What happened to Jermaine Cunningham

[Ring 6]

Pierre Woods > Jermaine Cunningham

Silence > BaltimorePatsFan opinions

 

[Ring 6]

im not sure anything happend to him i just think he's a never was and the pats upgraded he's spot last year, maybe now with Carter and anderson gone he may get some playing time if he makes the team but im not looking for him to ever be anything more then dept

He is different than those players. He was a 43 college DE, who came into the league as a 34 OLB who was better prepared to play in the base, defend the run, blitz and cover than he was to be a sub package pass rusher.
He started all season as a rookie, but was in a rotation. He played primarily in the base and was mostly on the sidelines in the sub packages.
Last year when we converted to a 43 there wasn't necessarily a spot for his skills/stage of development. He really isn't best suited as a 43 RDE, and he is developing his pass rush skills and moves, although the basic talent is there.
He is far too small to play 43 LDE and reallly isn't a 43 OLB.
He had some reps in sub packages as a pass rusher, but that's really not his best role.
If we stay in a 43, he is going to have to develop the pass rush skills to compete as the RDE.
If we move to 34, he would be starting now at OLB, and would have to develop his pass rush skills to get more sub package reps.
Like Vrabel when he arrived here, Cunningham is more of an all aroiund 34 OLB who needs to develop into a better pass rusher than he is a pass rush specialist.
Depending on the draft, the return of Andre Carter, and his role, or any other signings, it is quite possible that whether we favor the 34 or 43 as a base depends on competition between Cunningham as 34 OLB and whoever would be the 43 RDE. Those are the interchangable positions between 43 and 34 and the biggest reason that Cunninghams PT was cut, because we moved to a 43 with Carter at DE, for more than 1 reason.

 

[AzPatsFan]

I keep saying that the OLBs that were successful for the Pats always had 4 or more years of experience and grooming, before they produced acceptably.

It is just the nature of the position, unless you ave extraordinary pass rush abilities that gives you the glory snaps; and then everyone overlooks the rest of your inferior plays, until you develop in 3-4 years.

Belichick knows this, and has imported several older OLB veterans,who paid their developmental dues elsewhere, and undertook the rescue of a "career ended JAGs" that turned into pretty good players. Guys like Bruschi, Vrabel, Colvin, Adalius, TBC and Ninko. He generally doesn't have the time to develop them, and eventually gave up on Woods, Crabel, and Mincey. Mincey is now a probowler for the Jaguars.

If Jermaine starts to get it this season, and sticks for another year, I'm pretty sure he wil be a contributor in his 4th season and beyond

Maybe Scott is ready to bloom, as well. But BB only gave him a one year deal, so the outlook is marginal. I don't doubt that BB may select another OLB developmental candidate too, next week.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

The Patriots drafted the wrong defensive end. Dunlap was better. Even Urban Meyer was surprised the Patriots drafted Cunningham.

Hmm No. Dunlap is overweight to play 34 OLB, underweight to play 34 DE.

 

[Hercules Rockefeller]

Cunningham got a ton of playing time as a rookie, put consistent pressure on the quarterback (finishing the play was a different story), held up very well on the edge in run support, and overall just seemed to do his job. I agree with Andy and others that the switch to the hybrid 4-3 look made it tougher for him to play last year, and I have a feeling the team will be looking to get back to more 3-4 looks. I still have hope and belief that Cunningham can be a solid 3-4 OLB for the Pats---look at the sack numbers that Rosie and Willie Mac and Vrabel traditionally put up, they weren't overly high numbers most years. If JC can get pressures and set the edge hard, he'll be a success. I feel like he'll be in the rotation come September, and if not, the Pats will move on with someone else. Trevor Scott is intriguing and Ninko is solid, but it would appear that the team still feels that Cunningham has something to offer. I hope they are right, I liked what I saw his rookie year and felt he was just a few missed tackles away from a very productive season.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

In my unofficial game notes, I have him down for several instances of "DNP-sucks"

 

[WhiZa]

I think he was a 2nd or 3rd rounder.

Right, which was smart so they didn't waste a pick on a 1st rounder at that position

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

IMO He is a longshot to make the team with little shown on the field
...Luckily we drafted 2 Gators on defense that year and one has produced well (Spikes).

 

[Froob]

He has the misfortune of being both injury prone and extremely bad tackler. Only one career sack and it was because flacco fumbled. Would love to see him turn it around but I think he'll get cut in final preseason cuts.

 

[Reckedtrek]

In my unofficial game notes, I have him down for several instances of "DNP-sucks"

Well... that just about all the evidence we need to make a final decision. Just curious- what do you "official" game notes say?

 

[JohninLynn]

Can anybody refresh my memory about what happened to Jermaine? I remember him being a healthy scratch for a good part of the season and then he got injured. What was his injury? Should we give up hope on this guy doing anything for us...usually it takes these converted DEs about 3 years to become good OLB in our system if ever.

