Re-visiting Jermaine Cunningham/Carlos Dunlap

[NG Pats Fan]

I know a lot of pat's fan were very disappointed we drafted the less talented gator ahead of Dunlap in the 2nd round of the 2010 NFL Draft. 3 years later into their NFL careers, whom would you rather have?

 

[Marqui]

Neither is anything special, but Dunlap has had the better career so far.

 

[PATS68]

No even close, Dunlap with 24 sacks and our guy with 3.5 sacks!

 

[Sciz]

Cunningham was the better fit for the defense they had at the time, Dunlap would be a better fit now, but he's still not a great player. I could write a paper on why his 9.5 sack season as a rookie was a fluke.

 

[JackBauer]

I wouldn't take either of them.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Cunningham was the better fit for the defense they had at the time, Dunlap would be a better fit now, but he's still not a great player. I could write a paper on why his 9.5 sack season as a rookie was a fluke.

Belichick is too busy sometimes trying to find guys that fit the system instead of taking the more talented player...clay matthews being another example.

 

[Sciz]

Belichick is too busy sometimes trying to find guys that fit the system instead of taking the more talented player...clay matthews being another example.

And you'd rather have him make really good players do the things they're really bad at? Belichick can't completely overhaul his defensive scheme for each new rookie he drafts.

 

[Deus Irae]

Belichick chose the wrong Gator. Of course, if we're playing "what if", here, you can look at several LBs that he missed on. The next LBs to go, beyond Cunningham, were

Dunlap
Lee
Spikes
Angerer
Butler
Bowman

Looking back now, any of those would probably have been a better choice than Cunningham.

 

[jmt57]

At the time the Pats used a 3-4 defense.

Cunningham was considered to be a better athlete and a better fit to play 3-4 OLB, and could also play 4-3 DE. Dunlap was strictly a 4-3 guy with character issues, and not as good of an athlete.

 

[VrabelJr]

Belichick chose the wrong Gator. Of course, if we're playing "what if", here, you can look at several LBs that he missed on. The next LBs to go, beyond Cunningham, were

Dunlap
Lee
Spikes
Angerer
Butler
Bowman

Looking back now, any of those would probably have been a better choice than Cunningham.

Dunlap isn't a Linebacker, he's purely a Defensive End. That's the reason we didn't draft him.

 

[Deus Irae]

Dunlap isn't a Linebacker, he's purely a Defensive End. That's the reason we didn't draft him.

He's on the list because he's in the OP. I assumed that would be understood and didn't bother differentiating. My mistake.

 

[condon84]

For what we needed at the time (a pass rusher) I thought Dunlap was a better choice then, and I think he's a better choice now.

 

[VrabelJr]

He's on the list because he's in the OP. I assumed that would be understood and didn't bother differentiating. My mistake.

Regardless, the logic stays the same. Also, the other LBs on your list aren't the same type of LB that we were looking to draft that year. The rest are all ILBs. Make an apples to apples comparison at least please.

Cunningham showed flashes in this rookie year, was injured his sophomore, and showed flashes last year getting serious pressure inside. He enabled a lot of other people to make plays. I wouldn't be surprised if his role expands more this year.

 

[Deus Irae]

Regardless, the logic stays the same. Also, the other LBs on your list aren't the same type of LB that we were looking to draft that year. The rest are all ILBs. Make an apples to apples comparison at least please.

My logic is fine. You're attempting to shrink the pool of alternates. In an era where the Patriots are looking for cover LBs and looking to play speed linebackers on TEs, I don't buy that. Furthermore, at the time they picked Cunningham, ILB was a need, which is why Spikes was drafted later in the same draft.

Cunningham showed flashes in this rookie year, was injured his sophomore, and showed flashes last year getting serious pressure inside. He enabled a lot of other people to make plays. I wouldn't be surprised if his role expands more this year.

Cunningham's been a bust/disappointment to this point, and I'm certainly not counting on him making the team.

 

[Rob0729]

Sean Lee who was drafted right after both of them.

Personally, I wouldn't consider either Cunningham or Dunlap great second round picks. Considering the draft the Pats had in 2010, I will give them a free pass on missing on Cunningham.

 

[borg]

Dunlap hands down. Cunningham is PED enhanced JAG

 

[SHOWTIME15]

And you'd rather have him make really good players do the things they're really bad at? Belichick can't completely overhaul his defensive scheme for each new rookie he drafts.

I would if the guy was named clay matthews. And who said anything about an overhaul? If you find someone with talent, make SOME changes to fit the player

 

[JackBauer]

Dunlap hands down. Cunningham is PED enhanced JAG

Do we know what substance Cunningham was taking that resulted in his suspension?

 

[patsfan-1982]

yes Dunlap is better but they are both back up, that was one of the deepest Drafts in NFL history both the pats and cincy could have Drafted a better player if we want to look at it that way

 

[Big-T]

I would if the guy was named clay matthews. And who said anything about an overhaul? If you find someone with talent, make SOME changes to fit the player

Clay Matthews or Gronk?

That's what your choice is:

Patriots get:
2009 second round pick, 41, pick DB Darius Butler
2009 third round pick, 73, pick DB Derek Cox
2009 third round pick, 83, pick WR Brandon Tate
Patriots trade Cox to Jaguars.

2009 seventh round pick, 232, pick WR Julian Edelman
2010 second round, 44, traded that pick to the Raiders for 42 to pick TE Rob Gronkowski