patfanken

Haven't had one of these in a while and I thought that a day off at TC would be a good time to put a few random and unconnected thoughts on "paper".

1. Its one thing to give props to Jeramaine Cunningham for winning one of the 10 parking spaces for his off season excellence. Its another thing to hear his name being mentioned in the same breath with terms like "burst" and "turning the corner".

I don't think enough credit was given to Cunningham for his first year here. Its been well documented that the transition from a college DE to a 2 gap - 3-4 OLB is one of the most difficult. It took guys like Vrable, Colvin, and Ninko 4 or 5 years to fully grasp the position and become impact players. The fact that Cunningham was forced into a starting position so early and wasn't a liability is a compliment. That Mike Reiss mentioned, that he had 23 QB pressures was even more impressive, given that he didn't seem to have that "burst" that excites us all in our pass rushers.

Cunningham can only blame himself for last year's lost season. Clearly, left on his own, he didn't respond well to the lockout. He came into camp out of shape, got injured, was passed by Anderson and Carter, and wound up on IR midway through the season. He deserved the results he created by his own lack of professionalism. What he didn't deserve was for fans to ignore his rookie accomplishments and their dismissals for his 2nd season failures Its one thing to be "disappointed" with a player's season, but its another to dismiss him simply because he screwed up early in his career.

So while we all (myself included) revelled in our shinny new toys like Jones, Hightower, Bequette, and Scott, Cunningham was quietly busy learning the lessons of the 2011 season and grinding away in the Pats new weight room. The end result being a "new" Jermaine Cunningham. The guy who can NOW be associated with terms like "sudden" and "burst"

Now this is a development that isn't earth shaking or impactful to the Pats overall success this season. But it IS a nice redemptive story and adds depth to a position that is so full of promise, yet has little proven success. It bares watching.

2. In a very similar vein, its interesting to read that Ron Brace has been "flashing" early on in the first 2 days of padded practices. This will be Brace's 4th season as a Patriot. The first was utterly disappointing for a 2nd round pick. His second was much improved and on the rise until he was cut down by an injury late in the season. An injury that carried over into last season, severely limiting his progress and production.

This truly is a do or die season for Brace if he wants to continue with the Pats. Its a good sign that he's "flashing" somewhat. We need some big bodies in the trenches

3. I know he's been the subject of much debate already, but it WILL be interesting to see if Julian Edelman can become something more than "just" a special teams, jack of all trades player. He's the 3rd player that we've heard about, who has "flashed" to observers thus far, that we didn't expected much from going into camp

TC is very important to him to show that he has made the leap from QB to WR, because, barring an injury to Welker, its very unlikely that he's going to get many snaps at the slot position. Still it would be good to see him have a productive preseason. It will quiet the haters, comfort us knowing we have good depth at the position, AND let the Pats know that they may already have an adequate replacement for Welker after this season.

4. Speaking of pleasant surprises. I'm happy to hear that Chandler Jones has already started to stand out in camp. Its come earlier than I expected or was led to believe.

5. Less surprising but no less comforting, are the reports of Donta Hightower looking like a man among boys early in camp. It will be interesting to see where and how the Pats will use this weapon because that's what he is going to be.

6. Last season the Pats ranked 14th in sacks with 40, just 2 sacks away from being in the top 10. That was an excellent performance give the Pats had just 3 guys that one would consider legit Pass rushers (Carter, Anderson and Ninko) THIS season Reiss, in a recent report named 10 though 4 were more inside pocket pushers than true rushers ( Vince, Deadrick, Brace, and Love)

However in Ninko, Jones, Bequette, Scott, Cunningham, Fenene, and Hightower there are now 7 guys who can be considered or at least have the potential to be legit pass rush threats, and add Carter in late August and we've almost tripled the number of pass rush options than we had last season

7. So what is left to find out over the next 5 weeks? Well the most critical element IMHO is the secondary. A hard area to evaluate when you aren't in a game situation I think the joint practices with the Saints will be a good place to start.

8 Other nice surprises thus far....according to those who have watched the practices

a. Will Allen looks good at safety and still very fast as such an advanced age.

b. Nate Solder looks bigger and stronger and ready to take the next step as the Pats new LT

c. Lloyd is everything we've hoped for so far

d. the "screen" is back, baby

e. Hard to believe, but Aaron Hernandez looks even better

9. Other interesting things I'm looking forward to seeing over the course of next month

a. Is Ryan Mallet just a strong armed kid who can't process fast enough to make good decisions, or will he win the back up job and become the next pawn in BB's plan to restock the draft machine

b. Can Brian Hoyer show enough to worth a draft pick to someone.

c. Who gets to stay among Branch, Stallworth, Davis, and Gaffney

d. Who among the RB's emerges, and which FB survives

e. A Daniel Fells sighting.

