Cunningham & Brace Progression

[PatsBoy12]

The few times he even came close to the QB, it was because Henne held on to the ball a long time. You could say the same thing about Mike Wright, who got close to Henne after Henne held on to the ball a long time. I'm not trying to rag on the kid, but I just didn't see anything that stood out. I'm not expecting Julius Peppers or Ware either, just looking for consistent pressure. For example, Colvin never led the league in sacks when he was here, but when he was on the field, he was always back there pressuring the QB on a consistent basis. Maybe Cunningham had an off night, but out of all the OLBs we had, Banta Cain showed the quickest step and made the Dolphins OTs worked the hardest on pass protection. I didn't see any of our OLBs overpower their OTs at all, but those guys are huge so I wasn't expecting that.

Dude, relax. I wasn't attacking you or anything like that. Chill a bit. I was just pointing out that though he hasn't been "special," he's shown that he can potentially become a really good find in the draft. Your assessment that Henne was holding the ball too long is a bit weak because you can make that same argument anytime one of the premiere pass rushers gets pressure or a sack. The kid looked decent, but I guess it's all subjective anyway.

On the wildcat attempt, it was Cunningham that forced Ronnie Brown to stay inside and he and Meriweather eventually made the play in the backfield. That's something that shows the kid is learning. Let's not forget he missed all of preseason and this is his on-the-job training right now. I watched the kid play in person at UF, and I can tell you he's a really smart football player with a good motor. Only time will tell if it will translate.

Again, though, an innocuous response to something posted draws an irrational, knee-jerk reaction. I should have expected as much.

 

[Rob0729]

The few times he even came close to the QB, it was because Henne held on to the ball a long time. You could say the same thing about Mike Wright, who got close to Henne after Henne held on to the ball a long time. I'm not trying to rag on the kid, but I just didn't see anything that stood out. I'm not expecting Julius Peppers or Ware either, just looking for consistent pressure. For example, Colvin never led the league in sacks when he was here, but when he was on the field, he was always back there pressuring the QB on a consistent basis. Maybe Cunningham had an off night, but out of all the OLBs we had, Banta Cain showed the quickest step and made the Dolphins OTs worked the hardest on pass protection. I didn't see any of our OLBs overpower their OTs at all, but those guys are huge so I wasn't expecting that.

Every time the Pats had a good play last night on defense, you blame Henne. Sorry, but you aren't looking at things clearly if you seriously think that. Henne didn't play well last night, but you blame him for every interception and QB pressure and Pats were just lucky to benefit from it.

Sorry, Cunningham had a pretty good game last night for a rookie outside pass rusher who missed the entire preseason. No one is expecting him to be DeMarcus Ware, but he is progressing week after week and trying to play catch up since he missed four weeks of playing time in the preseason.

 

[LuthierJr]

I thought Cunningham looked good. He hasn't played much this year in pre-season or otherwise so he hasn't had the reps that others have had. That said he drew double teams quite a bit. Pushed the pocket putting pressure, sped around the end a couple times, but Henne stepped up nicely. Set the edge OK. For a guy seeing his first big bulk of snaps he did well.

We all knew this defense was, and is, going to be a roller coaster. Lets not jump to conclusions about them and give them some time to settle into their roles and ability.

 

[TheComeback]

If you watched it again, then I'll take your word for it. But from first glance watching it last night, Henne seemed like he had a good amount of time standing back there to throw.

There were times where Henne had a clean pocket, but for the most part, Cunningham did a very good job getting pressure on him. I saw a couple of bull rushes where he almost pushed the tackle into the QB, a really nice spin move, and good agility and speed on most passing plays. He also had a couple of nice plays against the run, especially against inside runs.

On a side note, I also noticed the Dolphins double teaming Cunningham a few times on passing downs.

 

[condon84]

Every time the Pats had a good play last night on defense, you blame Henne. Sorry, but you aren't looking at things clearly if you seriously think that. Henne didn't play well last night, but you blame him for every interception and QB pressure and Pats were just lucky to benefit from it.

Because that's what happened. There was no pressure on Henne to make the ill-advised throws he made. What else am I supposed to say? I credit Ninkovich for capitalizing, but dumb throws. If Brady had thrown those INTS in similar fashion, I'd be saying the same thing.