Lack of pass rush the fans love to pan
Then Bill picked Jermaine Cunningham
The next LT he found
In the drafts second round
Became a six-three invisible man

 

[DaBruinz]

im not sure anything happend to him i just think he's a never was and the pats upgraded he's spot last year, maybe now with Carter and anderson gone he may get some playing time if he makes the team but im not looking for him to ever be anything more then dept

The problem with this line of thinking is that:
1) Carter is NOT a 3-4 OLB and never has been
2) Mark Anderson had never been a 3-4 OLB and only showed he was adequate after Carter went down late in the season. Of course, this was after Cunningham had already gone on the IR with his hamstring injury.
3) The Pats got Carter and Anderson for the 4-3 since Cunningham's hamstring injury actually occurred during camp and he kept re-aggravating it during the season.
4) The Pats played the 4-3 because, with the DL/LBs they had, that's what the best fit was, especially with Wright and Pryor going down so early in the season. It wasn't until Deaderick came off the PUP that the Pats moved more to the 3-4.

 

[supafly]

Cunningham will get one more chance from my personal 'fandom' standpoint.

Not sure if Belichick will be feeling as generous, although my money would be that he definitely stays this year.

I don't think there's nearly as much reason to give up on him as some feel, but that will change with another slow start/lack of playing time.

He's not nearly the bust that Brace is in my opinion, as Brace is entering his 4th yr here.

 

[BTTA]

What I love about these posts is that I learn so much about football from the wisdom that is shared. If only Pats management would come here, they could correct several ongoing mistakes and patterns of ineptitude.

We also need to ensure that the wisdom from posts on one player is carried over to posts about other players. In Cunningham's case, he now should be given the "made of glass" label in addition to the "bust", "JAG", and "sucks" label he's earned here.

 

[patfanken]

Cunningham will get one more chance from my personal 'fandom' standpoint.

Not sure if Belichick will be feeling as generous, although my money would be that he definitely stays this year.

I don't think there's nearly as much reason to give up on him as some feel, but that will change with another slow start/lack of playing time.

He's not nearly the bust that Brace is in my opinion, as Brace is entering his 4th yr here.

Brace certainly had a bad year his rookie season, offering no production. However his next 2 years saw much improvement in his game, but he's been severely limited by injuries, which has kept him off the field.

This clearly is a make or break year for him. He has to stay healthy and aggressive if he wants to make this roster.

 

[Deus Irae]

Brace certainly had a bad year his rookie season, offering no production. However his next 2 years saw much improvement in his game, but he's been severely limited by injuries, which has kept him off the field.

This clearly is a make or break year for him. He has to stay healthy and aggressive if he wants to make this roster.

I hear what you're saying, but Brace did nothing last season. It's going to take more than just health and aggression for him to make this year's roster if the Patriots go DE/OLB high up in the draft. It's going to take significant improvement.

 

[VJCPatriot]

The Patriots drafted the wrong defensive end. Dunlap was better. Even Urban Meyer was surprised the Patriots drafted Cunningham.

In hindsight yes. But you can't change the past. The same way we can't go back and take Jennings instead of Chad Jackson. Or how about Mike Wallace instead of Brandon Tate.

Cunningham reminds me of Crable so far. Maybe an unfair comparison but unless he shows something he won't be on the roster come the start of the football season in 2012.

 

[Ring 6]

The problem with this line of thinking is that:
1) Carter is NOT a 3-4 OLB and never has been
2) Mark Anderson had never been a 3-4 OLB and only showed he was adequate after Carter went down late in the season. Of course, this was after Cunningham had already gone on the IR with his hamstring injury.
3) The Pats got Carter and Anderson for the 4-3 since Cunningham's hamstring injury actually occurred during camp and he kept re-aggravating it during the season.
4) The Pats played the 4-3 because, with the DL/LBs they had, that's what the best fit was, especially with Wright and Pryor going down so early in the season. It wasn't until Deaderick came off the PUP that the Pats moved more to the 3-4.

Actually BB is on record as saying it was easier to install the 43 than the 34 in the shorter time available due to the lockout. That was the reason he started in the 43, and added more 34 elements as the season wore on.
He could have (and did) use Ellis at LDE in the 34.

 

[Ring 6]

I hear what you're saying, but Brace did nothing last season. It's going to take more than just health and aggression for him to make this year's roster if the Patriots go DE/OLB high up in the draft. It's going to take significant improvement.

Brace has been an enigma and big disappointment to me.
He play in games has been fine, and based solely on that he has deserved a lot more than he has gotten. I am sure the coaching staff sees that too, so it makes me wonder if there is something amiss with him, be it effort, attitude, conditioning etc.

 

[crowell33]

In my unofficial game notes, I have him down for several instances of "DNP-sucks"

He's not Vernon Gholston. Gholston had zero sacks in his first two seasons and Cunningham had one total sack. Still, if we revert to a 3-4, I thought he was decent dropping into coverage and I hold out hope that in year 3, he can jump out of BB's doghouse and generate 4 - 5 sacks from the OLB spot.

Tough call. I suppose if Markell Carter or a high 2012 draft pick leap frogs him, it could just as easily be curtains for this kid, because I don't think he is much of a presence on special teams.