Overated starter/Underated starter

[Nicomo Cosca]

(05-04-2020, 07:08 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: Underated - Tyler Boyd

I think Boyd is the best #2 we've had since TJ.

He produced 1,028 yards in 2018 in only 14 games. This in a season where AJ Green missed half the season, and Andy Dalton missed the final 5 games, leaving Jeff Driskel at the helm. This in a season where Bill Lazor was the OC. This is a season where the 3rd best receiver, produced only 210 yards.

In 2019, well we all know how that went. On the worst team in the league, with no legitimate outside threat to pull coverage and attention away, he still put up 1,046 yards. This in an offense that was sub 3.0 YPC for the first 10 games. This is an offsense where Andy was at his absolute worst, and featured a player in Ryan Finley, who has no business on an NFL field, manning the ship for 3 games.

I feel like if you insert this guy into a high powered, properly called offensive scheme, that he could be among the games best "#2" receivers. He's extremely versatile, and has continued to improve since he's been here.

Overated - Carlos Dunlap

This was an extremely easy pick for me. I couldn't have typed it quick enough.

Now, let me say this first: I do think Dunlap is a quality DE, and I do think (at times) he's very good. He's also more than adequate in the run game, which is an often overlooked attribute at the position. I am NOT at all saying he's terrible.

My biggest gripe with him is the fact he disappears for games at a time. And this isn't a new issue either. Maybe, I'm in the minority here, but it's clear to me he's a guy that takes plays, and even games off. For way too long of stretches. The first half of the last year he was nowhere to be found. Yet in typical Dunlap fashion, he has a couple monster games to pad his stats, so they don't look so poor, and to remind people he can play.

Depsite this, it seems most of our fans absolutely love the guy. To each their own, but I've never thought he's been worth near what he's been paid.

At the time of his contracts he usually been paid top 10 money. Even now, I believe he's still like #15 in salary years removed from an older contract.

Did you know he's only hit double digit sacks once in his career? Once. 10 sacks being the threshold. Not 15 or 20. 10. He's only done it a single time in TEN YEARS. He's averaged only 8 sacks a season, despite seeing immediate PT and never missing significant time.

How many DE's get pad elite money with single digit sacks? A.) Not many. How many DE's continue to get paid elite money, and keep getting extensions, despite averaging 8 sacks? A.) Not many/None

Dunlap is a good player, who is often paid like a great player. Dunlap can be great when he wants to. The problem is, for wahatever, reasons he goes into multi-game stretches where he's a non-factor.

I like him as a player, but don't love the price. And I don't understand the universal love here either. If I were to say perhaps we should move on a trade a 31 year old who averages 8 sacks many here would have a conniption fit.

That's why he's an easy choice for me here. (Please, don't kill me)

I’d probably agree with Boyd being our best #2 since TJ. But tbf, Marvin Jones never had the opportunity to fill in as a #1 without AJ on the field for an entire season. He would have easily put up 1k+ yds like Boyd did. Boyd is extremely clutch though, and probably one of the best in the league on 3rd down. Teams know it’s going to him and they still can’t stop him.

I obviously completely disagree wrt Dunlap. Sacks are not everything. Just look at how many passes he’s defended, and everything else he does to be disruptive over the years. As far as “taking plays/games off” like last year, he wasn’t fully healthy until the end of the season.