Luke Kuechly just HAS to be in the discussion for #8 or #9. As Slimm likes to point out, the Dolphins once made a mistake taking a kick returner over the best defensive player in the Draft, Patrick Willis. There are guys the Dolphins could take at #8 or #9 over Luke Kuechly that would not upset me, but then there are guys that they could take that absolutely would upset me.
Just watch Kuechly against the Hurricanes. He's ridiculous. Underrated closing speed and athleticism. No linebacker has a better feel for passing lanes than he does. He seems to know where the running back should be going with the ball better than the running back does. And if you want to see a FOOTBALL PLAYER just watch his interception return for a touchdown. There's something you can't coach there. If he were actually slow enough to scare me, there's no way he gets this TD. But he runs full speed with the ball in one hand and using the other hand to stiff arm Travis Benjamin for like 40 yards. That's just just being an excellent football player.
You beat me to it. At some point before the draft I intended to emphasize Kuechly's performance against the Canes. I was in awe, easily the best defender Miami has faced in years and years. As a Canes fan for more than 40 years only a handful of opponents' efforts truly stand out, and that was one of them.
Jedd Fisch changed Miami's passing schemes dramatically this season. Lots of quick cheap short stuff, instead of downfield risk as preferred by predecessor Mark Whipple. Fisch generally got away with it until the finale against Boston College. Even FSU, which was 3rd in the nation in yards per play defense at 4.16, allowed Miami to abuse the linebackers for short to intermediate gains. Keuchly was like a one-man Foosball stick against the Canes. I swear, that was what it looked like from the stands. I sit low upper deck for a great perspective of the field. Keuchly was prepared for Miami's tendencies and read Jacory's eyes to the point it seemed like there were 4 of 5 of him out there, moving in tandem to cut off every lane. Boston College eliminated the short passes to such extreme Jacory eventually gave up and forced the ball deep, similar to 2009 and 2010, leading to several interceptions.
Keuchly convinced me long me before his interception return. I can picture the play, Keuchly cutting in front then hustling down the right sideline, not slowing down at all while turning his head right to fend off Benjamin. There was no question who would get the best of that combat.
Keuchly would be an instant fan favorite, a Zach Thomas-type only bigger, more athletic and simply better.
As always, I try to project prospects to how well they'd fit on the early '70s teams, in terms of talent, smarts, tenacity and dedication. Keuchly is exactly what that era was all about.