Did BB make a mistake bypassing Dunlap for Cunningham last year...

[PatsFanStnfrd]

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.

 

[Oswlek]

Perhaps, but performance as a 4/3 end isn't easily transferrable to performance as a 3/4 OLB. It stands to reason that Dunlap is the better pass rusher because BB certainly would have used Jermaine more in sub rushing situations if he was a 10 sack talent. That said, Jermaine displayed a well rounded OLB game, which is a lot to say for any rookie, let alone a rookie who missed most of camp and all of the preseason.

Time will tell, but I'm comfortable with the decision at the moment.

 

[Professor Frink]

I don't think just looking at sacks (overrated stat IMO) is a fair way of evaluating the two players. How consistently can Dunlap set the edge? How comfortable is he in dropping back into coverage? Can he play standing up?

I understand that he has more explosiveness, and perhaps he may be a better overall pass rusher, but that is only part of the equation.

Right now all we know is both rookies preformed pretty well in their respective systems, and I bet both teams are pretty happy with their selections.

 

[patchick]

I was high on Dunlap in the draft, and very surprised that they took Cunningham instead. But BB got up close and personal with that whole Florida roster and presumably got frank assessments from their coaches, too.

It could be that Dunlap's straight-line style athleticism didn't project well to the job here. Or it could be that Dunlap's character questions didn't project to the championship-caliber locker room that BB & Caserio have been so deliberately building. (Remember that Cunningham, not Dunlap, was a captain at Florida.)

In either case, success in Cinci's 4-3 defense and locker room full of miscreants doesn't necessarily reflect on what Dunlap's value would have been with the Patriots.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't think just looking at sacks (overrated stat IMO) is a fair way of evaluating the two players. How consistently can Dunlap set the edge? How comfortable is he in dropping back into coverage? Can he play standing up?

I understand that he has more explosiveness, and perhaps he may be a better overall pass rusher, but that is only part of the equation.

Right now all we know is both rookies preformed pretty well in their respective systems, and I bet both teams are pretty happy with their selections.

I'm trying to remember who it was that tried to impress BB by getting a sack, only to have BB ream him out for ignoring his responsibilities (the gist of BB's anger was that if they had tried to run the ball instead of pass, it would have been an almost certain huge gain/touchdown).

 

[E Belichick Unum]

What are you doing, accusing BB of making a mistake? Why here at BBManLove.com, that is cause for virtual disembowelment with a used kicking tee or a rabid cat.

For the record, the mantra here is:
1) Sacks don't matter, if they did matter BB would have surely addessed the situation years ago.
2) BB is always right, and when he is wrong it is because everybody else is wrong, not BB.
3) Did I mention that sacks don't matter?
4) It is a good thing that the nose tackle led the team in sacks last year, I mean, somebody had to do it and Brady wasn't available.
5) BB the GM is infallable, while BB the coach is the best ever.
and number
6) BB never gets wet, he walks on water.

And this is from a BB fan, a guy who had the audacity to question why BB didn't add a pass rusher, and between the BB ball sucking and the BB lollipoping I found out that I knew nothing about football, because I was told so in no uncertain terms.

 

[Oswlek]

What are you doing, accusing BB of making a mistake? Why here at BBManLove.com, that is cause for virtual disembowelment with a used kicking tee or a rabid cat.

For the record, the mantra here is:
1) Sacks don't matter, if they did matter BB would have surely addessed the situation years ago.
2) BB is always right, and when he is wrong it is because everybody else is wrong, not BB.
3) Did I mention that sacks don't matter?
4) It is a good thing that the nose tackle led the team in sacks last year, I mean, somebody had to do it and Brady wasn't available.
5) BB the GM is infallable, while BB the coach is the best ever.
and number
6) BB never gets wet, he walks on water.

And this is from a BB fan, a guy who had the audacity to question why BB didn't add a pass rusher, and between the BB ball sucking and the BB lollipoping I found out that I knew nothing about football, because I was told so in no uncertain terms.

Hyperbole much?

Sacks don't matter?

It stands to reason that Dunlap is the better pass rusher because BB certainly would have used Jermaine more in sub rushing situations if he was a 10 sack talent.

I understand that he has more explosiveness, and perhaps he may be a better overall pass rusher, but that is only part of the equation.

How exactly is pointing out that 10 sacks as a starter in Cincy doesn't tell us much about how he would have fared as part-time OLB here? Or is that pass rush bug up your arse buzz so loudly that you can't hear anything else?

 

[Tasco]

I'm trying to remember who it was that tried to impress BB by getting a sack, only to have BB ream him out for ignoring his responsibilities (the gist of BB's anger was that if they had tried to run the ball instead of pass, it would have been an almost certain huge gain/touchdown).

would love more info on that! never heard this happened!

 

[Sciz]

Success in one scheme does not imply hypothetical success in another.

 

[mgteich]

I agree 100% with all these comments. The choice was between Dunlop and Cuinningham. There is no reason to question the choice that Belichick made.

I was high on Dunlap in the draft, and very surprised that they took Cunningham instead. But BB got up close and personal with that whole Florida roster and presumably got frank assessments from their coaches, too.

