PatsFanStnfrd
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2009
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Carlos Dunlap was the Bengals pick right behind the Pats selecting Jermaine Cunningham in round 2 of the 2010 draft. Dunlap had a terrific year masked by being on a terrible team. Dunlap was second among all rookies in QB sacks last year, narrowly second to Suh. An article on the Bengals website headlined "Reason for Optimism" points out:
"Dunlap finished with 9.5 sacks to break the Bengals rookie mark of 8.5 that had been set by defensive end Justin Smith in 2001. Dunlap had more than three times as many sacks as his closest teammate—rookie defensive tackle Geno Atkins was second at 3.0—and Dunlap became the first rookie to lead the Bengals in sacks since 1990, when linebacker James Francis had 8.0."
It goes on to say: "To be sure, Dunlap ended the season as the hottest pass rushing rookie in the NFL. He had 8.5 of his sacks over the last six games."
Reason for optimism
In short, Dunlap alone had nearly as many sacks as all of Pats OLB combined.
So, while a lot of people bemoan BB missing out on Clay Matthews a few years ago, there has been understandably less focus on BB passing over Dunlap. IF memory serves right, Dunlap had several "attitude" marks against him. He was said to inconsistent in some Florida games (which college player isn't?). But he certainly had the measurables and the broader college record that BB could look to (unlike Matthews). In fact, numerous draft "experts" had Dunlap a potential Pats pick -- precisely because of his measurables, record and Pats need at DE/OLB. I also recognize that the jury is out on Cunningham. I also understand that the players performance varies with scheme. But that's why BB is there -- to coach someone like Dunlap to play in his scheme.
Thus BB's pick of Cunningham -- and how he performs vs. Dunlap's performance going forward -- could be a defining one to watch in the long standing Pats search for an anchor pass rusher who can get the opposing QB.
"Dunlap finished with 9.5 sacks to break the Bengals rookie mark of 8.5 that had been set by defensive end Justin Smith in 2001. Dunlap had more than three times as many sacks as his closest teammate—rookie defensive tackle Geno Atkins was second at 3.0—and Dunlap became the first rookie to lead the Bengals in sacks since 1990, when linebacker James Francis had 8.0."
It goes on to say: "To be sure, Dunlap ended the season as the hottest pass rushing rookie in the NFL. He had 8.5 of his sacks over the last six games."
Reason for optimism
In short, Dunlap alone had nearly as many sacks as all of Pats OLB combined.
So, while a lot of people bemoan BB missing out on Clay Matthews a few years ago, there has been understandably less focus on BB passing over Dunlap. IF memory serves right, Dunlap had several "attitude" marks against him. He was said to inconsistent in some Florida games (which college player isn't?). But he certainly had the measurables and the broader college record that BB could look to (unlike Matthews). In fact, numerous draft "experts" had Dunlap a potential Pats pick -- precisely because of his measurables, record and Pats need at DE/OLB. I also recognize that the jury is out on Cunningham. I also understand that the players performance varies with scheme. But that's why BB is there -- to coach someone like Dunlap to play in his scheme.
Thus BB's pick of Cunningham -- and how he performs vs. Dunlap's performance going forward -- could be a defining one to watch in the long standing Pats search for an anchor pass rusher who can get the opposing QB.