Culpepper 2006

[DMD]

I like to go back and see what conventional wisdom was on players by the media and coaches (at least what they said) before we knew anything for sure. Stuff like this always comes to mind every summer.

 

Thursday, June 15, 2006

New quarterbacks make first impressions

 

Daunte Culpepper did what everyone wanted to see.

 

The new Dolphins quarterback, in his first public workout since joining the Miami Dolphins, dropped back during a morning minicamp session Friday and saw no one open.

 

So he took off running, without a limp.

 

Culpepper, who had surgery in November to repair three torn ligaments in his right knee, sprinted down the field during a non-contact drill against players not wearing pads. He also ran back to the huddle and showed no signs of being limited at all despite wearing a knee brace.

 

Culpepper, who was acquired in a trade from the Minnesota Vikings, has been taking part in all practices during the team's off-season program, which began in May.

 

Dolphins coach Nick Saban said Culpepper is ahead of schedule, but won't say with any measure of certainty if the quarterback will be ready for the season opener Sept. 7 at Pittsburgh.

 

Culpepper appeared to be throwing the ball well, connecting on two passes downfield to receivers Marty Booker and Wes Welker. Dropping back and planting on his surgically rebuilt knee did not seem to be a problem.

 

 

 

Although there might be some understandable concerns regarding Culpepper, the upside potential is off the charts. Right now, I'd say Chris Chambers is more giddy than Ricky Williams holding a ... well, you know.

 

If Chambers and Culpepper mesh, they could be the new Crockett and Tubbs of South Beach. Pep could be bigger than Shaq, more hip than Madonna.

 

And our favorite

 

ESPN analyst Joe Theismann believes the Dolphins are getting Culpepper at just the right time.

 

"He's a terrific thrower of the ball down the field," Theismann said. "I mean, he really is. He's a rare combination. He knows how to put touch on the ball, he's got a strong enough arm to throw the digs and the deep outs and he's a good enough anti-cipator to get the ball down the field so that you can create big plays for your offense.

 

 

Wonder if that money the Fins saved passing on Brees is still considered well spent? Maybe not...

[Randall]

Good thing they passed on Brees to grab the lesser injury risk in Culpepper.

 

Still why was he so terrible before the injury? The year before he was decent even when Moss was hurt. After Moss was traded he had something like 0 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

[DMD]

Good thing they passed on Brees to grab the lesser injury risk in Culpepper.

 

Still why was he so terrible before the injury? The year before he was decent even when Moss was hurt. After Moss was traded he had something like 0 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

 

 

Culpepper = Moss + OC Scott Linehan.

 

Using algebra, now it is Culpepper = 0

[BeeR]

cmon DMD, tell us how you really feel.

 

In fairness, Brees had an injury issue too. But yeah to say they blew it is a bit of an understatement.

[DMD]

I bring this up mainly as an example of how hype and expectations in the summer is sometimes a bit optimistic, Culpepper being a more extreme example as the Fins painfully know. Brees was a caution too in fairness since he had his shoulder surgery and man, he exceeded expectations in a huge way.

[Grits and Shins]

 

Last year I was exclaiming that Mr. Culpepper's career was over ... nice to be right every now and again.

[irish]

 

Last year I was exclaiming that Mr. Culpepper's career was over ... nice to be right every now and again.

 

 

That's true it is nice. However, you continue to make the wrong decisions in regard to me.

[Moss6]

Fish Fans --- Culpepper = steal for 2nd Pick (don't make me look it up)

 

Of course we picked Williams

[MikesVikes]

QUOTE

ESPN analyst Joe Theismann believes the Dolphins are getting Culpepper at just the right time.

 

"He's a terrific thrower of the ball down the field," Theismann said. "I mean, he really is. He's a rare combination. He knows how to put touch on the ball, he's got a strong enough arm to throw the digs and the deep outs and he's a good enough anti-cipator to get the ball down the field so that you can create big plays for your offense."

 

Theismann's description of Culpepper is good. Getting Culpepper at just the right time was off.

