K-9 Posted April 18, 2012 Posted April 18, 2012 (edited) Anymore, the 1st round LB success stories play in a 3-4, not in a 4-3, and many play outside (pass rush specialists),... high motor 4-3 LBs are a dime-a-dozen, burning the #10 pick on one just doesn't make sense. Now maybe Kuechly ends up being an exception to the rule like Urlacher, but I don't think it is worth the risk, let some other team go for it & congrats to them if he makes it big. Beason and Miller both excel in 43 fronts. Cushing played 43 until Wade showed up last season. High motor LBs may be a dime a dozen, but Keuchly's college production and athletic measurables ARE NOT common traits. Again, I'm not saying we should draft ANY LB at 10, just that there are many reasons teams may have to select a guy they think may be elite at the position. Guys like Keuchly, et al, are not obsolete in the least. GO BILLS!!! Edited April 18, 2012 by K-9
Dr. Trooth Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Keuchly may or may not be the pick at 10. But, after the last several posts seeming to disparage a LB being selected in the top #10... I'll say right here right now that no matter where Keuchly is selected, he's gonna make some team real happy. Is there anyone that wants to wager on whether or not he'll be a bust? I don't care if he's selected at #5 or #20, he's a playmaker and will be an all pro no matter where he plays. I remember when the Bills took Conlan at #7 and then traded for Bennett (the 2nd pick in the draft). I bet that dime a dozen LB study didn't factor that in. Keuchly's a student of the game and is a lot more athletic than he's given credit for. He has football speed and natural instinct. The Bills could do a hell of lot worse at ten than Keuchly... a LB that can play all 3 spots? Gotta name for me of a LB in the NFL that can do that right now? If you do, he's probably all world. Anyone one out there that thinks the Bills can play with schitty LBs just because of the new front they have now are totally stupid and have a bad memory... no LBs since Fletcher and Spikes... How's that worked out? You think you can win with the likes of Brandon Spoon and Eddie Robinson? Good luck. The 26th ranked defense got a lot better in the offseason... but until they get the LBs to go with it the defense will be one chicken mcnugget short of a happy meal.
Bill from NYC Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Keuchly may or may not be the pick at 10. But, after the last several posts seeming to disparage a LB being selected in the top #10... I'll say right here right now that no matter where Keuchly is selected, he's gonna make some team real happy. Is there anyone that wants to wager on whether or not he'll be a bust? I don't care if he's selected at #5 or #20, he's a playmaker and will be an all pro no matter where he plays. I remember when the Bills took Conlan at #7 and then traded for Bennett (the 2nd pick in the draft). I bet that dime a dozen LB study didn't factor that in. Keuchly's a student of the game and is a lot more athletic than he's given credit for. He has football speed and natural instinct. The Bills could do a hell of lot worse at ten than Keuchly... a LB that can play all 3 spots? Gotta name for me of a LB in the NFL that can do that right now? If you do, he's probably all world. Anyone one out there that thinks the Bills can play with schitty LBs just because of the new front they have now are totally stupid and have a bad memory... no LBs since Fletcher and Spikes... How's that worked out? You think you can win with the likes of Brandon Spoon and Eddie Robinson? Good luck. The 26th ranked defense got a lot better in the offseason... but until they get the LBs to go with it the defense will be one chicken mcnugget short of a happy meal. What do you think of Hightower? Have you seen much of him?
San Jose Bills Fan Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 What do you think of Hightower? Have you seen much of him? You weren't asking me but you did once before and I never got to responding. I think Hightower is a great football player but I think a bad fit for the Bills. Wanny and Nix seem to like long DEs and fast LBs. He's gonna be a nice player in the NFL though. JMO.
Astrobot Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 You weren't asking me but you did once before and I never got to responding. I think Hightower is a great football player but I think a bad fit for the Bills. Wanny and Nix seem to like long DEs and fast LBs. He's gonna be a nice player in the NFL though. JMO. I think we will see Hightower twice a year. But not 16 times a year.
