DON'T BE SURPRISED AT CULPEPPER'S NUMBERS
When Daunte Culpepper was traded to the Dolphins, lots of people started to think Miami finally found the replacement for Dan Marino. Why? Because he threw the ball up to Randy Moss for a few years and the receiver out-rebounded the double coverage? Look, Culpepper is a fine athlete, but maybe the Vikings knew there was too much work to be done in a short period of time and the second-round pick Miami offered was just too tempting. Culpepper is duplicating his 2005 production and some people who ignored what was on film to study, elected to say they are 'surprised' rather than study the video. If you are going to listen to NFL experts, find out if they are studying his films before they speak!
I believe Nick Saban will get the talented Culpepper straightened out in time to get the season going, but Culpepper is still just doing what he's been doing since Moss left for the Raiders. Check out these numbers if you don't believe Culpepper is still looking for Moss and unable to get the ball out of his hand. In 2005, his production was similar to 2006. Too bad that the perception was he'll deliver more at such an early stage in his development.
Here's a look at Culpepper's numbers in '05 and '06:
Year Games Attempts Completions TDs INTs Sacks Fumbles
2005 -- 7 ----- 216 ------- 139 ----- 6 -- 12 -- 31 ---- 5
2006 -- 2 ----- 69 --------- 41 ----- 1 --- 3 -- 10 ----- 2
In '05, Culpepper averaged 20 completions in 30 attempts. This year after two weeks, he's averaged 20 completions in 34 attempts. Last year, he averaged .08 TD pass per game. This year he's right on schedule at .05 TD per game. Now it gets even more eerie. Last year, he averaged 1.7 interceptions per game. In Miami, 1.5 picks per game. In 2005, he was sacked 4.4 times per game, with Miami he's gone down 5.0 per game. As a Viking, he fumbled just under one time per contest and right now the ball is on the ground one time per game. The next time you hear some so-called expert say he's 'surprised' about the start the Dolphins have had, question if he knows the history of Culpepper.
Daunte Culpepper's struggles shouldn't be a surprise in taking a closer look at his numbers.
Oh, by the way, remember Gus Frerotte? He was the Dolphins QB last year and was perceived as not good enough to take the Dolphins to the championship. He was 1-1 after two games in 2005 with an offensive line that might not have been as good as the line Culpepper has right now. He also threw three TD passes to two interceptions. Culpepper is two touchdown passes behind him. Frerotte was sacked just two times, less than the 10 Culpepper has logged, but he did fumble three times to Culpepper's two.
Remember the six-game winning streak the Dolphins finished with last year? Frerotte was the QB the whole time and he connected on eight touchdown passes to just three interceptions during that stretch. The problem was the perception that Frerotte wasn't good enough. Someone once said Brad Johnson was done and he looks pretty good in Vikings uniform right now. A few years ago, if Gruden didn't take a chance on Rich Gannon, the Raiders would have never gone to the Super Bowl. The message is stop listening to guys who say they are surprised by the Dolphins right now and take a look at the facts that have led up to the situation.
Finally, for second-round compensation, I probably would have traded for Culpepper and be willing to work with the strong-armed QB. But I would not be shocked if it was going to take some time to repair a guy coming to my franchise off a serious injury with an 11-16 record and 84 sacks in his previous 27 games.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9675755
When Daunte Culpepper was traded to the Dolphins, lots of people started to think Miami finally found the replacement for Dan Marino. Why? Because he threw the ball up to Randy Moss for a few years and the receiver out-rebounded the double coverage? Look, Culpepper is a fine athlete, but maybe the Vikings knew there was too much work to be done in a short period of time and the second-round pick Miami offered was just too tempting. Culpepper is duplicating his 2005 production and some people who ignored what was on film to study, elected to say they are 'surprised' rather than study the video. If you are going to listen to NFL experts, find out if they are studying his films before they speak!
I believe Nick Saban will get the talented Culpepper straightened out in time to get the season going, but Culpepper is still just doing what he's been doing since Moss left for the Raiders. Check out these numbers if you don't believe Culpepper is still looking for Moss and unable to get the ball out of his hand. In 2005, his production was similar to 2006. Too bad that the perception was he'll deliver more at such an early stage in his development.
Here's a look at Culpepper's numbers in '05 and '06:
Year Games Attempts Completions TDs INTs Sacks Fumbles
2005 -- 7 ----- 216 ------- 139 ----- 6 -- 12 -- 31 ---- 5
2006 -- 2 ----- 69 --------- 41 ----- 1 --- 3 -- 10 ----- 2
In '05, Culpepper averaged 20 completions in 30 attempts. This year after two weeks, he's averaged 20 completions in 34 attempts. Last year, he averaged .08 TD pass per game. This year he's right on schedule at .05 TD per game. Now it gets even more eerie. Last year, he averaged 1.7 interceptions per game. In Miami, 1.5 picks per game. In 2005, he was sacked 4.4 times per game, with Miami he's gone down 5.0 per game. As a Viking, he fumbled just under one time per contest and right now the ball is on the ground one time per game. The next time you hear some so-called expert say he's 'surprised' about the start the Dolphins have had, question if he knows the history of Culpepper.
Daunte Culpepper's struggles shouldn't be a surprise in taking a closer look at his numbers.
Oh, by the way, remember Gus Frerotte? He was the Dolphins QB last year and was perceived as not good enough to take the Dolphins to the championship. He was 1-1 after two games in 2005 with an offensive line that might not have been as good as the line Culpepper has right now. He also threw three TD passes to two interceptions. Culpepper is two touchdown passes behind him. Frerotte was sacked just two times, less than the 10 Culpepper has logged, but he did fumble three times to Culpepper's two.
Remember the six-game winning streak the Dolphins finished with last year? Frerotte was the QB the whole time and he connected on eight touchdown passes to just three interceptions during that stretch. The problem was the perception that Frerotte wasn't good enough. Someone once said Brad Johnson was done and he looks pretty good in Vikings uniform right now. A few years ago, if Gruden didn't take a chance on Rich Gannon, the Raiders would have never gone to the Super Bowl. The message is stop listening to guys who say they are surprised by the Dolphins right now and take a look at the facts that have led up to the situation.
Finally, for second-round compensation, I probably would have traded for Culpepper and be willing to work with the strong-armed QB. But I would not be shocked if it was going to take some time to repair a guy coming to my franchise off a serious injury with an 11-16 record and 84 sacks in his previous 27 games.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/9675755