[Duchess Jack]

Ricky Williams 2 - 1sts

Brock Forsey - 3rd

Lamar Gordon - 3rd

AJ Feeley - 2nd

 

LB Eddie Moore over Boldin

Passed up on Breeze for Fletcher

Traded a 4th to move up one stop to get Carey (if Miami would have stayed put and Carey was taken, the next pick would have been Vince Wilfork)

Let Ogunleye go for a Booker and a 3rd

[rajncajn]

I bring this up mainly as an example of how hype and expectations in the summer is sometimes a bit optimistic, Culpepper being a more extreme example as the Fins painfully know. Brees was a caution too in fairness since he had his shoulder surgery and man, he exceeded expectations in a huge way.

[Crazysight]

Yeah I traded him for QB Alex Smith in my dynasty league just before the start of last year (O:

 

Though I'm not convinced that CPep is 100% done just yet. ACLs take 2 years to fully heal, and last year was only his first year back.

I think his best bet is to just stay with Miami (if he's not traded or released), as Florida is like home for him anyways. Trent Green is like 37, so he's not exactly a long-term solution anyways. Though right now CPep is whining and sounds like he wants out altogether.

Edited June 8, 2007 by Crazysight

[Pope Flick]

Atlanta fans better get used to him.

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

I don't understand all the credit Scott Linehan gets for Daunte's success. Daunte was a pretty good QB before Linehan came to Minnesota. Even going back to college there's that little record he broke, you know, Steve Young's former record of completion percentage.

[Outshined]

I don't understand all the credit Scott Linehan gets for Daunte's success. Daunte was a pretty good QB before Linehan came to Minnesota. Even going back to college there's that little record he broke, you know, Steve Young's former record of completion percentage.

 

 

I still say it was all Randy Moss. When Moss was in his prime, he made all qb's look good. Defenses always had to account for Moss, plus the offensive line was pretty damn good in the late 90's early 00's. He had a lot of time to find the open receiver.

[Crazysight]

Only other QB I can remember Moss having back then was Brad Johnson, who was pretty good in his own right.

[kingfish247]

Daunte's NFL career, IMO, was mostly due to a half decent OL (Miami's is abysmal), competent OCs, and Randy Moss.

 

Moss made running a high powered offense easy on everyone in Minny (which makes Oakland's accomplishment of all but neutralizing the threat of Moss very impressive)... from the OC to RBs to Daunte. His ability/threat on every down to take either a bubble screen or a fly route to the house made reads Madden PS3 simple... ask Scott Linehan and Brian Billick.

 

Let's also not forget the presence of Mike Mularkey who just seems out of touch. One play that sticks out from last season was the HB pass he called at the end of the Texans game (really the beginning of the end of Miami's 2006 season). You need 2 points to tie, on the road versus one of the worst teams in the league, you just drove the length of the field and you call a HB pass??? It's like an NBA coach ordering a halfcourt shot with 15 secs to go when all that was needed was a layup.

 

Now that Cameron will be calling the plays hopefully such boneheaded-ness will be kept to a minimum but I wouldn't hold my breath. This is a team that seems to think it's smart to use their 1st pick on a speedy return man/WR with a bum ankle because they can trade later for an older QB with a recent concussion scare that had great success due to the pieces around him (All Pro OL and 1800yd RB).

[DMD]

I don't understand all the credit Scott Linehan gets for Daunte's success. Daunte was a pretty good QB before Linehan came to Minnesota. Even going back to college there's that little record he broke, you know, Steve Young's former record of completion percentage.

