Luke Kuechly Admires America
February 2nd, 2016
Stinking Panthers stud LB Luke Kuechly has mad respect for America’s Quarterback.
Yes, Joe knows many Bucs fans want to punch a wall because their team passed on arguably the best linebacker in the game, Stinking Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Of course, if the Bucs did draft Kuechly, then there very likely would be no Lavonte David on the roster. And in retrospect, since NFL coaches have figured out the guy the Bucs did draft instead of Kuechly, Mark Barron, is a damned fine linebacker and not a safety, that pick doesn’t look boneheaded at all.
But it is sure nice to rewrite history looking in the rearview mirror, huh?
Anyway, last night at Super Bowl Opening Night, Joe got a question in with Kuechly. Aside from that abortion of an opening game against Tennessee, no team shut down America’s Quarterback, Pro Bowler Jameis Winston, like Carolina.
Joe wanted to get the lowdown from the best middle linebacker in the NFL what he thinks of Jameis. Let’s just say Kuechly is impressed.
“[Jameis] is competitive and he takes pride in what he does,” Kuechly said. “He is a gamer. You watch him and what he has done this year, and the stuff that sticks out to me is that a couple of times – I don’t remember which game it was – they threw a pass and he ran down and threw a block on somebody. And then there was that long third down run he had [against Atlanta] where he would not be stopped.
“That is cool to see: A guy at the quarterback position that just puts it on his shoulders and he goes out and gives it his all. It is fun to watch.”
Joe chatted with quite a few Stinking Panthers players in addition to Kuechly. Each one believes the next great quarterback rivalry in the NFL will be Cam Newton vs. Jameis, in part, because the two young quarterbacks will be dueling twice a year for probably the next decade, if not longer.
Joe will bring more from Stinking Panthers players and their thoughts on the Bucs throughout the week. So stay tuned.
February 2nd, 2016 at 2:59 pm
Call me crazy, but I’d rather have Kwon at this point.
Before Kwon, Yes, I would’ve loved to have Luke.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:00 pm
As much as I dislike Cam Newton he must be given credit for his maturity and play. He has came a long way since those pouty after loss press conferences and those sideline shots of him acting like a child or ASJ your choice.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:11 pm
Erik, you’re crazy. Kuechly is the best MLB in the game
That being said, all decisions led to Jameis. In that regard I’m happy we took Barron over Luke
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Yup,
franchise QB > franchise MLB
That being said, kuechly is a beast and of course would love him on our team.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:18 pm
“Barron, is a damned fine linebacker and not a safety, that pick doesn’t look boneheaded at all.”
Joe, first of all….how can we be sure that we wouldn’t have still drafted LVD?
Second….you can’t have it both ways……Barron was drafted to be a safety not a LB….the fact that it took trading him because he was under-performing and another team eventually put him at LB is irrelevant….both Dominick & two coaches never saw that in him.
In hindsight, a reasonable person would have to agree that Kuechly would have been the better pick over Barron.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:25 pm
Tampabaybucfan
the fact that it took trading him because he was under-performing and another team eventually put him at LB is irrelevant
I disagree. My main complaint about Lovie was his inability to adjust to players strengths and weaknesses. Bucs have a long history of giving up too soon on talented players. Was Barron really under performing or was he put in a position to fail like Goldson, Verner, Banks etc…. If it was one player that under performed or regressed under a coach that’s one thing but when an entire defense under performs it’s the scheme and the coaches inability to make adjustments. Just my opinion.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:25 pm
I posted on this here very website about 2 years ago… that we should make Barron into a pass-rushing, hybrid LB/safety. Truth.
Maybe I should send in a resume… “For Hire: Delusional fan with clever ideas every one in a while”
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:27 pm
Agreed about Lovie, tmax.
Great coaches adjust to maximize the talent on the roster. This was Schiano’s problem too. Both were too stubborn and hellbent on making guys play their scheme.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Simple NFL economics, not to mention the Bucs at the time had holes all over the roster.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:37 pm
We drafted Brian Price & Gerald McCoy in the same draft — Adrian Clayborn & DaQuan Bowers in the same draft — back to back rounds both times
I don’t think you can say with absolute certainty the wouldn’t have grabbed Kuechly & David in the same draft
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:41 pm
Gotta agree with joe on this one, don’t see us drafting 2 LBs that early. The fact was our secondary needed way more help than the LB core at that time.
Our pass rush needed help for years, which is why you saw us double up on the D line in those drafts. Plus, Bowers was a 1st round prospect (according to many) before his injury.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:43 pm
Can you imagine a Luke and Lavonte linebacker core. Wow. And Dominik had been doubling up on positions in the draft, McCoy and Price, Clayborn and Bowers. Luke and Lavonte could have easily happened. My guess is that they thought a lot of Mason Foster at the time, which was a mistake.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:52 pm
Supersam
Mason Foster is a good football player that played well for a playoff team. He is not a star but he damn well was good enough to play on any bucs defense in the last 10 years. Just because a stubborn / horrible coach does not know how to use a player does that make a player bad or a mistake. LVD had his best seasons with Foster playing next to him. Foster was never going to be a super star but he had enough talent and stayed healthy to make use of him. Remember he played outside lb as well in college maybe the stubborn lovie smith should have made some adjustments to get the best out of foster versus letting him walk. Foster and Barron’s situation are very similar bad coaching. I bet the good coach Smith would love to have LVD, Kwon and Foster on his roster. It’s damn sure better than what he has right now in lansanah and the others currently on the roster.
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:52 pm
How about the Bucs picking Najee Goode over Josh Norman!
