Kuechly, Curry, Hightower comparisons ... I'll take Hightower

[steelz09]

Curry:
Height: 6016
Weight: 254
40 Yrd Dash: 4.52
20 Yrd Dash: 2.58
10 Yrd Dash: 1.50 225 Lb.
Bench Reps: 25 Vertical
Jump: 37
Broad Jump: 10'04"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.51
3-Cone Drill: 7.15

Kuechly
Height: 6024
Weight: 242
40 Yrd Dash: 4.58
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27
Vertical Jump: 38
Broad Jump: 10'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.12
3-Cone Drill: 6.92

Hightower
Height: 6022
Weight: 265 (but possibly lost weight)
40 Yrd Dash: 4.68
225 Lb. Bench Reps: TBD
Vertical Jump: 33
Broad Jump: 09'09
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.64
3-Cone Drill: 7.55

Although Hightower has a bit slower #'s he is carrying more weight. So, if these "other" guys need to gain weight (which they will), would they perform any better than Hightower... probably not.I don't understand why a lot of people would take Kuechly but not Hightower... are you kidding me?

The SEC is still superior to the ACC and that is coming from someone that likes a few ACC teams. Additionally, BC simply sucks and is bottom of the barrel when it comes to the ACC. Kuechly would probably have been a backup this year if he played for AL.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Kuechly is a tackling machine. Plain and simple.

Kuechly's 3 seasons at BC:
Solo tackles: 102, 110, 87
Assists: 89, 73, 71
Total tackles: 191, 183, 158

Hightower's 4 seasons at Bama:
Solo tackles: 41, 30, 5, 26
Assists: 44, 39, 11, 38
Total tackles: 85, 69, 16, 64

I realize that Hightower dealt with a serious injury in the middle of his college career (and it is admirable that he worked his way back from that to have a soild season this year), the fact is that Kuechly has had more solo tackles every single season than Hightower has had total tackles in his best season. 532 total tackles in 3 seasons is just plain sick. I'll let the play on the field dictate who is the better prospect, not combine performances (and he was significantly better than Hightower in every respect here as well) or a superior conference argument. It's not as if Kuechly has to gain weight...at 242 lbs, he's probably 15-20 lbs. heavier than Farrior's typical in-season playing weight. Kuechly is the right size for an ILB (Hightower may need to lose a little bit of weight moreso than Kuechly needs to gain weight), he's more athletic than Hightower in all of the drills, and he has unmatched instincts on the field of play. I don't see any comparison here...I'll take Kuechly every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

is this even a real question?

if kuechly is there(which he won't be) rooney should sprint to the podium.

[Dee Dub]

This may come as a shock to some but if I had my choice I wouldn't hesitate to take Kuechkly over Hightower. There's no question in my mind that Kuechly is the better LB and more rounded LB. He is a complete backer. And he actually reminds me some of James Farrior. Nearly the same size (6 ft 3 243 Kuechly and 6 ft 2 242 Farrior), and like Farrior, Kuechly may not be great in one area but he is solid in every aspect of the ILB spot. Both are instinctual and technically sound. And Kuechly, like Farrior in his prime, is solid in coverage. Very good at disrupting with in that first 5 yards.

A month to two months ago I didnt think the Steelers would ever be able to even sniff Kuechly. But with the likes of Poe, Tanneyhill, Whitney Mercilus, Stephone Gilmore, and Michael Brockers all jumping up the board, there is a chance. Ya never know.

The thought of him in front of Troy and next to Timmons is a ton of big play potential.

[steelz09]

I don't care about the tackles ... BC sucks. That's plain and simple. If your a really good ILB on a defense that sucks then it's much more likely that you're going to be the one that gets all the tackles.

btw .... how many of those tackles are within 3 yards of the LOS. That's more important. Hell, Timmons had inflated tackle numbers a few years ago... the problem was those tackles were after a RB already ran the ball 4 yards. That is not productive.

Also, how many of those tackles were after a WR/TE/RB that he was covering caught the ball?

