Offseason Priority #1: A Defensive Field General

We need a Cb, however picking around 21-25 has DT/DE/OT being the higher grades. Most top CBs are 4-20 (Morris Claiborne et al). We’d pick Devon Still or Brandon Thompson or Poe (Memphis).

I agree that he is the most “field general”-like MLB in the draft. But he is still gonna be a snot-nosed rookie and any team that puts a snot-nosed rookie in a general’s job is — well — North Korea. The way he will earn “field general” status on the Broncos is via his play on the field — and that will depend heavily on applying his athleticism/skills – successfully – at the NFL level – for a couple of years minimum. Unless his intangibles are so overpowering that they are akin to a jedi-mind trick for opposing offenses.

His athleticism is 2nd round talent — lower than either Donta Hightower or Vontaze Burfict. Better intangibles than those two — but overall – I see those three as all very equivalent – low bust, starter-level upside. Using our 2nd round pick to pick up whichever is available would be a far more effective drafting strategy IMO. If we had a very late 1st round pick, then I’d see a 1st round case for them

- an MLB pick in the 1st round - is why you would give up on Nate Irving so fast. He was just drafted last year – with a lockout – and a training camp injury. I would find it stunningly incompetent of the Broncos if we drafted a free safety, a tight end, or a linebacker this year. Those three positions accounted for seven of our draft picks last year.

Yeesh — with the lockout, you gotta give rookies a pass this year.

I watched him in 4 games you don’t play side line to side line like he has if you’re not athletic. Also check out his interception and pass defended numbers below. In Denver’s zone defense the MLB has to get a deep drop to protect the middle zone I have seen Kuechly do this very well. I don’t believe he will get past Philadelphia at 11 but I would trade quite a bit to move up for him.
Luke Kuechly*, ILB, Boston College
Height: 6-3. Weight: 237.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2012): Top 20.
12/26/11: This season, Kuechly was all over the field, giving a weekly illustration of how effective a linebacker can be when he has elite instincts and top-notch intelligence. Kuechly has enough speed to get in position to go along with excellent tackling technique. Against Miami, he set ACC and school records for career tackle totals, along with providing the game-winning score on a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown. The junior had nine tackles and his interception, plus a pass breakup that came deep downfield in tight coverage on speedster wide receiver Tommy Streeter. Kuechly was all over the field against Florida State, recording 20 tackles (plus helped force a fumble, but was not officially credited with it). All game, he made big plays and was always around the football.

For the season, Kuechly amassed 191 tackles with 12 tackles for a loss, three passes broken up and three interceptions. Kuechly was the lone bright spot on a disappointing team. If Boston College was bowl eligible, he would have, almost certainly, exceeded 200 tackles on the season. Assuming Kuechly enters the draft, he will leave college with a tackle total of 532. Kuechly has been racking up post-season awards, and there are no indications as to whether or not he is leaning toward entering the draft.

8/25/11: Luke Kuechly, a consensus All-American, led the nation in tackles in 2010 with 183. That included a 110 solo tackles. The All-American also contributed 10.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three interceptions. Kuechly has fabulous instincts and is extremely intelligent. He is a hard-working student of the game, and is a safe pick to be a productive, in-the-box run defender. As a freshman, Kuechly had 158 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss and four passes broken up. Kuechly is not an elite athlete, but definitely is a top-20 pick.

Report take from Walter football

I found a player on our roster who was a highly rated ILB out of college (one spot above Joe Mays in the same draft year). Name is Spencer Larsen. Here’s the CBS scouting report from then (2008)

Positives: Has a well-proportioned frame with developing upper-body muscles and good thickness in his thighs and calves, with room to add at least another 10 pounds of bulk without losing quickness … High-motor type who plays with good intensity and aggression … Very alert and active to key and diagnose plays, showing the awareness, vision and instincts to call defensive assignments … Demonstrated much better ability and strength taking on blocks as a senior than he did in the past, as he refined his hand placement and improved his hand technique to prevent the blocker from gaining leverage … More quick than fast, but keeps his pad level down and shows the loose hips to redirect and chase down plays from the backside (see 2007 Southern California, Stanford and Washington games) … Has the power to take on fullbacks and clog the interior rush lanes. Does a nice job of staying on his feet and making plays moving down the line … Has the hip swerve to redirect and close from the outside (looked a bit stiff in his hips earlier in his career, but has shown a quicker flow to the ball as a senior. See 2007 Brigham Young and Stanford games) … Shows the lateral agility to flow with the play, staying low in his stance to extend his arms, wrap and secure the ballcarrier near the line of scrimmage … Unquestioned team leader who will not hesitate to take underperforming teammates to task … Shows no hesitation closing on the ball and is quick to track down ballcarriers, doing a nice job of redirecting the corner runners back inside … Has good tackling form, taking the ballcarrier’s outside leg to impede the opponent’s forward progress … Rare to see him fooled by misdirection or eye the backfield too long when playing in the zone … Uses his hands with force to jolt the blockers back and also in redirecting and jamming the tight ends at the line … Gets physical when taking on the tight ends, delivering strong hand placement to reroute his man away from the play, as he uses his strength effectively to easily jam the opponent … When he keeps his pads down, he shows the ability to slip through blocks … Combative working through trash, using his hands well to defeat the blockers attacking his feet … Has greatly improved his body control as a senior, as he no longer overextends when attempting to make tackles … Shows aggression filling the rush lane, lowering his head and driving with his legs to engage the fullback … Versatile athlete who can play the “Will” or “Mike” position … Reliable tackler who can break down and face up … Does not have the speed to play in the deep zone, but has the functional quickness to stay with slot receivers and tight ends in the short area … More of a downhill tackler, but is capable of making plays in front of him … Shows good anticipation skills and has developed good rip and swim moves to generate a quick outside blitz … Very intelligent, both on the field and in the classroom … Generally in position to make plays and engages the bigger blockers well, playing at the proper pad level with good knee bend … On the blitz, he has a solid hand jolt to maintain separation knifing through traffic and the closing burst to disrupt the quarterback in the pocket.

Negatives: Active and physical at the line of scrimmage, but must continue to improve his hand punch and keep his hands inside his frame to prevent the bigger blockers from getting underneath his jersey and washing him out of the play … Has good closing speed, but will struggle at times to recover and redirect when he outruns the play … Might be a better fit at the “Mike” position to compensate for a lack of explosive quickness to chase down the perimeter runners going long distances … Plays with great intensity, but will sometimes get too aggressive and get taken out of the play … Shows the functional foot agility to drop back in pass coverage, but does not have the pure speed to stay with the receivers on deep patterns.

Compares To: JAMES FARRIOR-Pittsburgh … Whether playing on the weak side or in the middle, Larsen is a high-intensity type who does a fine job of making plays in front of him. He has great field vision and ball-awareness skills and with his intelligence, he might be a better fit calling defensive signals from the middle. He has made very good strides improving his hand placement and punch as a senior and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball working through traffic.