Sorry, Cunningham had a pretty good game last night for a rookie outside pass rusher who missed the entire preseason. No one is expecting him to be DeMarcus Ware, but he is progressing week after week and trying to play catch up since he missed four weeks of playing time in the preseason.

If you premise his performance that way, then he was good, I guess. Should we do that for everyone on the team then? Like when we talk about Brady, should we say, "for someone who's been in the NFL for 10 years and threw for 50 TDs a couple of years ago, to only throw 150 yds, he sure didn't play all that well yesterday."

 

[Joker]

Brady's QB rating last night was 107....you say he didn't play well....19/24 in 27 minutes of possession and up big most of the 2nd half.

you seem to have this negativity in everything you see problem

 

[PowerRunRevival]

I thought he often began to collapse the pocket from the outside. I feel that he would start to get after the passer and then run straight to the qb before he was fully by the blocker. This caused him to get real close to the qb without actually getting to Henne. I feel that this is a technique and patients error that will be corrected.

What I saw out of Cunningham was a player that looked better this week than he did the previous week. That is pretty much all you should be looking for out of a rookie that is playing a new position.

 

[PatsSox363804]

Because that's what happened. There was no pressure on Henne to make the ill-advised throws he made. What else am I supposed to say? I credit Ninkovich for capitalizing, but dumb throws. If Brady had thrown those INTS in similar fashion, I'd be saying the same thing.



If you premise his performance that way, then he was good, I guess. Should we do that for everyone on the team then? Like when we talk about Brady, should we say, "for someone who's been in the NFL for 10 years and threw for 50 TDs a couple of years ago, to only throw 150 yds, he sure didn't play all that well yesterday."

Yeah he went 19 for 24, he sucked last night.

If anything Brady not throwing any picks in that stadium should be viewed as a great performance given his history there.

 

[Rob0729]

Because that's what happened. There was no pressure on Henne to make the ill-advised throws he made. What else am I supposed to say? I credit Ninkovich for capitalizing, but dumb throws. If Brady had thrown those INTS in similar fashion, I'd be saying the same thing.



If you premise his performance that way, then he was good, I guess. Should we do that for everyone on the team then? Like when we talk about Brady, should we say, "for someone who's been in the NFL for 10 years and threw for 50 TDs a couple of years ago, to only throw 150 yds, he sure didn't play all that well yesterday."

Ok, let's just accept without Henne, the Dolphins would have scored 946 points last night. Henne was so inept that he single handily lost that game. Even negative play for the Dolphins offense whether it was a run or a pass or even if he was on the field or not (clearly him being on the sidelines during the Wildcat was the reason the Pats stopped it in its tracks) was Henne's fault.

Sorry, you just aren't being objective and have biatched about this team for years.

Cunningham is a rookie pass rusher and except for the elite pass rushers, typically don't have a great rookie season. For a rookie he is progressing very well. I threw in the other stuff just because that is a factor in his progression.

You have yet to say anything positive about the defensive performance last night when there clearly was positives. It shows you are not objective. There were a lot of negatives to which you obviously don't have a problem pointing out and turning some positives into a negative.

 

[Joker]

Jets give up 436 total yards and Henne drives the Phins downfield at the end before the Jets pull out a 31-23 win..

Jets defense great!!!!!!! Pats defense no good!!!! Bad bad bad bad!!!!Big trouble!!!!!

 

[PATSNUTme]

If you watch Cunningham, he comes in below the pad level of the OL-or other blocker. That is a very good sign that he is going to be a good pass rusher. He just needs a little more time to develop some moves.

I'm very optimistic about what I see from him so far.

I did notice Brace a couple of times last night and he stood the OL up and covered his gap assignment.

 

[JackBauer]

If you premise his performance that way, then he was good, I guess. Should we do that for everyone on the team then? Like when we talk about Brady, should we say, "for someone who's been in the NFL for 10 years and threw for 50 TDs a couple of years ago, to only throw 150 yds, he sure didn't play all that well yesterday."

No offense, but this is a mind-bogglingly stupid argument. The only other player on the team who you could make a similar excuse for would be Taylor Price. But obviously it won't carry water with you because you're hellbent on defending your original, ill-advised position rather than making a rational evaluation of Cunningham's performance.

You might as well just stop digging and walk away at this point, as you're in serious danger of approaching Hey Bro What's Up? territory.

