Ron Rivera didn't have people accusing him of putting linebacker Luke Kuechly "on blast" this offseason, like what happened when Carolina's coach said Panthers' quarterback Cam Newton has "room to grow."

But Kuechly does.

And like Newton's continuing development, Kuechly hasn't yet reached his ceiling.

Last season, he made good on his goal of improving in coverage. Including the postseason, he grabbed six interceptions and knocked away 14 passes. Not bad for a guy who totaled eight picks and 29 pass breakups in his first three years.

This season, the goal is to get better as a pass rusher.

"I think it's a feel thing. I don't know if 'art' is the right word, but in the run game, it just seems pretty straight forward to me," Kuechly explained. "In the pass game, it seems pretty straight forward, but the rushing aspect I've just got to get a better feel for it."

Kuechly, who the Panthers haven't used much as a blitzer, has just seven career sacks after totaling only one last year. He's found inspiration next to him in Thomas Davis, who piled up 12 sacks the past three seasons.

"You look at a linebacker like Thomas who is good one-on-one and he can get after the quarterback," Kuechly said. "He can make guys miss, he can get after the quarterback. That's big. If you can play three phases as a backer, if you can cover, you can play the run, or you can rush it's pretty good."

As Kuechly works on his rush skills, he's still wearing the harness he used after injuring his shoulder in the regular-season finale against the Bucs. That now surgically repaired shoulder had a good test Saturday when the Panthers put on pads on for the first time since February.

"You always worry about it," Rivera said afterward. "But the very first time we get in the 9-on-7 drill, he steps up and makes a hit. So he looked good, and I know as far as he’s concerned now that’s off his back, having to worry about how he’s going to take the first shot."

But if there's been any worry about Kuechly's shoulder, it's come from coaches, media or fans. Not him.

"It feels fine," he assured. "I’m not overly concerned about it. Hopefully, after this practice, everyone else can calm down, too."

So with the shoulder questions put aside, Kuechly can focus on his climb toward that unknown ceiling. If he ups his game as a pass rusher, it won't just be good for him, but it should help the Panthers' inexperienced secondary as well.

"Those are opportunities for you to help the guys on the back end out, whether it's pressure getting the quarterback off a spot," Kuechly said.

"When it's my turn to blitz, I have to make sure I'm a factor."