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:57 pm
Luke knows the age of Winston grows nigh.
He knows that Americas Quarterback would never rip a jersey out of a fans hands in a fit of jealous rage. He knows that Newton is a great talent but he lacks the leadership and drive to ever be Americas Quarterback. Again, Newton is a great talent but in other ways he’s a shallow punk, something Americas Quarterback will never be.
God Bless America.
Go Bucs!
February 2nd, 2016 at 3:58 pm
This is simply a desperate attempt to excuse Dominick from making a poor first round pick with Barron……two coaches and two GMs failed to “utilize” his skills properly……NEWSFLASH……Dominick drafted as a safety…..not a “potential LB”
This is laughable……
And, yes….it’s likely we wouldn’t have drafted LVD….but not a certainty…..the question really is….would you rather have Barron or Kuechly? When it’s kept to that question alone, I think we know the answer.
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:03 pm
Barron?….er…..I mean Kuechly?
February 2nd, 2016 at 4:28 pm
i seem to remember experts arguing over whether Alstott was a RB or FB… The point is if you can play football have talent and measurables a good coach can find a way to use you. Lot’s of players switch positions especially in secondary. Barron was known as a in the box hitter it would be very logical to move him to LB not sure that you need to be a brain surgeon to put that together. the bottom line is bucs let far too many talented players walk over the years because they either did not use them correctly or the BS character crap. Bucs need talented players. Players win championships not systems or philosophies. Being drafted for one position does not mean that’s the only position you can play or should play.
February 2nd, 2016 at 5:36 pm
Right now? Maybe Kuechly, but I think he’d be lavonte on our squad… Meaning good player, no attention. Our defensive culture hasn’t built stars or developed them… In two years we’re gonna be like “Luke who?”, lol… Kwon is that good
February 2nd, 2016 at 6:14 pm
Missing on Kuechly is a direct result of drafting early for need. Mason foster was the Mike coming off an encouraging rookie campaign Let’s learn that lesson
February 2nd, 2016 at 6:16 pm
tnew
hit it on the head. drafting for need instead of best player available falls under the same umbrella that Desperate people do desperate things does.
February 2nd, 2016 at 6:58 pm
Cossell hit it right on the head…and whats with all this racial stuff that Cam’s been going on now for days????????
Erik …I AGREE with you…I remember making a statement when Kwon had his suspension..I said..you watch the Bucs struggle to win the last four games without him…Hmmmm..
We will see Kwon become one of the greatest ever! Mark my words on this date…
February 2nd, 2016 at 6:59 pm
Oh and I want to add to my statement..
GO BRONCOS!!! I can’t frucking stand the Panthers!!!
February 2nd, 2016 at 7:02 pm
Kuechly came out of college as a OLB so that makes it both less likely we draft them both and goes against the draft for need argument. Less likely not impossible they could be correct.
I love watching Kuechly and Davis, maybe Davis even more but I’m so happy we have a exciting duo here too now with Kwon and LVD.
February 2nd, 2016 at 7:51 pm
Totally agree. Other than QB, K, P or C, I’d take the best player available at 9. Fortunately for us that may mesh up with need this year — some strong DE’s available this year and Ramsey could slip
February 2nd, 2016 at 7:52 pm
Nobody can really dispute that Barron could have been switched to LB….but, so what……would he then be worth the #7 pick?……I think, hell no.
What sort of trade value would he bring as a LB……perhaps the same 4th round pick we got.
He simply was not worth the #7 pick.
February 2nd, 2016 at 8:02 pm
Of course we can put the Barron vs Kuechly in perspective…..we got Jameis because if we had Kuechly, we likely wouldn’t go 2-14….so here is the standard default answer to every recent Buc mistake.
Fired Schiano….got Jameis
Dominick drafts…..got Jameis
Hired Lovie….got Jameis
Let Michael Bennett go (for no good reason) got Jameis
Cut Revis…..got Jameis
Signed McCown…..got jameis
Benched Glennon…..got Jameis
Tedford gets sick…..got Jameis
Blew up Oline….got Jameis
King drops pass….got Jamies
Now….the Barron pick doesn’t look so bad
February 2nd, 2016 at 8:55 pm
this time of year is so boring!
February 2nd, 2016 at 11:26 pm
Kwon was the steal of the entire draft imo.
February 2nd, 2016 at 11:27 pm
lol tbbf.
February 2nd, 2016 at 11:48 pm
Cam hasn’t matured. He doesn’t have pouty face pressers because they haven’t lost in a year and a half. He literally hasn’t had the chance to show that side of himself.
He is a passionate dude that hates losing (sound familiar) but I think Winston is far ahead of cam on the maturity level. Hopefully the tide turns again and the Bucs can be on top of the Panthers. We’ll get to see pouty face cam in all his glory.
February 3rd, 2016 at 3:48 pm
I can’t see Denver beating the Stinking Panthers in the SB. Unless it is fixed.
February 3rd, 2016 at 5:21 pm
Draft the best player available. A novel idea? I hope someone has learned from our past and does not take a player of need in the first round of this years draft over BPA? In the 2012 draft we not only passed up on Luke Kuechly, we passed up on DE Chandler Jones and DT Dontari Poe, who are all better than Mark Barron. What I love most about Luke Kuechly is how intense he plays the game. It rubs off on his teammates and he makes the players around him better. Speaking of LB, there is one who impressed in the Senior Bowl. He reminds scouts of Kwon Alexander. He is Deion Jones LSU. We might be able to get him in the fourth round. He is a bit undersized but would be great for depth and could possibly replace Danny Lansanah.