It could be that Dunlap's straight-line style athleticism didn't project well to the job here. Or it could be that Dunlap's character questions didn't project to the championship-caliber locker room that BB & Caserio have been so deliberately building. (Remember that Cunningham, not Dunlap, was a captain at Florida.)

In either case, success in Cinci's 4-3 defense and locker room full of miscreants doesn't necessarily reflect on what Dunlap's value would have been with the Patriots.

 

[jsull87]

I understand that dunlap killed it the last half of last year. But sacks are just a small equasion to how an OLB plays for the pats. I am actually quite high on Cunningham as i went back during the offseason and watched all the tapes i had recorded of the games and i think he stood up really well in his rookie season. I think he is very solid vers the run and has good pass rush skills. He dropped well in the open field too. In saying that if you were a bengals fan you would also be very excited about dunlap's potential. I think both are good footballers but once again i like Cunningham for the Pats OLB

 

[ay-yo]

As others have said there's no guarantee that Dunlap would have had the success he had in Cinci over here.

That said, I think Dunlap would have been put in more pass rushing situations than Cunningham was and as a result would have had more sucks, qb hits and / or hurries. There's also a possibility he would have been exposed in coverage more than Cunningham.

 

[Sciz]

And according to Football Outsiders, Dunlap had 3 hits and 4 hurries in addition to his 9.5 sacks to Cunningham's 1 sack, 4 hits, and 17 hurries. That means they credited Cunningham with pressure more than Dunlap anyway, just not the "flashy" pressure.

 

[patsfan-1982]

Dunlap may go on to be the next Julius Peppers and Cunningham may go on to be the next Pierre Woods, bottom line is Dunlap is not a OLB. the pats need it a every down edge seting OLB not a sub package 4-3DE

a corvette is a better car then my suburban but i cant fit my family in it so what good is it to me ?

 

[Oswlek]

Dunlap may go on to be the next Julius Peppers and Cunningham may go on to be the next Pierre Woods, bottom line is Dunlap is not a OLB. the pats need it a every down edge seting OLB not a sub package 4-3DE

a corvette is a better car then my suburban but i cant fit my family in it so what good is it to me ?

Hey now, let's not go that far. I'm sure BB would be glad to have a big time pass rusher at 4/3 sub DE. I know I would.

 

[Defsoul]

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.

Both Cunningham and Dunlap could become good players in the NFL. It doesn't always have to be black and white. They both could become pro bowl pass rushers, they also could do next to nothing from here on out.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Both Cunningham and Dunlap could become good players in the NFL. It doesn't always have to be black and white. They both could become pro bowl pass rushers, they also could do next to nothing from here on out.

*cough* Shawne Merriman *cough*

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

I agree 100% with all these comments. The choice was between Dunlop and Cuinningham. There is no reason to question the choice that Belichick made.

Performance (or results) is always a legitimate reason to question choice. I'm sure that when BB does self-scouting with his coaching/player development group talk about what-ifs and whys.

As I mentioned in my OP, the jury is out on Cunningham. Dunlap seems to have performed very well -- demonstrating real value as an edge rusher. To me this even more than the miss on Matthews a few years ago will define how we judge BB's ability to draft pass rushers.

The fact that BB generally makes good picks or is an excellent coach should not obscure mistakes or immunize him from criticism.

 

[PatsFanStnfrd]

Success in one scheme does not imply hypothetical success in another.

So?

The whole art of the draft is projecting college players to play in your scheme. College schemes are vastly different than pro schemes. That is the whole nature of scouting -- and then coaching and player development. The most you can expect are player measurables suited to your system and a solid record. Dunlap had both. Getting the player to perform in your system is upto coaching.

I'm sure BB carefully evaluated both Dunlap and Cunningham. He chose to pass over Dunlap who was widely picked to go round 1 or 2 to pick Cunningham was widely expected to be a 4th or 5th round pick. Cunningham might well vindicate his selection and more. Yet, Dunlap has already made his presence felt in a meaningful way. The fact that he has succeeded in a different system, does not mean he would not be a blazing success with the Pats. Especially under a great coach like BB.

There are numerous threads on this website and elsewhere about the Pats missing on Matthews and others dedicated to lack of elite pass-rushers. I am simply suggesting passing Dunlap for Cunningham may be more of a defining moment in BB's ability to draft and develop pass rushers

 

[patchick]

Performance (or results) is always a legitimate reason to question choice. I'm sure that when BB does self-scouting with his coaching/player development group talk about what-ifs and whys.

Certainly, but this seems like a peculiar choice to jump on. Cunningham got off to a slow start because of injury but all signs through the course of the season looked very positive. He showed signs of developing into a complete linebacker. In other words, it appears that the Patriots finally spent a premium pick on an OLB, successfully.

But now drafting him was a mistake because another rookie with different strengths and weaknesses, playing in a different system, put up more sacks? We're supposed to ignore the fact that Cunningham had more tackles, QB hurries, forced fumbles, etc. etc. etc. plus the fact that he was BB's first ever rookie starter at OLB and declare him a bad pick because of Dunlap's sack numbers?

If you want to criticize BB & co. for not successfully developing an OLB before this, I'll gladly join the parade. But why slam the pick that finally bucked that ugly trend? Dunlap being good doesn't make Cunningham bad.