Wharton, Maualuga, Dunlap Knee Injuries

[derekshank]

When he comes back this year, they'll have to start him off playing only on long third downs and late in the game where we have a lead. Only after he does well in those situations can they fathom using him more, hence my comment that he'll have to earn more playing time

I guess I'm just saying that he doesn't need to earn more playing time... because he already has.

You say he hasn't earned more playing time than 20 snaps/game... but he played 35+ snaps/game last season. And of his 424 snaps, he was a pass-rusher in only 278 of them... so he is already much more than merely a situational 3rd down pass-rusher. (Even though we can all agree that he is an elite pass rusher Ranking 7th in Pass Rushing Productivity).

Whether or not he is listed as the official "starter" on the depth chart is irrelevant. He played more snaps/game than every DE apart from Michael Johnson.

Injury update per Reedy:

Carlos Dunlap no longer on crutches and was walking around OK in the locker room. Still iffy for the opener but we'll see

[Sea Ray]

I guess I'm just saying that he doesn't need to earn more playing time... because he already has.

You say he hasn't earned more playing time than 20 snaps/game... but he played 35+ snaps/game last season. And of his 424 snaps, he was a pass-rusher in only 278 of them... so he is already much more than merely a situational 3rd down pass-rusher. (Even though we can all agree that he is an elite pass rusher Ranking 7th in Pass Rushing Productivity).

Whether or not he is listed as the official "starter" on the depth chart is irrelevant. He played more snaps/game than every DE apart from Michael Johnson.

Injury update per Reedy:

Carlos Dunlap no longer on crutches and was walking around OK in the locker room. Still iffy for the opener but we'll see

They tried increasing his snaps last yr and it didn't end well. Now he's hurt again. I don't know about you but I want him back ASAP even if it's before he can play regularly. In other words, I'll take him for 20 snaps and if he looks good, I'm willing to increase his playing time. If his ability to rush QBs fallsoff or if he gets hurt again then I'll back him off again. Simply put: he hasn't convinced me that playing all three downs is the right thing to do

[derekshank]

They tried increasing his snaps last yr and it didn't end well.

It didn't end well? By what standard? Certainly not the level of his play. Despite the fewer sacks, his overall QB pressures/play increased considerably.

Because he pulled his hamstring? Well, injuries suck - and yes, he missed a few games. But I don't think there is any reason to assume that the injury was caused because he was overworked. The coaching staff gave him the same number of snaps/game he was being given prior to the injury... so they don't seem concerned about limiting his number of snaps.

In fact, it's just the opposite. They keep talking about giving him a more prominent role in the defense... and Zimmer has been saying that it appears that Dunlap is "finally turning the page" regarding his earlier issues with work ethic.

I don't know about you but I want him back ASAP even if it's before he can play regularly. In other words, I'll take him for 20 snaps and if he looks good, I'm willing to increase his playing time.

I'll sign off on this... if for some reason he is healthy enough to play 20 snaps, but not healthy enough to play 40. I'll admit that such a scenario is possible, but it seems pretty unlikely. Either his knee is good to go, or it's not.

If somehow the next few weeks of rehab hurts his cardio and he is wearing down quicker than usual... ok. Other than that unlikely scenario - if he's good to go... play him.

Simply put: he hasn't convinced me that playing all three downs is the right thing to do

Again, what is your standard? He has proven with his production that he is good enough to play all three downs. And he certainly didn't hurt his knee because he had played too many snaps in the 1st preseason game. So I'm not sure what he needs to do to convince you.

I'm all for D-Line rotation that made this unit great last year... so I'm not advocating that he plays every single snap - but he and Geno Atkins are stars in the making. I want to see them on the field more often than not.

[Sea Ray]

Again, what is your standard? He has proven with his production that he is good enough to play all three downs. And he certainly didn't hurt his knee because he had played too many snaps in the 1st preseason game. So I'm not sure what he needs to do to convince you.

I'm all for D-Line rotation that made this unit great last year... so I'm not advocating that he plays every single snap - but he and Geno Atkins are stars in the making. I want to see them on the field more often than not.

My standard is injuries. He is like Eric Davis. Eric could only play 120 games and stay healthy. I'm not convinced Dunlap can play every down and stay healthy. I hope I'm wrong

[volcom69]

Ill tell you what is kind of bothersome is Jason Allen, and Adam Jones still out with muscle pulls. I was looking forward to seeing Allen play some to see how he does, im hoping they give him a chance before he gets dumped.

