Grade Gunther Cunningham - February 2011
by Sean Yuille on Feb 22, 2011 11:56 AM EST
in Detroit Lions Polls
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PrintWrapping up our series of grades for February 2011, we turn our attention to Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham. We have already handed out grades to head coach Jim Schwartz, general manager Martin Mayhew and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. Now it's Cunningham's turn to receive a grade for his performance as Detroit's defensive coordinator.
Cunningham, like Linehan, has been here since Schwartz took the head coaching job in 2009. He has preached an aggressive attitude and is one of the fieriest coaches I've seen. He doesn't hold back what is on his mind, and usually that provides for some interesting things to read about the defense (and, unfortunately, comments that help lead to tampering charges).
In his first year as the DC, the defense struggled quite a bit, mainly because there just wasn't much talent on the roster. This year, however, with a strong defensive line and improved play with the secondary, we got to see the defense play much better. The added talent allowed Cunningham to use some interesting formations that confused offenses, such as Ndamukong Suh lining up as a linebacker. Throughout the season, despite the injuries being racked up (especially in the secondary), the defense seemed to get better. They led the Lions to a win over the Packers, holding the eventual Super Bowl champs to only a field goal, and during the winning streak turnovers and sacks became a big part of Detroit's success.
Keeping in mind what happened in 2009 and this past season, what grade do you think Cunningham deserves? Vote in the poll below and leave your thoughts in the comments. My vote is after the jump.
Some coaches can overachieve and win without a whole lot of talent, but typically defenses in the NFL require at least some skilled players to succeed. That is why I sort of just want to throw what happened with the defense in 2009 out the window. Cunningham didn't have much to work with, and the stats reflected that considering the Lions were at the bottom of the league in defense.
This past season, however, Cunningham had guys like Suh, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Chris Houston, among others, added into the mix, and the defense definitely improved. Was it Cunningham's coaching that led to the improvement, the new talent or a combination of both? I'm sure some will argue that it was more about the talent than the coaching, but I think it was a good balance. While the added talent undoubtedly would have made the defense better regardless of the coordinator, I really liked all of the different looks Cunningham utilized to allow guys like Suh and Cliff Avril to make plays. Watching the defensive line confuse opposing offenses was a lot of fun, especially when the different formations led to big-time plays.
Again, there's no doubt the infusion of talent would have helped improve the defense regardless of who was coaching it, but I think Cunningham did a good job utilizing all of that new talent. As a result, I will give him a B for his job as Lions defensive coordinator so far. There is obviously room for improvement, like all of the coaches we have graded so far, but Cunningham has done a solid job so far all things considered.
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A...
Gunther had excellent game plans each and every game. I will not mark a coach down due to lack of talent or performance of the players.
+1
"Pressure is something you feel when you don't know what the hell you're doing." — Peyton Manning
I voted B
primarily because of the fresh memories of that “quick pass to the slot receiver” that Brady & Co pulled several times on the Turkey Day game. There seemed to be little if any adjustment to this pass, and was exploited several more times throughout the season. I don’t know if it was personell that limited the abilitity to defend this pass, but I would like to believe that the coaching staff would see this on film and be able to coach up a player to watch for this type of pass. In case you are wondering which pass I’m refering to- it was the pass to Welker in the slot, just off the TE or OT with Brady taking a 1 step drop. There is little time to react, but there is also very little press coverage in the Lions defense. I believe that the lack of press coverage lead to this play being used 5-6 times after the half (primarily in the 3rd quarter).
Definitely not unhappy with Gun as a coach. Just wish adjustments were made a little quicker.
+1
The name of the reciever escapes me, but that guy had a career day. That was a tough one to listen to( i live in Maryland so I have to catch the games on the radio.)
by chaunce on Feb 22, 2011 7:43 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Earl Bennet
He had 500 yards for the entire season, 100 from our game alone, probably 50 of them on those quick hits when he was in the slot.
That is something I really worry about. I am not a NFL coach making NFL coach money to watch grown men play a game all day. So if I can tell that the other team has figured something out about our gameplan that is letting them break off chunks of yards almost at will, I assume that the NFL coach has already seen it and is working to fix the problem. When I see it go on for multiple games, I start to worry about that coach.
I mean, come on Gunny! I could tell that when we cheated the LB or CB (whomever was covering the slot) up to the line, they were going to go with the quick throw to the slot. So either stop doing it or get someone in there to cover that throw.
You can't fix everything.
It’s inevitable that passes like that are going to occur. If you move to nickel packages or you start adjusting coverage accordingly, you open other holes in the defense elsewhere. The big thing is, we need to make sure those little passes don’t go long, and that’s on the players, not the coaches.
Depends on the personell and game situation...
That being said… either way… the slot would’ve been picked up by A. the OLB, B. the nickle, or C. the safety…..