 

[Dragda]

this is coming from a novice, so be warned ahead of time:

watching cunningham at times, it seems to me that he would either try a bull rush or some type of outside move to get around the tackle, but that he gave up on it too fast

for example i saw numerous plays where he bull rushed, and drove the RT back right next to Henne, at which point Cunningham came to a stop

not sure if that happened b/c the RT stopped giving way or b/c cunningham stopped pushing, but i think its the latter, and after he stopped bull rushing, he would try spin moves and things like that prob two feet away from henne that just would not work

personally i see potential there, and well see how it goes

I saw that two. He needs to keep pushing instead of trying to get a clean hit on the QB. That is disruption. It puts the QB into the path of another rusher.

 

[condon84]

Ok, let's just accept without Henne, the Dolphins would have scored 946 points last night. Henne was so inept that he single handily lost that game. Even negative play for the Dolphins offense whether it was a run or a pass or even if he was on the field or not (clearly him being on the sidelines during the Wildcat was the reason the Pats stopped it in its tracks) was Henne's fault.

Sorry, you just aren't being objective and have biatched about this team for years.

Cunningham is a rookie pass rusher and except for the elite pass rushers, typically don't have a great rookie season. For a rookie he is progressing very well. I threw in the other stuff just because that is a factor in his progression.

You have yet to say anything positive about the defensive performance last night when there clearly was positives. It shows you are not objective. There were a lot of negatives to which you obviously don't have a problem pointing out and turning some positives into a negative.

Shows that you only concentrate on my negative comments. I've posted positives as much as negative comments. You tend to respond to my negative posts. I don't think my observations are over the top and without merit so I'll just agree to disagree.

I hope this kid turns out to be the player you guys are fantasizing about.

 

[JackBauer]

From Reiss' mailbag:

A: Ashley, Brace was the sixth lineman in the rotation and he played sparingly. Rookie Brandon Deaderick saw more time than him and I think it was mostly situational, as the Patriots had moved Vince Wilfork to left end and that's where Brace fits best. So it opened the door for more of a penetrator on the right side, with Gerard Warren and Deaderick, and then you had Mike Wright a better option on the nose. As for Butler, he played late in the game, replacing Kyle Arrington.

Wasn't it PatsPsycho who said that Brace was the best fit at LDE? Good call.

 

[reflexblue]

This whole idea of when our defense makes a play its the Hennee playing poorly is BS, it doesn't work that way, the pats made their own breaks. Sometimes Luck is involved, but for the most part the D makes its own luck. I think Cunningham is coming along nicely, he doesn't look out of place. He just needs more experience, this is his pre-season

 

[condon84]

No offense, but this is a mind-bogglingly stupid argument. The only other player on the team who you could make a similar excuse for would be Taylor Price. But obviously it won't carry water with you because you're hellbent on defending your original, ill-advised position rather than making a rational evaluation of Cunningham's performance.

You might as well just stop digging and walk away at this point, as you're in serious danger of approaching Hey Bro What's Up? territory.

How is that stupid? I took his logic and applied it to another player.

Why are there different parameters on how you evaluate a player's performance?

 

[JackBauer]

How is that stupid? I took his logic and applied it to another player.

Why are there different parameters on how you evaluate a player's performance?

Do you really need this explained to you?

Do you really not understand the difference between evaluating the respective performances of a rookie who missed almost all of TC and someone like Brady?

 

[rojo8401]

I saw a nice spin move from Cunningham last night that made me smile. He seems pretty close to figuring it out. We'll see.

Definitely needs work against the run though. I am cautiously optimistic with Cunningham. Spikes looked not terrible as well. Could be a nice linebacker class we got going here!

Brace was nonexistent.

 

[skinnydog]

From Reiss' mailbag:



Wasn't it PatsPsycho who said that Brace was the best fit at LDE? Good call.

I think Brace's absence was the result of Wilfork being moved to the left side for the game. I think it was a special case as the pretty much dictated that the fins run away from Wilfork and we saw mayo end up with a lot of tackles. Brace has stated he's not really that good at the nose.

What I loved was that this was the thing the pats used to do all the time, throw an unexpected wrinkle at a team and force the other offense to something the Pats wanted them to do.

Brace will be back when Vince goes back to nose.