Rico Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Keuchly may or may not be the pick at 10. But, after the last several posts seeming to disparage a LB being selected in the top #10... I'll say right here right now that no matter where Keuchly is selected, he's gonna make some team real happy. Is there anyone that wants to wager on whether or not he'll be a bust? I don't care if he's selected at #5 or #20, he's a playmaker and will be an all pro no matter where he plays. I remember when the Bills took Conlan at #7 and then traded for Bennett (the 2nd pick in the draft). I bet that dime a dozen LB study didn't factor that in. Keuchly's a student of the game and is a lot more athletic than he's given credit for. He has football speed and natural instinct. The Bills could do a hell of lot worse at ten than Keuchly... a LB that can play all 3 spots? Gotta name for me of a LB in the NFL that can do that right now? If you do, he's probably all world. Anyone one out there that thinks the Bills can play with schitty LBs just because of the new front they have now are totally stupid and have a bad memory... no LBs since Fletcher and Spikes... How's that worked out? You think you can win with the likes of Brandon Spoon and Eddie Robinson? Good luck. The 26th ranked defense got a lot better in the offseason... but until they get the LBs to go with it the defense will be one chicken mcnugget short of a happy meal. Not in 1987. But it's 2012 right now, you just do NOT take a high motor 4-3 LB that high. Now, Bennett would still go at the top thanks to the QB pressure he could bring (ala Von Miller), but I think it's highly unlikely a Shane Conlan would be taken in the 1st round.
Orton's Arm Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Keuchly may or may not be the pick at 10. But, after the last several posts seeming to disparage a LB being selected in the top #10... I'll say right here right now that no matter where Keuchly is selected, he's gonna make some team real happy. Is there anyone that wants to wager on whether or not he'll be a bust? I don't care if he's selected at #5 or #20, he's a playmaker and will be an all pro no matter where he plays. I remember when the Bills took Conlan at #7 and then traded for Bennett (the 2nd pick in the draft). I bet that dime a dozen LB study didn't factor that in. Keuchly's a student of the game and is a lot more athletic than he's given credit for. He has football speed and natural instinct. The Bills could do a hell of lot worse at ten than Keuchly... a LB that can play all 3 spots? Gotta name for me of a LB in the NFL that can do that right now? If you do, he's probably all world. Anyone one out there that thinks the Bills can play with schitty LBs just because of the new front they have now are totally stupid and have a bad memory... no LBs since Fletcher and Spikes... How's that worked out? You think you can win with the likes of Brandon Spoon and Eddie Robinson? Good luck. The 26th ranked defense got a lot better in the offseason... but until they get the LBs to go with it the defense will be one chicken mcnugget short of a happy meal. Bennett played in a 3-4 defense, and had much more of a pass rushing role than any LB will have in Wannestedt's 4-3 defense. Will Kuechley become a good football player? Very probably. Will his career be good enough to justify the 10th overall pick? Almost certainly not. Over the last decade, this team has often used early picks on easier-to-fill positions, while leaving holes at harder-to-fill premium positions. That needs to stop! I love the thought of adding players like Kuechley to the team. Nothing wrong with upgrading one's linebacker corps. What I don't understand is this willingness to neglect premium positions--positions which should be addressed with a top-10 pick, if possible--in order to draft a non-pass rushing LB. Getting a top-10 pick and coming back with a good, non-pass rushing LB is like getting a check for $200,000 with which to buy a new car and coming back with a Buick. Maybe you needed that Buick, and are better off with it than you would have been without it. But you didn't need it at $200,000!
deep2evans Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 hindsight rules. anyone can go back and say they'd rather have JPP than Spiller. cool - but that doesn't represent the general consensus in April 2010. in 2014, i think we'll rue the day we passed on kuechly (if that indeed happens). our LBs are not a strong unit - they're okay at best. we're being optimistic that morrison and shepp will work out, and it just go happens that kuechly is perfect value at #10. it could be a match made in heaven.
jjmac Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 For the sake of argument, let's say we draft Kuechly. Which LB position would you target for him?