LOL…. what are the 3 biggest defensive Roster needs….. lol….. OLB, CB, and Safety….lol…
Hence why my grade was an A.
The Coach can’t be on the field… Players have to recognize and react.
I chalk it up as lack of talent/effort of the players.
B
He has gotten better with better talent. A step back next year would put him squarely in C territory.
He's teaching his players to be killers out there.
A
That goddamn Okra and beans got you Oprah in jeans. Seems to me a little lean cuisine, wouldn't hurt much- Agh don't touch! -Obie Trice
This was a tough call for me. I gave him a C.
I would have preferred a C+ or B-, but they were not options that I had available.
I did not think that the defence adjusted over the course of the season or in games as well as the offence did. The lack of a rotation on the D Line, especially at DT, was also something that I think hurt the defensive performance. Particularly in the first half of the season.
The over aggressiveness of some of the players led to many penalties, which Gunther appeared to encourage.
On the good side, the injury to Cliff and later KVB forced the Lions to utilize all their talent at DE, which improved the D Line play significantly. Also, Gunther did a very good job juggling talent in the back seven over the year, although this was required due to poor play and injuries.
I feel very much better about our defence now, than I did at the beginning of the year. Hopefully, Gunther will continue to rotate the D Line and settle on the best players in the back seven. I am expecting another significant infusion of talent this off season, and a corresponding improvement in our defence’s performance.
Oh yeah, I also dropped him down a bit for his contribution in losing a draft pick and having to switch our fifth with KC.
I know that was not the main reason, apparently, but Gunther should know better.
I don't think he did anything wrong by the rules.
Its just not smart to say something like that.
However; I think he’s a great defensive coordinator and we’re lucky to have him.
by coolbreeze42 on Feb 23, 2011 8:11 PM EST up reply actions
solid B
He was given quite a bit of talent to work with on the DL, but scrap everywhere else. He did enough of a good job with what he was given
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I gave him an "A"
mainly because I dont want that fiery Kraut know that I gave him a “B”. Yeah, the dude scares me.
This is the Motor City. And this is what we do...
P.C.P staffer since way back
by JCruize on Feb 22, 2011 1:33 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Gun gets an A
just considering what happen to the dismal defense we use to have and the power house we are creating Gun gets tons of credit for that.
"Show me someone with an offseason and I'll show you someone in last place"- Ndamukong Suh ( All Pro, Pro Bowl, Pepsi Rookie of the year, AP defensive rookie of the year, Sporting news rookie of the year,)
In my best JoshSun voice
Gunny is the best coach we have on this team and I am glad he returned from Mount Olympus to coach our very own demi-god son of The Thunder God Zeus named Suh!
Seriously, I have been a Gun fan since his KC days and when he joined us, I was and still am thrilled. He is old school football. If you make a mistake, he will let you know. If you make a big mistake, he will tear you a new one. He brings another level of nasty to the defense that our team has been lacking for longer than I care to remember and I like a nasty defense. There are times when, if you are watching him on the sideline, he looks like he is ready to run onto the field and make the tackle himself. The scary thing about that, is he going to tackle the other teams player or ours?
I gave him a B because a B- was not available. The defense under his watch improved this year but there were some things that left me scratching my skull. The rotation of the D line was too sparse for my liking until the injuries started to pile up. Adjustments to what other teams were doing to us (short slants anyone?) seemed slow and that might be understating it.
I like Wins, Cheese and I also Like Cookies. If you don't. Wow. :P
tough one
Ended the year at 19th overall in points allowed and 21st overall in yards allowed.
I’d give him a C+, but averaging 20th (yard/points) is good enough for a C rather than a B.
by Big Z in Orlando on Feb 22, 2011 4:28 PM EST reply actions
In '09 we had the worst D in all major categories ..
The 2010 Ds worst stats are in our weakest area OLB & DB. We had injuries in these 2 positions from the start of mini-camps and training camp. Teams knew those were our weak spots and took advantage of it as they should have.
How do you make adjustments to your gameplan on defence when you don’t have the player personnel that can or will make adjustments.So ou stick to your guns and hope the CB you just signed off the street or a LB thats just playing for the check,the inexperienced player due to the lack of PT, maybe even the waiver wire pick up MAKES A PLAY.
Gunther gets a B from me
COP:"Do you know why I pulled you over Mr. Dunn ?" ME:" Was I speeding officer?" COP:"A lil bit, but I really wanted to see a SORRY ASS DETROIT LIONS FAN UP CLOSE!" He gave me a ticket for 50 in a 45 zone. So I ask him his team. COP: DA BEARS HAHAAHAHAA
There is the good and the bad
The Good: The defence, especially the pass rush was much improved and played above my expectations. Considering the personnel, that’s pretty darn good.
The Bad: He lost us a draft pick. The defence still had it’s issues, especially in pass coverage.
Overall: I give him a solid B.
RIP Robyn Bailey 1961 - 2010. I love you mum.
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