Cunningham vs Dunlap, Revisited

[Charles Barwin]

So my favorite high risk, high reward prospect from the 2010 draft, Carlos Dunlap, has been an absolute monster for Cincinnatti the past 6 weeks.

Dunlap, a Florida Gator selected one pick after teammate Cunningham in the second round, has 8 sacks in the past 6 games. I believe Suh has 9 in 15 games.

Dunlap was the total package physically, just young, immature, and his dedication was questioned.

Was Cunningham the better pick for the Pats

Hindsight being 20/20, Cunningham might have still been available late in round 2 or even round 3.

 

[DarrylS]

Hard to tell, Cincinnatti may have had to rely on Dunlap more than the Pats had to rely on Cunningham.. Cincinnatti may have used him differently.

Different schemes, different roles etc. difficult to compare.

Overall Cunningham had a very good season for the Pats.. very satisfied with this pick.

But somefolks have to find something to complain about..

 

[fnordcircle]

So my favorite high risk, high reward prospect from the 2010 draft, Carlos Dunlap, has been an absolute monster for Cincinnatti the past 6 weeks.

Dunlap, a Florida Gator selected one pick after teammate Cunningham in the second round, has 8 sacks in the past 6 games. I believe Suh has 9 in 15 games.

Dunlap was the total package physically, just young, immature, and his dedication was questioned.

Was Cunningham the better pick for the Pats

Hindsight being 20/20, Cunningham might have still been available late in round 2 or even round 3.

It's really difficult to compare players in different programs because football doesn't happen in a vaccuum.

The Bengals played an easier schedule. The Bengals employed a different scheme.

Adalius played well for Baltimore but didn't fit here.

Deion looked broken and useless in Seattle but has completely renewed his career here.

Honestly - if what you say about Dunlap's questionmarks leading into the draft are true then I think they made the right choice. We didn't win superbowls by being an assemblage of talented freaks with questionable dedication.

 

[Charles Barwin]

Yeah, we made the safer pick, and I don't think Dunlap would play as well or as consistantly for us this year.

I just thought it was worth discussing. 8 sacks in 6 games by a rookie is an amazing accomplishment.

 

[Sciz]

Cunningham would have more sacks if he could tackle...

 

[LoganMankinsPancakeBlocks]

Is Dunlap even an option here? At 285 pounds, he is pretty massive for a 3-4 OLB and he's not someone who would fit as a run stopping, 3-4 DE. Looks like a pure 4-3 DE to me, and a very good one.

I think you were obviously right about how good the player is but he just doesn't seem to fit a 3-4 defense to me. Too big to be an OLB and too small to be a DE. Could've been quite valuable as a sub rusher here, but I can see why the Patriots passed to get a possible every down OLB in Cunningham instead.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Cunningham would have more sacks if he could tackle...

He needs to get stronger. You're right. An off-season in Wojcik's program will definitely help this kid.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Cunningham is more of a Patriot type of guy. Dunlap, as good as he's been, isn't. I'll take Cunningham.

 

[sbpatfan]

Didn't cincinnati have another guy do something similar with like eight sacks in five or so games last year? I don't watch them so I couldn't tell you who is better but I personaly have been happy with Cunningham.

 

[reflexblue]

Cunningham would have more sacks if he could tackle...

He seems to tackle fine except when its the QB hes trying to tackle

 

[Sciz]

Didn't cincinnati have another guy do something similar with like eight sacks in five or so games last year?

Antwan Odom had 5 sacks against the packers in week 2 last season. That's over 1/5 of his career sacks, which tells you all you need to know about the packers' OL last year.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Cunningham would have more sacks if he could tackle...

Considering tackling is a major part of becoming a good defensive player, this could cause a problem for Cunningham. Not for nothing, but who's to say Dunlap couldn't be a star here ? Isn't he pretty much the same exact size of Julius Peppers, whom we supposedly were after in the offseason ? Since we used Cunningham to rush the passer, who's to say we wouldn't have used Dunlap to do the same thing. I'm a Pat's fan through and through, but I'm always amazed by people who justify drafting stars over 3rd round value picks. Like having Clay Matthews and Carlos Dunlop on this defense would not have been better than what we have now. Even if they didn't fit the Pats system as well as the systems they fit, and had half as many sacks, they would have 9 sacks. I always laugh when people think good football players can't succeed in our system.

