Jermaine Cunningham

Last night I was longing for some Patriots football so I took a look at the last two games of the 2010 season, the final win versus the Dolphins and yes, some of the playoff loss to the Jets (mostly second half).

I focused on a few different players to see what we might expect out of them in this coming season.

• You’d think Darius Butler might’ve used the opportunity against Miami to show that he had improved since his brutal start to the season, but no such luck. He looked just as bad against a lifeless Dolphins squad as he did against the Jets in week 2 when Braylon Edwards “dougied” at him. Watching him struggle in the same ways he struggled earlier in the season gave me the feeling he better be spectacular in camp this summer if he wants to make the team.
• Brian Hoyer’s laser touchdown to Brandon Tate against Miami was really an incredible play. Especially because Hoyer got absolutely blasted as he let go of the ball. That’s the kind of throw that will have other teams drooling. Tate laid out and managed to hang on with a great catch that should inspire some confidence he has some deep threat potential. Both players have bright careers ahead of them, and with Tate especially, I think we’ve only scratched the surface.
• I really enjoy Dane Fletcher’s game, he’s steady and consistent. He can run, but he’s also a good tackler. Right now it would seem as though his base defense position would be at weak inside linebacker spot, however he was tried at OLB versus the Jets in December. Mostly he was used as a sub package spy/blitzer. Interestingly, I even noticed that he was used as an interior rusher in the A gap versus the Jets. The point is that BB used him all over the field, in just about every way you can use a linebacker, so I have to imagine this means bright things are ahead for Fletcher. He should really push Guyton hard this year for the top coverage linebacker role.
• Jermaine Cunningham is a tough, physical player. Against the Colts especially he was a dominant force that gives tackles all they can handle. With a full year in the system I don’t think it’s too much to expect big things from Cunningham in year two. The biggest thing is just getting more and more experience, but he has the makings for a three down outside linebacker in my eyes.
• Rob Ninkovich doesn’t garner a lot of excitement amongst Patriots fans, but I believe he’s one of the most unsung players on the roster. Ninkovich is one defender who showed up to play in the playoffs. He was consistently generating pressure, setting the edge, and dropping into coverage (2 passes defensed). He did lose contain/miss a tackle against Ladainian Tomlinson that resulted in a big gain, but otherwise he was out there making plays when it counted most. I think he’s a lot more of a building block that many of us give him credit for. Losing him to a knee injury in the third quarter of the Jets game definitely did not help. 
• The play that ultimately did the Patriots in against the Jets was the first one of the fourth quarter. The Pats had just closed the game to 14-11 with an entire quarter to play. They were a stop away from a field goal to tie. Coming out of the break the Jets caught the Patriots in their run stopping defense and Sanchez hit Cotchery on an underneath cross through the slot that went for 58 yards. Two plays later the Sanchez threw a perfect touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes and the game was effectively over.
• I also watched a bit of the San Diego game, and it was crazy how the offense was so similarly ineffective as they were for most of the playoff game. Had it not been for the Chargers turnovers the Patriots would never have won that game. In hindsight that performance really set the stage for what would happen the following week in Cleveland.