Luke Kuechly Comments on Panthers Defense, Losing Josh Norman

Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly believes his defense has plenty of players to compensate for the offseason loss of cornerback Josh Norman.  

Kuechly spoke about Norman's departure to Washington on Friday in an interview with NFL Media's Tiffany Blackmon, acknowledging his swagger and his high level of play but also expressing optimism about 2016. Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper transcribed Kuechly's comments:

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When you lose a guy like Josh, obviously, he's entertainment, energy, attitude, but that's kind of been the attitude of our defense. You know, you still have Thomas [Davis] and Charles [Johnson] and Kurt Coleman bring an edge and we've got a bunch of guys that still bring that attitude, enthusiasm. We've got older guys that when the young guys come in and they can kind of teach them what the mentality's like and get them on the same page.

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All the players Kuechly mentioned are deserving of the praise—and bring plenty of experience and veteran savvy to the gridiron.

Thomas Davis and Kuechly are arguably the best pair of linebacker teammates in the NFL, while Charles Johnson has been a fixture at defensive end for more than a half-decade. Free safety Kurt Coleman also had a breakout 2015 campaign of sorts, logging 90 combined tackles and seven interceptions.

But the reason Carolina should still be reasonably confident in its pass coverage is because of how phenomenal Kuechly is in that area. The 25-year-old's uncanny skills and instincts help give credence to his words because fans and players around the league know he can back them up.

Pro Football Focus highlighted just how far ahead of the curve Kuechly is defending the pass when compared to many of his peers:

Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott's system relies on a lot of Cover 3, which left Norman in zone coverage often. That led Houston Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins to imply Norman isn't necessarily great in man-to-man situations, per ESPN.com's Tania Ganguli.

By Pro Football Focus' respected measure, Norman wasn't too shabby, though:

Norman and Carolina couldn't come to an agreement on a long-term contract this offseason, so the Panthers rescinded the franchise tag, allowing him to sign a five-year, $75 million deal with Washington.

Beyond Coleman's evident ball-hawking prowess and Kuechly's aforementioned brilliance in coverage, Carolina has the benefit of a magnificent interior pass-rusher to help the cause.

Kawann Short racked up 11 sacks last season, making everyone's job on the back end easier. Kuechly also said the three cornerbacks the Panthers acquired through the 2016 NFL draft will be, per Alper, "good for us" by the time the regular season arrives.

Second-round pick James Bradberry, third-rounder Daryl Worley and fifth-round choice Zack Sanchez are bound to create a competitive environment in training camp come July. They have leaders like Coleman and Kuechly to guide them as they try to acclimate to the pro game.

Adjusting to NFL defensive schematics is generally easier than digesting a thick offensive playbook. Having said that, whichever Panthers rookie gets thrown into the fire at cornerback had better be ready for the big stage and high expectations.

Kuechly and Co. helped Carolina to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl berth this past year. Whatever happens with Norman in Washington, any Panthers who step in for him have huge shoes to fill.