 

[BB4PRez]

Considering tackling is a major part of becoming a good defensive player, this could cause a problem for Cunningham. Not for nothing, but who's to say Dunlap couldn't be a star here ? Isn't he pretty much the same exact size of Julius Peppers, whom we supposedly were after in the offseason ? Since we used Cunningham to rush the passer, who's to say we wouldn't have used Dunlap to do the same thing. I'm a Pat's fan through and through, but I'm always amazed by people who justify drafting stars over 3rd round value picks. Like having Clay Matthews and Carlos Dunlop on this defense would not have been better than what we have now. Even if they didn't fit the Pats system as well as the systems they fit, and had half as many sacks, they would have 9 sacks. I always laugh when people think good football players can't succeed in our system.

I think thew guy who "picks the groceries" for the Pats does a pretty good job and I think he knows better than anyone else what he wants and needs to build a winner. That doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes, but I really don't think anyone can be to dissatisfied with last year's draft, including Cunningham who has been very solid for a rookie. For me it still is in BB we trust.

 

[WhiZa]

Dunlap, Manluga, Micheal Johnson just wouldn't of done the same if they weren't on the Bengals. High risk players seem to thrive there for some reason i.e. Benson, TO, Henry, Pacman

 

[Charles Barwin]

Dunlap, Manluga, Micheal Johnson just wouldn't of done the same if they weren't on the Bengals. High risk players seem to thrive there for some reason i.e. Benson, TO, Henry, Pacman

I was very high on all 3 of those guys. Not drafting Rey Maualuga cost us the '09 playoff game, imho. We also wouldn't have needed to draft Spikes this year. Is Rey's dwi really that much worse than Spikes' porno and p.e.d. suspension

Michael Johnson was still there in the 3rd round last year, and has played well. Would be even better as a pass rushing olb.

Dunlap could be getting after the passer for us for sure, and lining up at end in 4-3 sub packages, which have been used so much.

Whatever, chemistry means a lot. Would love to hear BB's impression of Dunlap and Johnson though.

 

[BradyFTW!]

It's really difficult to compare players in different programs because football doesn't happen in a vaccuum.

The Bengals played an easier schedule. The Bengals employed a different scheme.

Adalius played well for Baltimore but didn't fit here.

Deion looked broken and useless in Seattle but has completely renewed his career here.

Honestly - if what you say about Dunlap's questionmarks leading into the draft are true then I think they made the right choice. We didn't win superbowls by being an assemblage of talented freaks with questionable dedication.

This, exactly. To question the Cunningham pick, I'd have to be fairly low on him, and he's made some good progress this year. I could see his role escalating in year 2 much like Pat Chung's did.

 

[Kontradiction]

I made no secret about the fact that I would have preferred Dunlap to Cunningham before, during, and after the draft. Dunlap was the better pass rusher and run stopper of the two at Florida. However, I can't say that I've been displeased with Cunningham's production so far. He's come a long way from where he was at earlier in the season and should have had a few sacks of his own.

 

[brady199]

I made no secret about the fact that I would have preferred Dunlap to Cunningham before, during, and after the draft. Dunlap was the better pass rusher and run stopper of the two at Florida. However, I can't say that I've been displeased with Cunningham's production so far. He's come a long way from where he was at earlier in the season and should have had a few sacks of his own.

Well BB had some good insight into the Florida program, he must of saw or known something about Dunlap vs. Cunningham.

 

[brady199]

He seems to tackle fine except when its the QB hes trying to tackle

I can see it now, Giants sneak in the playoffs, make it to the super bowl, last play of the game, Giants, down by 6. Eli is 20 yards away from winning the game, Cunningham has him in the grasp, or does he? For my own sanity, I won't finish this thought.

 

[Uncle Rico]

I can see it now, Giants sneak in the playoffs, make it to the super bowl, last play of the game, Giants, down by 6. Eli is 20 yards away from winning the game, Cunningham has him in the grasp, or does he? For my own sanity, I won't finish this thought.

Please. Don't do that again. Ever.