Jones is always hurt and its annoying now, i just wonder if he will make the team, the guy can never get on the field. I would like to see the secondary with these two guys as well, so heres hoping they can get back to play.

[BengalPimp]

Ill tell you what is kind of bothersome is Jason Allen, and Adam Jones still out with muscle pulls. I was looking forward to seeing Allen play some to see how he does, im hoping they give him a chance before he gets dumped.

Jones is always hurt and its annoying now, i just wonder if he will make the team, the guy can never get on the field. I would like to see the secondary with these two guys as well, so heres hoping they can get back to play.

Hopefully the fact that Dre Kirkpatrick passed his physical and was activated from the PUP list will make you feel better.

http://network.yardb...ivated/11509303

Also, as I've stated here before, Mrs. BengalPimp grew up in Miami and is a Dolphin fan. Because of that, I have watched more Dolphin games than I care to remember. Most of the ones I'd rather not remember include Jason Allen getting burned repeatedly.......He was absolutely terrible. Teams generally don't cut a CB they drafted in the 1st Rd 4 years earlier, MID SEASON......but that's what Miami did. Even worse, they cut him to sign a 36 year old one legged Al Harris who was coming off major knee surgery......

You can be overly optimistic and look at last year in Houston and think "hey, maybe he finally got it" or you can be more realistic and know that last years great Houston Defense as a whole, covered up for quite a few individual's flaws.....

If Allen can prove me wrong, GREAT, but until he shows me something, all I can go by is that gawd awful CB I used to watch in Miami..........

I'd would like to see Adam Jones get healthy though...He should actually be able to contribute.

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Guys like Green and Dunlap (Green's TD catch scared the hell out of me) need to tone it down a bit in preseason, there's no reason Gresham needed to go all-world on that catch and run. These young guys need to be coached-up better to just go down and stop the leaping and twisting for an extra yard in preseason - no need for any of that. Save that crap for real games.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Guys like Green and Dunlap (Green's TD catch scared the hell out of me) need to tone it down a bit in preseason, there's no reason Gresham needed to go all-world on that catch and run. These young guys need to be coached-up better to just go down and stop the leaping and twisting for an extra yard in preseason - no need for any of that. Save that crap for real games.

I couldnt disagree more. You practice like you play, or you dont play well when it counts. I dont like the preseason at all and think it should be cut to 2 games at the most.

[Sea Ray]

I don't think these guys can just turn it off and on like that. If you play there's a chance you'll get hurt. I don't think there's anyway you can protect a player from injury

[ShulaSteakhouse]

I don't think these guys can just turn it off and on like that. If you play there's a chance you'll get hurt. I don't think there's anyway you can protect a player from injury

Sure they can, ever watch the Pro Bowl?

[ShulaSteakhouse]

Guys like Green and Dunlap (Green's TD catch scared the hell out of me) need to tone it down a bit in preseason, there's no reason Gresham needed to go all-world on that catch and run. These young guys need to be coached-up better to just go down and stop the leaping and twisting for an extra yard in preseason - no need for any of that. Save that crap for real games.

I couldnt disagree more. You practice like you play, or you dont play well when it counts. I dont like the preseason at all and think it should be cut to 2 games at the most.

No one's saying not to play hard, but, make your play, and go out of bounds or go down, it's exactly what they do in practice. Enough of the twisting, leaping, and diving like you're playing in the freakin' Super Bowl after a catch or run, if you're a starter, it's ignorant and pointless, learn to save your body in the preseason, half this team is on IR now.

Of course young guys trying to earn a spot can do whatever they want.

[HoosierCat]

Looking at the cuts lists today I saw that the Seahawks let Deuce Lutui go. Might be a good pickup for depth; they were interested in him last year but freaked over his weight.

[Sea Ray]

I don't think these guys can just turn it off and on like that. If you play there's a chance you'll get hurt. I don't think there's anyway you can protect a player from injury

Sure they can, ever watch the Pro Bowl?

OK, that's when all 22 men on the field have an agreement that they'll dog it but can you as a team on one side of the ball play to stay injury free even if the other team is playing to win?