 

 

Linehan was the OC from 2002 through 2004 with the Vikings - I do not recall who the OC was previous to Linehan but Culpepper only played for two seasons prior to Linehan coming on board. His two non-Linehan seasons to start with were:

 

2000 - 3937 yards, 33 TD, 16 Int, 16 gms, rush = 470 yds, 7 td

2001 - 2612 yards, 14 TD, 13 Int, 11 gms; rush = 416 yds, 5 td

 

With Linehan

 

2002 - 3859 yds, 18 TD, 23 int, 16 gms; rush = 603 yds, 10 td

2003 - 3479 yds, 25 TD, 11 int, 14 gms; rush = 422 yds, 4 td

2004 - 4717 yds, 39 TD, 11 int, 16 gms; rush = 406 yds, 2 td

 

Randy Moss stats

 

1998 69-1313, 17 td

1999 80-1413, 11 td

2000 77-1437, 15 td

2001 82-1233, 10 td

2002 106-1347, 7 td

2003 111-1632, 17 td

2004 49-767, 13 td

2005 60-1005, 8 td

2006 42-553, 3 td

 

Culpepper had a good first year when he had 3937/33 of which 1437/15 were Moss. And no Linehan.

 

In 2001, Cpep played in a injury shortened season and only had 2612/14 in 11 gms and everyone was far cooler on him since he only had 3 gms with multiple passing scores and only six TDs to Moss by week 12 when he was injured.

 

Culpepper only played in two seasons before Linehan arrived which was a great year (his first) and then a so-so year ended early by injury.

 

When Linehan showed up, Culpepper started as a big-time rushing QB with good passing numbers and went to a great passing QB with good rushing numbers. As soon as Linehan left in 2005, CPeps numbers plunged tremendously and then he got injured again.

 

Since both Linehan and Moss left in the same season (2005), it is harder to say which one had the greatest impact though I think saying Moss was the biggest key is a very fair statement. But Linehan had a positive effect on his development that has fallen apart as soon as he (and Moss) was gone. Culpepper has obviously had injury issues since though his initial games without Moss and Linehan were very bad.

 

So I would agree that Moss was the primary key, and CPep did have one good year before Linehan showed up though that was his first season and it was not followed by another good year. But Linehan had a definite effect on his development as a QB.

 

Without a good OC that knows how to use him and without Moss, Culpepper has done nothing. That is complicated further by Culpepper only having seven healthy games away from Moss/Linehan and his injury has really changed him so far. His rushing numbers already were in decline before Moss left, but his passing numbers have really plunged while interceptions increase.

 

Culpepper was never a pocket passer really and now with the knee he really needs to be one. But without a premier WR and a very good OC - that may never happen for him.

[Crazysight]

Well Culpepper was actually playing with an injured knee before he actually really injured it by tearing the ACL. I remember reading the article weeks before he tore it where he was stating that "he was a warrior" and would just play through the injury. The team was obviously going nowhere to begin with and had brad johnson as a backup, so I just shook my head when I read that. So of course the fool then goes on to entirely blow the same knee out.

 

If he can get his speed/power/agility back and have a decent receiver/offense to play on then he should be a decent fantasy QB for somebody for a few more years. He would still the same freaky combination of size, speed and arm strength to draw from that he has always had even without Moss. But his glory days are over.

Edited June 8, 2007 by Crazysight

[piratesownninjas]

Man, that 2004 season was huge though...

[Fantasy Jesus]

Fish Fans --- Culpepper = steal for 2nd Pick (don't make me look it up)

 

Of course we picked Williams

 

[Crazysight]

Man, that 2004 season was huge though...

 

 

It was, and the funny part about that is he played a good part of it without Moss who was injured for a good portion of time (Moss was out for 5 games (though officially says only 3) and was hobbled for some of the others, but Culpepper did very well without him). Nate Burleson became his prime target then, only to fade completely when he went to Seattle. But CPep spread the ball around too, and of course used his legs, size and power to his advantage.

Edited June 8, 2007 by Crazysight

[Grits and Shins]

Culpepper was/is nothing without Randy Moss & Linehan.

[kingfish247]

Culpepper was/is nothing without Randy Moss & Linehan.

 

You have to wonder what Culpepper thinks about his decision to push for Moss' departure now.

[CaP'N GRuNGe]

Culpepper was/is nothing without adequate protection, a healthy body, decent receivers, and decent play calling.

 

 

FIXED

 

Daunte had some nice games without Moss as a factor as well.

 

Daunte has always been a boom & bust QB. His problem even when playing well has always been the bonehead play here and there. The fumble and interception in the innopportune time. This has existed no matter what WRs or coordinator he had to work with.