Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly, a two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro player, entered this season as the No. 1 ranked linebacker in the NFL by profootballfocus.com.
He suffered a concussion in the first half of the season-opener against Jacksonville and missed four games.
When he returned, the 6-foot-3, 238-pounder resumed playing like the top linebacker in the league.
He has 81 tackles (52 solo and 29 assists), one sack, three interceptions, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles in nine games.
However, the NFL defensive player of the year candidate had his lowest rated game last week against the Saints. He had a negative grade (minus-0.5) from profootballfocus.com. He was second on the team with six tackles, but didn’t have a pass breakup or sack against the Saints.
The Falcons have a great deal of respect for Kuechly, who was the ninth player selected in the 2012 NFL draft. Kuechly’s film study prepares him to anticipate passing routes and combinations.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn has noticed the improvement in Kuechly’s overall play.
“Usually it comes from the off-field work that a guy does,” Quinn said. “The speed’s there, the tackling’s there, and then I think now, the anticipation, added to that, is what’s making him a bigger factor.”
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