Does a guy that gets 40 more tackles because he allowed the WR/TE/RB catch the ball more productive than a guy that only has 10 tackles because either the QB won't throw the ball in his direction??? Come on .... if that is the logic we're using then William Gay should be a HOFer. It doesn't matter that Gay has so many tackles because the WR that he was covering caught the ball 10 times in 1 game.... Tackling stats are a weak argument when your comparing those 2 players and their corresponding teams

[birtikidis]

Not taking a guy bc his school sucks is a terrible arguement. We wouldn't have Ben, Woodley, Deebo, Ike.... we woulda never had Lloyd, Chad Brown, Rod Woodson, Stallworth, ... need I go on?

[Dee Dub]

Not taking a guy bc his school sucks is a terrible arguement. We wouldn't have Ben, Woodley, Deebo, Ike.... we woulda never had Lloyd, Chad Brown, Rod Woodson, Stallworth, ... need I go on?

Cha-ching! Let me add to this, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, L.C. Greenwood, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Louis Lipps, Dermontti Dawson etc., etc.

[steelz09]

Cha-ching! Let me add to this, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Jack Lambert, L.C. Greenwood, John Stallworth, Mel Blount, Louis Lipps, Dermontti Dawson etc., etc.

Wrong again... bragging because a guy makes all the tackles on a pathetic team is a poor argument. You missed my point completely.

[steelz09]

Again, let's vote Gay to the HOF because he made a lot of tackles after his guy caught the ball if that is the criteria we're using.

If Hightower was on a team like BC, he would have those tackle statistics. But instead, he has to share his tackles with at least other 3 first round picks.

[steelz09]

Kuechly is a tackling machine. Plain and simple.

Kuechly's 3 seasons at BC:
Solo tackles: 102, 110, 87
Assists: 89, 73, 71
Total tackles: 191, 183, 158

Hightower's 4 seasons at Bama:
Solo tackles: 41, 30, 5, 26
Assists: 44, 39, 11, 38
Total tackles: 85, 69, 16, 64

I realize that Hightower dealt with a serious injury in the middle of his college career (and it is admirable that he worked his way back from that to have a soild season this year), the fact is that Kuechly has had more solo tackles every single season than Hightower has had total tackles in his best season. 532 total tackles in 3 seasons is just plain sick. I'll let the play on the field dictate who is the better prospect, not combine performances (and he was significantly better than Hightower in every respect here as well) or a superior conference argument. It's not as if Kuechly has to gain weight...at 242 lbs, he's probably 15-20 lbs. heavier than Farrior's typical in-season playing weight. Kuechly is the right size for an ILB (Hightower may need to lose a little bit of weight moreso than Kuechly needs to gain weight), he's more athletic than Hightower in all of the drills, and he has unmatched instincts on the field of play. I don't see any comparison here...I'll take Kuechly every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

Sorry, I'm not going to compare any LB in the draft to Farrior. It's not fair to Farrior..... He was a prototypical 3-4 ILB for so many years and I'm not going to compare a rookie ILB that has never played in the NFL to him. While we're at it, let's start comparing linebackers to Lambert, Ray Lewis or Dick Butkus.

[Chadman]

Ahem...

Nigel Bradham...

that is all.

[steelz09]

Ahem...

Nigel Bradham...

that is all.

I think Nigel would be a solid pick too. I like it when I watch a game and certain players stick out even if you don't know them by name at the time..... that was Nigel this year when I watched a couple FSU games.

[feltdizz]

Those tackle stats are insane.... if Kuechly has decent combine numbers I would take him in a heartbeat. I understaand the whole bad D concept but our D isn't bad. As long as he fills his gap we know he can finish the job.

[Shoe]

Is Mychal Kendricks not a consideration at our pick in Rd 2? Because I think that would be even better value, considering draft position.

I've thought a lot about it, and Hightower actually reminds me of Lamarr Woodley coming out. I think he's being downgraded to his lack of speed... but he may end up emerging like Woodley has.

I still don't want him, the same reason I didn't want Woodley at the time though. Too slow. :P

[focosteeler]

Is Mychal Kendricks not a consideration at our pick in Rd 2? Because I think that would be even better value, considering draft position.

I've thought a lot about it, and Hightower actually reminds me of Lamarr Woodley coming out. I think he's being downgraded to his lack of speed... but he may end up emerging like Woodley has.

I still don't want him, the same reason I didn't want Woodley at the time though. Too slow. :P

the way the league is going you cant afford to have a slow ILB. Have to be able to run sideline to sideline. cover tightends and running backs...I love the blitzing potential hightower offers. But he cant do much when it comes to covering guys