Football The WIldcat is for shaved pussies

LaChapelle · 12-03-2009, 06:11 PM

Lions' Cunningham: Back in my day we didn't have the wildcat

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 3, 2009 6:38 PM ET

Gunther Cunningham, the 63-year-old defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, longs for the good old days when men were men and opposing offenses used the "three yards and a cloud of dust" approach.

Today, Cunningham says, the whippersnappers with their newfangled wildcat formations drive him crazy.

"The sad thing is the NFL's going towards the college game, and I hate it," Cunningham told the Detroit Free Press. "I don't care what people say about me for making a comment like that. But it's taken five years for the NFL to change to this five wide receivers and Wildcat stuff. I remember when Jim Brown was running the ball. That's what football is to me."

Cunningham thinks the modern breed of offensive coordinators are getting too creative for their own good.

"The offensive guys are really cute," Cunningham said. "They really are. I admire them. They must sit in the office 24 hours a day trying to figure out how they can screw up the defenses. And with the way the rules are, they've got it going. They've got all the guys on the competition committee and they come up with all these formations."

Cunningham says he's confident the NFL will move back to his preferred brand of football some day, because, in Cunningham's view, the wildcat and spread offense put quarterbacks at risk.

"Do I like it? No," Cunningham said. "Somewhere along the line the quarterbacks are going to start going down. Then I'll be able to say I told you so, because when the Run and Shoot came in, I said that. I said I'll give it four years, and it'll be over. And it was - dead, in the water. All the quarterbacks were laying down on the ground."

One of Cunningham's players, rookie safety Louis Delmas, was fined this week for unnecessary roughness. In Cunningham's view, that fine is a badge of honor.

"I know he got a penalty, and he should have," Cunningham said. "But boy, I couldn't help but smile because this kid knows how to play the game. He's just got to time it up better. In the old days, that wasn't a penalty."

There's a certain charm in Cunningham's old-school approach, but there's just one problem: The defense he coordinates ranks last in the league. Maybe Cunningham ought to open his mind to some 21st Century strategic innovations.

**pr_capone** · 12-03-2009, 06:13 PM

The guy was a beast in the 90's coaching our D.

Not so much anymore.

kstater · 12-03-2009, 06:17 PM

Quesadilla Joe · 12-03-2009, 06:21 PM

Now we know who put that hit out on Tom Brady last year.

**Skip Towne** · 12-03-2009, 06:22 PM

The Wildcat isn't new. It's what they called the Single Wing in the '50's. Gunther should remember it.

**KcMizzou** · 12-03-2009, 06:22 PM

Typical Gunther.

Agent V · 12-03-2009, 06:23 PM

Douchebag.

**MahiMike** · 12-03-2009, 06:24 PM

I wish they'd bring back Y2K.

12-03-2009, 06:11 PM
LaChapelle Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Casino cash: $10004900	The WIldcat is for shaved pussies Lions' Cunningham: Back in my day we didn't have the wildcat Posted by Michael David Smith on December 3, 2009 6:38 PM ET Gunther Cunningham, the 63-year-old defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, longs for the good old days when men were men and opposing offenses used the "three yards and a cloud of dust" approach. Today, Cunningham says, the whippersnappers with their newfangled wildcat formations drive him crazy. "The sad thing is the NFL's going towards the college game, and I hate it," Cunningham told the Detroit Free Press. "I don't care what people say about me for making a comment like that. But it's taken five years for the NFL to change to this five wide receivers and Wildcat stuff. I remember when Jim Brown was running the ball. That's what football is to me." Cunningham thinks the modern breed of offensive coordinators are getting too creative for their own good. "The offensive guys are really cute," Cunningham said. "They really are. I admire them. They must sit in the office 24 hours a day trying to figure out how they can screw up the defenses. And with the way the rules are, they've got it going. They've got all the guys on the competition committee and they come up with all these formations." Cunningham says he's confident the NFL will move back to his preferred brand of football some day, because, in Cunningham's view, the wildcat and spread offense put quarterbacks at risk. "Do I like it? No," Cunningham said. "Somewhere along the line the quarterbacks are going to start going down. Then I'll be able to say I told you so, because when the Run and Shoot came in, I said that. I said I'll give it four years, and it'll be over. And it was - dead, in the water. All the quarterbacks were laying down on the ground." One of Cunningham's players, rookie safety Louis Delmas, was fined this week for unnecessary roughness. In Cunningham's view, that fine is a badge of honor. "I know he got a penalty, and he should have," Cunningham said. "But boy, I couldn't help but smile because this kid knows how to play the game. He's just got to time it up better. In the old days, that wasn't a penalty." There's a certain charm in Cunningham's old-school approach, but there's just one problem: The defense he coordinates ranks last in the league. Maybe Cunningham ought to open his mind to some 21st Century strategic innovations.
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12-03-2009, 06:13 PM	#2
pr_capone THREEPEAT!!! Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NWMO Casino cash: $9948214	The guy was a beast in the 90's coaching our D. Not so much anymore.
Posts: 19,897

12-03-2009, 06:17 PM	#3
kstater Custom User Title Join Date: Jan 2007 Casino cash: $-1553437
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12-03-2009, 06:21 PM	#4
Quesadilla Joe Abolish The Salary Cap! Join Date: Mar 2008 Casino cash: $3408675	Now we know who put that hit out on Tom Brady last year. __________________ “(Sean) Payton feels as strongly about Bo Nix as he did Mahomes.“ - Adam Schefter
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12-03-2009, 06:22 PM	#5
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	The Wildcat isn't new. It's what they called the Single Wing in the '50's. Gunther should remember it.
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12-03-2009, 06:22 PM	#6
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	Typical Gunther.
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12-03-2009, 06:23 PM	#7
Agent V Bring me Geno. Join Date: Sep 2006 Casino cash: $10004900	Douchebag.
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12-03-2009, 06:24 PM	#8
MahiMike He's Mahomie! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Jax, FL Casino cash: $10023443	I wish they'd bring back Y2K. __________________ 99.9%
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