combine, because some other inside linebackers didn't live up to expectations when playing behind poor DLines? What's the point in this? It appears to me that he's going to be a solid pro. Will he put up better numbers if he has a DLine that keeps people off him? Of course. That doesn't change how good a player he is.

I guess the point is there haven't been any busts at other positions, so buyer beware.

MonsterD · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Risen Star

I guess the point is there haven't been any busts at other positions, so buyer beware.

Aaron Maybin

Vernon Gholston

TheCount · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonsterD

Aaron Maybin

Vernon Gholston

All these guys are the pass rushing LBs he's talking about. What about all the ILBs taken high? I bet they fared better.

The buyer beware here is actually opposite of what the articles title cautions.

realtick · 03-03-2012

Part of the problem with Aaron Curry was the fact the Seahawks tried to make him into a passrusher. He actually played pretty darn good for the Raiders last season. He was very active and productive.

gmoney112 · 03-03-2012

Dumb.

Outlaw Heroes · 03-03-2012

A lot of people in here appear to be missing the point. It's buyer beware because Kuechly is the kind of player that relies on having big guys up front to soak up blocks and keep him clean so that he can flow to the ball and make plays. If you don't have the guys upfront to keep blockers off of him, don't waste a pick on Kuechly, or so the argument goes. It's not a ridiculous argument either.

realtick · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outlaw Heroes

A lot of people in here appear to be missing the point. It's buyer beware because Kuechly is the kind of player that relies on having big guys up front to soak up blocks and keep him clean so that he can flow to the ball and make plays. If you don't have the guys upfront to keep blockers off of him, don't waste a pick on Kuechly, or so the argument goes. It's not a ridiculous argument either.

Does Boston College have some insanely abnormally large defensive players upfront for him? I seriously doubt that BC's defensive line is anywhere near as large as any typical NFL team he goes to.

Risen Star · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outlaw Heroes

A lot of people in here appear to be missing the point. It's buyer beware because Kuechly is the kind of player that relies on having big guys up front to soak up blocks and keep him clean so that he can flow to the ball and make plays. If you don't have the guys upfront to keep blockers off of him, don't waste a pick on Kuechly, or so the argument goes. It's not a ridiculous argument either.

So, even if we go with what you say, that means unless Kuechly can come in right away and hit the ground running, don't draft him. The future be damned. You cannot acquire more players to build around him.

I'm all for constructive criticism but I found this piece completely lacking in any logic. I don't get the connection to Aaron Curry and why that's supposed to mean something and give anyone pause on Kuechly.

Deep_Freeze · 03-03-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Outlaw Heroes

A lot of people in here appear to be missing the point. It's buyer beware because Kuechly is the kind of player that relies on having big guys up front to soak up blocks and keep him clean so that he can flow to the ball and make plays. If you don't have the guys upfront to keep blockers off of him, don't waste a pick on Kuechly, or so the argument goes. It's not a ridiculous argument either.

Yeah, the article comes from an weird prospective, or what I called interesting lol, cause when you first read it you think they are dogging Luke by saying 'buyer beware'.

Really its more about having a support system there so he can play ball. Now, we can't say Lee had the best support system last year, but he still performed well, and I believe Luke can equal that.

With that the case, if Luke could do that well, it does put the author's theory in question. I figure all he was trying to say was DL help an ILB, even though everyone knows that and he came up with a weird way to say it.

jswalker1981 · 03-03-2012

Buyer beware Andrew Luck because Jamarcus Russell sucked.

skinsscalper · 03-03-2012

With the new collective bargaining agreement, comparing the Kuechley situation to the Curry situation is moot.

With the lack of astronomical contracts given to rookies, the risk is more of a draft position risk than a salary cap implication.

That's the angle that's missing the mark in the posted theory.