Draft Diary: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly
About this series: Over the next two months, I'll be chatting weekly with Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and chronicling his preparation for April's NFL draft. This is the first installment.
Draft Diary: Boston College LB Luke Kuechly
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
About this series: Over the next two months, I'll be chatting weekly with Boston College linebacker Luke Kuechly and chronicling his preparation for April's NFL draft. This is the first installment.
***
On Friday, January 6, Luke Kuechly announced from his hometown of Cincinnati that he would forgo his senior year at Boston College and enter the NFL draft.
Three days later, he was in front of a TV in Bradenton, Fla., watching the BCS title game and preparing for seven weeks of training, leading up to the combine in Indianapolis.
Kuechly, considered among the top inside linebacker prospects in the draft and a first-round prospect, called on other Boston College products like Mark Herzlich, Anthony Castonzo, Jamie Silva and Alex Albright when weighing his decision to turn pro.
"Everyone said, 'You’ve got to do what’s right for you,'" Kuechly said. "'You’ll know what the right decision is, what makes you happy.'"
And so he decided it was time to take the final steps in pursuing a dream that was rooted in his first days on the football field as a fourth grader.
The process has now moved to IMG Academy in Florida, where Kuechly and 29 other prospects like Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson and Texas A&M's Ryan Tannehill spend their days training.
The techniques are different than what Kuechly was used to. At Boston College, training always carried with it a football focus, the idea being preparation leading to results on Saturdays.
But now, the focus is on the combine. Yes, there are football-specific drills. But the combine presents a specific set of predictable tests. With the right preparation, prospects will be ready for exactly what's thrown at them. From an athletic standpoint, that means Kuechly's working on his 40 time, plyometrics, stretching, footwork, making sure he maximizes his explosiveness.
From an off-the-field perspective, it means getting ready for the Wonderlic test and making sure he interviews well with coaches, general managers, scouts and personnel men.
Whichever team drafts Kuechly in April will do so based on the merits of his tape. For evaluators, tape is another word for production. Teams looking at Kuechly will see the nation's leading tackler in each of the past two seasons, averaging 15.92 tackles per game in 2011.
They'll see the winner of the Nagurski Award, given to the nation’s top defensive player. And the winner of the Butkus Award, given to the nation's top linebacker.
While Kuechly's production on the field has gotten him to this point, he realizes the combine is just part of the draft process.
"Size and speed," he answered, when asked what NFL teams are most likely to zero in on. "Those are the questions circling around. How big am I and how fast am I going to run."
The first question can already be answered. Kuechly said he's 6-2 and currently weighs around 241 or 242. He expects to be at 240 at the combine. The second question will be answered in Indy.
As for draft projections, ESPN's Mel Kiper has Kuechly rated as his top linebacker and 10th-best prospect, praising him for his instincts and his ability to shed blocks. He has the Eagles picking Kuechly at No. 15 in the first round, although a lot can change in terms of team needs with free agency in March.
ESPN's Todd McShay also has Kuechly as his top-rated linebacker and 10th-best prospect overall.
And NFL.com's Mike Mayock has Kuechly as his second-best linebacker, behind only Alabama's Courtney Upshaw, who projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker.
Kuechly has seen and heard some of the scouting reports? But does he agree with them?
"A lot of them say I play instinctively," Kuechly said. "That’s true the more I think about it. I just let myself go out there and play."
And the weaknesses?
"I've got to do a better job in general of playing in coverage," he said. "I have a lot to work on. It's a faster game. You've got to adapt with what comes your way."
The success of tight ends like Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Graham and Vernon Davis is not lost on Kuechly, who realizes the importance of playing in coverage, along with stopping the run.
When asked which linebacker he most admires, Kuechly didn't hesitate.
"My favorite player for awhile has been Ray Lewis," Kuechly said, explaining that he watched Lewis and the Ravens face his hometown Bengals growing up. "His passion for the game is the number one thing. He loves playing football, and that's helped him be great."
Lewis was the 26th pick in 1996. Kuechly figures to go higher, but with the draft still 12 weeks away, there are several steps to take before finding out where he'll begin his NFL career.
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The sound principle is to fill immediate needs through free agency and not the draft. The Eagles should try to blow Stephen Tulloch away with an offer. Then they can move Chaney to the SAM position and keep Brian Rolle at WIL. It's not wise to count on the draft to fill an IMMEDIATE need. It usually doesn't work out and you end up reaching on a guy. It's best to stick with your board on draft day.— soulman386- I understand Tulloch has played in the wide 9 his entire career and is a downhill linebacker, but hasn't two different teams allowed him to enter the free agent market the last two years? — bearsfriend
- Soulman that would be a wise comment if we had competent folks drafting. But sticking to our board means taking Graham instead of JPP or Earl Thomas— davi
- While Earl Thomas was the proper move to make, especially when the moved up, it is quite premature to label Brandon Graham as a miss. — bearsfriend
- Cullen, Landri, Babin, Samuel, Asomogha, JRC were all free-agent signings who played a fair amount of snaps this past season on a defense that greatly underperformed. The other defensive players were draft picks who did little or nothing to justify their selection. Not one of the latter showed any signs of becoming a star in the NFL. Jeff Lurie and his front office need to do a better job of drafting players. Time's theirs.— gnarlyscuzz
- Gotta agree. And, as a fan it's particularly unwise to count on Andy pickin' a LBer to fill an immediate need - heck, any need!— Warhound
- No problem with the birds picking him because he is an upgrade over anything they have. Will Andy just stay at 15 and take the player to fill their biggest weakness, instead of trading back for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounders?— FABER
- Kuechly or Mark Barron from Bama...If both are gone, then Hightower. — bearsfriend
- Eagles WILL NOT take Kuechly. They are pre-disposed to do something other than what everybody thinks they should do just to prove how smart they are. (Usually they just prove how stupid they are.) That's how we end up with Graham, Jarrett, Laws, Abiamiri, Kolb, Gocong, Bunkley, Justice, etc., etc., etc.— Bama
Comment removed.- Sorry, the spot on the roster for the small, slow, white LB who can't shed blocks and makes most tackles 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage is closed. If Matthews get cut, your job application will be considered at that time.— banned
- Could not agree more with your sentiments...Gimme the black roughneck in Vontaze B. any day of the week — damrvrhunter
- Andy should like this guy,, because he said these ever important words that we hear on a weekly basis. ""I've got to do a better job"
Draft someone who "attacks" the ball,,, not "reacts" to it!! sheeeesh!— With all this talent who needs a real defensive coordinator 2011 - Yea, that player will really be effective on play action...Playing linebacker is read and react...Give me a linebacker who can read the keys, studies the opponents offensive sets and tendencies, and has the athleticism and fire to make the play..every game...every week. Kuechley has been an ACE from Day 1 at BC...at two different positions. He's as safe a pick for the position as there is,barring injury. Not to mention his leadership intangibles. — bearsfriend
- We could have had Mark Herzlich last year in the 7th round.— dragoon6
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