Good info into the Dunlap saga

[*ochocincos*]

(10-30-2020, 10:13 AM)Wyche Wrote: This I agree with totally. We're not far off here in the grand scheme. As to the DC hire.... I'm not sure if it was Zac, the FO, or the record breaking defense that was already here that turned away better candidates. It's hard to say there, because Zac was inexperienced, the FO was notorious, and even Marvin himself couldn't do much with the talent, or lack thereof, that was here. It was a perfect storm.

From watching that podcast, it seems the staff and player were ready to move on last season, and the FO dug in its heels again.

Well, can you blame them? Dunlap should be better than the likes of Khalid Kareem, Amani Bledsoe, and Margus Hunt.
This is yet another case of Bengals trying to fit square pegs into round holes rather than adapt the playcalling to the strength of the players.

Put yourself in Dunlap's shoes.
You're a near-perfect fit as a 4-3 DE. The DC uses you as an OLB, of which you have not really played. As such, you don't produce like you're used to because it's new to you. 
At the end of the day, he didn't want to be converted to an OLB. Given his age, he doesn't really have many more years left, so he wants to play the way he likes. It's his career. He shouldn't have to do something he doesn't want to.