The 2015 Panthers got major props from out notable outlet, and it should serve as the standard for the newest Carolina linebacker and his positional mates to strive for.
They say when you're a kid that you should shoot for the stars. It's a corny saying, but it's still something that serves to motivate.
That's what Panthers linebacker Devin Lloyd and his position mates should be looking to do in Charlotte this year, and they have one of the greatest groups in NFL history from their own building to shoot for in that regard.
Pro Football Focus recently put out their list of top graded positional groups in PFF history. Unsurprisingly, the Panthers' 2015 linebacking group came in tops overall for their position.
"The 2015 Panthers were loaded almost everywhere, but linebacker was their particular forte," wrote Bradley Locker of PFF . " Luke Kuechly 's 93.6 overall PFF grade was the best among his peers by over three grading points, resembling the prime of his Canton-clad career. Next to him, Thomas Davis Sr. secured an 80.0 mark with an 89.3 PFF coverage grade, which placed fourth at the position."
The Panthers might not always get their due, being a small market team - and that just seems to be the way things in the NFL and in other pro sports leagues. However, that 2015 defense was special and its engine got the flowers it clearly deserved.
Luke Kuechly was as good during the early-to-mid 2010s as any inside linebacker this century, and he earned his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year, regardless of what some naysayers might argue about an eight-year career. Seven Pro Bowls and five AP first-team All-Pro nods spoke for themselves. Thomas Davis, Sr. was a tremendous partner with him in the middle as an instinctive and athletic player who made lift very difficult for opposing quarterbacks down the field.
And again, while that group was the stars, so to speak, it's something that Lloyd and the rest of the linebacker room can shoot for. It's hard to imagine anyone ever getting there. But there's no doubt that Kuechly and Davis set the standard, and now it's time for what Panthers fans hope is the next great generation to live up to it as best they can.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Panthers greats given top nod by national outlet that they clearly deserve, and it's something Devin Lloyd and company can shoot for
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