Captain Hindsight Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 hindsight rules. anyone can go back and say they'd rather have JPP than Spiller. cool - but that doesn't represent the general consensus in April 2010. in 2014, i think we'll rue the day we passed on kuechly (if that indeed happens). our LBs are not a strong unit - they're okay at best. we're being optimistic that morrison and shepp will work out, and it just go happens that kuechly is perfect value at #10. it could be a match made in heaven. Got that right
C.Biscuit97 Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 The kid is starting to grow on me and is probably my 2nd choice for the pick (after Floyd which seems unlikely now). But here's the thing with LBs: they are the rbs of the defense. They are as good as the line in front of them. Ray Lewis looked like he was slowing down for a few years. Then they get Ngata and he is back to dominating. It's the same with Urlacher. If our d-line looks as good as they have the potential to be, a lot of guys will be able to perform. That said, I do like LK and the fact that he is a very good cover LB would make him a good pick IMO.
Billsrhody Posted April 19, 2012 Author Posted April 19, 2012 Couldn't agree more.. I really think Kuechly should be the pick. If we pick him at 10, he'll be our starting middle linebacker for the next 10 years
richNjoisy Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 For the sake of argument, let's say we draft Kuechly. Which LB position would you target for him? Nix says he can play all three positions but I'd like him in the middle behind our two monster lineman so he never gets blocked. Let him call the plays and seldom blitz (leave that to Merriman if he doesn't have his hand on the ground replacing Kelsay) and Barnett or Moats). Keuchly would also be given the assignment of covering TE's - apparently he is o.k. at that.
jjmac Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Nix says he can play all three positions but I'd like him in the middle behind our two monster lineman so he never gets blocked. Let him call the plays and seldom blitz (leave that to Merriman if he doesn't have his hand on the ground replacing Kelsay) and Barnett or Moats). Keuchly would also be given the assignment of covering TE's - apparently he is o.k. at that. Sounds reasonable, but what of Sheppard?
DC Grid Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Kuechly would be awesome and I do believe he could play all three LB positions. If Buddy truly sticks with BPA Kuechly has to be it...if he's there at 10. Not because they play the same way or have the same talent, but the situation reminds me a lot of Von Miller last year and Denver. Von wasn't the perfect scheme fit (made more sense in a 3-4 than a 4-3 which Denver runs) and it wasn't clear where he would fit, but Denver saw a clear talent, so they took him and hit a home run. I see Kuechly being the same thing.
Buffalo Barbarian Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 hindsight rules. anyone can go back and say they'd rather have JPP than Spiller. cool - but that doesn't represent the general consensus in April 2010. in 2014, i think we'll rue the day we passed on kuechly (if that indeed happens). our LBs are not a strong unit - they're okay at best. we're being optimistic that morrison and shepp will work out, and it just go happens that kuechly is perfect value at #10. it could be a match made in heaven. I have been reluctant to pick him because I like Killer LBs but considering our system of fast flow zone defense I think he will be perfect for us. I'd still take Tannehill if available but he won't be there so the best LB and one of our biggest needs we should take him.
Shoutbox Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 Sounds reasonable, but what of Sheppard? Yeah, this is a problem for me as well. I'm all in favor of drafting Kuechly, but why not have him take Morrison's spot at Sam LB instead?
seadog Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 I think so also. We have no quality depth at lb and shepppard looks to be ok but not spectacular. Shepppard looks very slow also. His speed is the slowest I've seen at lb since Eddie Robinson. The middle lb needs to be instinctive and shepppard is always out of place. I can only hope he improves.
balz2walz Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 For the sake of argument, let's say we draft Kuechly. Which LB position would you target for him? I don't understand why Kirk Morrison is viewed as a serviceable OLB. He's coming off an injury and is more of a back-up to begin with. With Barnett getting long in the tooth, they need some youth at linebacker. Continue fortifying the defense with Kuechly.
Buffalo Barbarian Posted April 19, 2012 Posted April 19, 2012 For the sake of argument, let's say we draft Kuechly. Which LB position would you target for him? outside. "Nix - he can play any LB spot for us." nuff said.
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