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JMO, Cunningham looked stiff as you'd expect someone to be in his position, yet he still made an effetive tackle. Who knows how quick he is wen he's actually comfortable?
Speaking from experience, in high school I made the change froma 4-3 end to a LB and just the difference with playing with your hands off the ground was so huge, it's hard to explain. Sunday I kind of saw that in Cunningham, he's not reading the plays fast enough yet. But once he gets comfortable, I look for him to make that same stop, just for 3 yards less. I think he has that kind of ability, IMO.
Didn't Zach Thomas once say you measure a play maker by plays they made BEHIND the LOS? Cunningham was a monster at that in the SEC.
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JMO, Cunningham looked stiff as you'd expect someone to be in his position, yet he still made an effetive tackle. Who knows how quick he is wen he's actually comfortable?
Speaking from experience, in high school I made the change froma 4-3 end to a LB and just the difference with playing with your hands off the ground was so huge, it's hard to explain. Sunday I kind of saw that in Cunningham, he's not reading the plays fast enough yet. But once he gets comfortable, I look for him to make that same stop, just for 3 yards less. I think he has that kind of ability, IMO.
Didn't Zach Thomas once say you measure a play maker by plays they made BEHIND the LOS? Cunningham was a monster at that in the SEC.
A problem with our read and react defense is that you rarely see our defensive guys make stops behind the LOS. It's almost impossible for them to do so in our scheme. The only times I've seen it happen is because of blown assignments by the offense or a defensive guy coming on an assigned blitz.
I think in the second half of season Cunningham will be a significant contributor to this team if not a valued starter. He is a month behind because he missed the preseason, but in limited action he looks to be the pass rusher this team is missing.
A problem with our read and react defense is that you rarely see our defensive guys make stops behind the LOS. It's almost impossible for them to do so in our scheme. The only times I've seen it happen is because of blown assignments by the offense or a defensive guy coming on an assigned blitz.
No! No! No! The problem with our defense is not the scheme, it is the lack of quality players that can execute the scheme.
TFL's are the result of the D Line maintaining their gap reposnsibilities and holding at the LOS and the LBers and safeties filling properly. We have one guy, Wilfork, consistently maintaiining his gap responsibilities but NOT always the LOS and six other guys up front where every play is a guss for them.
Youth will be served, and we have a ton of it on defense. Unfortunately it will not do us much good this year. Our defense is so horrible we made a Dirty Sanchez look like Peyton Manning! Give me a break.
No! No! No! The problem with our defense is not the scheme, it is the lack of quality players that can execute the scheme.
TFL's are the result of the D Line maintaining their gap reposnsibilities and holding at the LOS and the LBers and safeties filling properly. We have one guy, Wilfork, consistently maintaiining his gap responsibilities but NOT always the LOS and six other guys up front where every play is a guss for them.
Youth will be served, and we have a ton of it on defense. Unfortunately it will not do us much good this year. Our defense is so horrible we made a Dirty Sanchez look like Peyton Manning! Give me a break.
I didn't see us really doing much but Next year should i see us getting back to what we were in the early '00's.
Are we surprised that Ninkovich is the weak link on the front seven? Didn't we know that in March?
Miami added Dansby. NY added Taylor. The patriots were fine with Ninkovich starting, with his reps gradually taken by a rookie.
Rookies often need time to learn our defense. Cunningham won't ahve that luxury.
And yes, I too see Crable being activated soon.
I don't know if the Pats felt they would go Ninkovitch as a starter. They probably thought Wood or Burgess would have stuck, but both washed out in the preseason.
BTW, Dansby is an ILB and the Dolphins are starting a rookie second round pick at OLB (or at least rotating him with an unproven second year player). I don't know how that is any different than what the Pats are doing with Cunningham. I seems that both the Dolphins and Pats had the same plan at OLB.
No! No! No! The problem with our defense is not the scheme, it is the lack of quality players that can execute the scheme.
TFL's are the result of the D Line maintaining their gap reposnsibilities and holding at the LOS and the LBers and safeties filling properly. We have one guy, Wilfork, consistently maintaiining his gap responsibilities but NOT always the LOS and six other guys up front where every play is a guss for them.
Youth will be served, and we have a ton of it on defense. Unfortunately it will not do us much good this year. Our defense is so horrible we made a Dirty Sanchez look like Peyton Manning! Give me a break.
Yeah, because our read and react defense has always been known for TFL even in the Super Bowl years.
Our players don't shoot gaps and penetrate to allow them to make plays behind the LOS. Our guys are asked to engage blockers, shed, and make the tackle. How the hell are they supposed to make tackles behind the line of scrimmage? Why do you think BB is adamant about LBs being a certain size and weight? They need to be able to take on blockers. We are not the Steelers two-gapping attack style defense.
He had some good rush moves against Cincy, but WR's were wide open after the snap, so he becomes ineffective. He also had a nice play on Sanchez to force him into Warren.
However, if the Pats continue to play the 10 yard cushion, it doesn't matter who rushes the passer.
Woods and Burgess didn't start last year. Why would they be expected to start this year?
Burgess was a DE in the sub package, playing a bit more tha 50% of the defensive reps; Cunningham has taken that role. It is a lot to ask of a rookie but we have no choice.
Thomas was the starter opposite Banta-Cain. Ninkovich replaced Thomas.
Woods was a run specialist that Belichick thought we didn't need.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob0729
I don't know if the Pats felt they would go Ninkovitch as a starter. They probably thought Wood or Burgess would have stuck, but both washed out in the preseason.
BTW, Dansby is an ILB and the Dolphins are starting a rookie second round pick at OLB (or at least rotating him with an unproven second year player). I don't know how that is any different than what the Pats are doing with Cunningham. I seems that both the Dolphins and Pats had the same plan at OLB.
Re: Brightside: Cunningham
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