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One thing has been proven in the last 2 weeks in the NFL: The Carolina Panthers look poised to be the breakout team in the NFC. With a reinvigorated defense that has topped the league standings, the Panthers just posted two standout wins over the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots. Now riding a 6 game win streak, the Panthers are becoming that team no one wants to face. So what has revolutionized this team and its defense? Linebacker Luke Kuechly!
Hailing from Boston College, Kuechly took the league by storm last year, racking up 164 tackles and earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Cementing his position as the Panthers’ middle linebacker and leader of the defense, the league could be dominated by this inspiring force for years to come. In the last decade, most of the best defenses in the NFL have been built by a star linebacker. Think of the Baltimore Ravens under Ray Lewis or the Chicago Bears under Brian Urlacher.
Linebacker is the prototypical position of the American football player. He is the perfect mix of brute strength and speed, usually encompassing a bulky yet muscular disposition. A true linebacker roams the field taking down everyone he can, but more importantly, he makes game-changing impact plays. Kuechly is currently the prime example of a young star linebacker ready to lead his team to the top. But there’s a fun trend emerging with recent superstar linebackers: They tend to shine brightly but fade rather quickly.
Let’s look at some recent linebacker stars. Brian Cushing was drafted 15th overall in 2009, he had 4 interceptions, 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles in his first season. He made 133 tackles and won Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Texans quickly became one of the best defenses in the league. However, fast forward several years and things have changed. He only played 5 games last year, and this year he has only 1.5 sacks and 1 steal. The Texans are one of the worst teams in the league. Cushing isn’t alone in a decline in form at linebackers midway through his career.
Shawne Merriman came to the San Diego Chargers in 2005 with great poise, earning 10 sacks as a rookie, recording his wonderful “light’s out” dance and receiving Defensive Rookie of the Year. His dominance would last just two more years, culminating in a trip to the AFC Championship game for this tough defense. But an injury derailed his hopes in 2008. He was eventually cut from the team in 2010. Since then, the Chargers have been painfully average. Merriman joined the Buffalo Bills, never got back into shape and recently retired.
Let’s look at Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers. His freshman year in 2007 resulted in 174 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and 4 sacks, leading him to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. However, while the 49ers have returned to NFL form over the past 3 years, Willis’ stats have steadily declined. He only has 1 sack this year, and most of the team’s defensive prowess comes from other playmakers.
How about Clay Matthews of the Green Bay Packers? He helped the team win the Super Bowl in 2010, earning 13.5 sacks that year! While his stats and impact plays have still been prominent, his game has certainly dwindled and he has suffered from injuries. More importantly, the Packers’ defense has regressed and hasn’t recorded an interception since 2011.
Sure, the image above is pretty pessimistic about the longevity of these players. But there have been a couple of guys who have maintained great stats and leadership throughout their careers: Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis.
Urlacher immediately brought legitimacy to the Chicago Bears’ defense in 2000, also winning Defensive Rookie of the Year. He had earned 8 sacks, 2 interceptions and recorded 123 tackles. Fortunately, his career culminated in his eighth season, where he had 5 interceptions and 5 sacks. However, even he faced a barren patch in 2003 with 0 turnovers. He seemed to be able to overcome his lull and put together a Hall of Fame-caliber career.
Another sure bet for the NFL Hall of Fame is Ray Lewis. Although Lewis was never a sack master, he was a game changer with interceptions and amassed more than 100 tackles in 13 of his 17 seasons. The only years he didn’t have such high tackles were due to losing games. Lewis could never get worn down and seemed to play with a passion and fire that is by far the highest ever seen in the league. He was awarded 2 Super Bowls and is a true defensive coordinator’s dream.
So what is Luke Kuechly? Will he continue to put up these stats and lead the Carolina Panthers to eternal glory? Or is it a safe bet that it will fade in the next few years? It seems to me that the Defensive Rookie of the Year award can be something of a curse… Plus, I also think a lot of linebackers suffer the same fate as running backs. They usually have a shorter run due to the constant hitting of violent tackles and running throughout the game. Another factor likely limiting mid-career linebackers is opponents’ ability to review game film. Teams eventually discover a playmaker’s weaknesses and find ways to nullify them in a game plan. Retired guards are assigned to flatten those players and running plays are often pulled away from the playmaker. Kuechly currently benefits from his surprise factor and the fact that he has just become relevant in the league.
So where will he go once his body continues to bruise and offensive coordinators figure out his weaknesses? Do you have the heart of a Ray Lewis? Only time will tell. However, he would suggest that Panthers fans enjoy this moment and look forward to glory in the next year or two, because history suggests that a high-caliber game from a linebacker disappears as quickly as it arrives!