10. Pet peeves

a. I love Greg Bedard, but I still can't figure out how he can so definitively grade those one on one battles from so far away. I have to believe someone is slipping him the practice tape

b. The Concussion suits. - Every time I see a new entry to this money grab, I can only think of the Casablanca scene when Louis says to Rick, "I am shocked to find out that there is Gambling going on in this club".....and then accepts his winnings.

To think that Players didn't know that large men running at high speeds into one another didn't hold some potential long term health risks aren't being honest. No one is THAT stupid. Just another example of our need to blame someone for everything. Another example of not taking responsibility for our own actions, AND another example of the misuse of our legal system (which needs reform badly) to make a money grab.

c. People who make judgments based on just 2 practices with pads

shmessy

Interestingly enough, I think the 2012 Patriots sack leader will be someone you didn't even list......... a certain Tenn alum who had a cameo in the Three Stooges movie this summer.

BB will use him as he hasn't yet been allowed to use him - - because he doesn't have to be the babysitter of the LB corps anymore.

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PatsFan37

9a. Most everyone else we learn more about during the regular season. Now is the only time we get to learn about mallet (I hope!)

reflexblue

Cunningham just showed too much promise in his first year to be a fluke. Something happened last year whether it was the lockout, immaturity, or a nagging injury. Maybe a combination of all of these and some we don't know about. While a lot of fans have written him off as a bust i haven't. I think he'll show something like he did in his first year. The only question i have is its awfully crowded at that position, so will he have real chance to show what he has.

fnordcircle

This is a gross oversimplification. It's reminiscent of the same glib comments people would make about the McDonald's Coffee lawsuit. Which was a lawsuit where a woman was burned so bad she needed skin grafts on her groin because the coffee she spilled on herself was hotter than McDonald's own policy.

Simply put, despite the fact that it is a violent game players have no say in what equipment they wear. That is handled by the NFL via their endorsement deals with Reebok, etc. Did you know, for instance, that the foam used in NFL helmets is not the best foam that could be used to reduce impact trauma?

Your argument is no different than saying 'Flying is a dangerous thing so airline pilots have no right to sue if they find out that their airline is cutting costs at the expense of flight safety.'

Beyond that if you do not find the NFL's treatment, or lack thereof, of veterans who played through multiple concussions and end up having major problems later in life (Corwin Brown, Junior Seau) absolutely repugnant then I question your priorities.

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mayoclinic

I don't know where to put this, so I'll stick it under your "Idle Thoughts" thread, Ken. NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal lists "5 leading rookies" of interest at this early juncture. Two of them play for the Pats:

Dont'a Hightower, Doug Martin among leading rookies - NFL.com

Not too shabby.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

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BlueThunder

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My guns are no threat to anyone who isn't trying to deprive me or my family of life,liberty or property. They are,however, EXTREMELY dangerous to anyone who threatens to take those things.

peterforpats

re: players lawsuits
not all lawsuits are "money grabs" some have merit. ithink the treatment of former players is a real stain in the record of the nfl. like everything, it is just my humble opinion, but all leagues don't do enough vis-a-vis the older past players. i don't begrudge them trying to get more after years of providing for our entertainment. i know how everyone thinks they all made a "ton" of money, but not all did(especially the old-timers).it is too easy to forget how important they all were for creating the popularity of their sports.the greatest team sport athlete in history- bill russell- made $100,001 in his best years. think about that and think what a benchwarmer makes today!!

PATSYLICIOUS

Always enjoy your posts Ken.
Be awesome if Cunningham and/or Brace could contribute this year. Both were disappointing after holding their own when being thrust into early action (remember Brace did start a game in late '09 @ Buffalo). Would really help the front 7 depth.

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patfanken

I don't doubt that some of the law suits could have merit. And I don't doubt that a lot of older players who are participating in the class action suits are doing so because of the shabby treatment given to them by the last few generations of players who benefited from their efforts.

While the NFL should share some of the blame in this, the greater blame should be heaped on the NFLPA who have squandered multiple opportunities to solve those problems in the last few CBA negotiations. Each time the NFLPA chose immediate benefits to their current players at the expense of their former colleagues.
p
The league should have done more. The "union" definitely should have done more. But also some of the players themselves should have done more to prepare for their own retirements. The league shouldn't be responsible for taking care of players for the rest of their lives. Especially when you consider the kind of money that even the lowest paid players are getting.