Ladarious Gunter - 2015 Packers Player Report Card
By pointerjeff
Ladarious Gunter
- Age: 23
-
Born: 5/13/92 – Montgomery, AL
- Height: 6’ 2’
- Weight: 201
- College: University of Miami
- Rookie Year: 2015, FA
- NFL Experience: Rookie
- Career Stats and More
Expectations coming into the season: Minimal. Made the final roster.
Gunter came to the Packers as a rookie free agent after not being drafted out of the University of Miami. A big body with cover skills he was passed over in the draft primarily because of his lack of top end speed. In training camp he showed good ball and coverage skills and earned a spot on the final 53-man roster. He became a key contributor on special teams by season’s end.
Player’s highlights/low-lights: Was inactive for eight games. Contributed mainly on special teams with only eight snaps at cornerback during the season. In week 15 he recorded his first tackle and another a week later vs. Arizona. Filled in on defense due to injury vs. Washington in the Wildcard Playoff game.
Level of expectations met: Very little was expected of Gunter who came out of nowhere to earn a roster spot. Outplayed second-year player Goodson.
Grade: C
Player’s contribution to the overall team success: Minimal. He worked hard to make the final 53-man roster, and showed promise earning PT as the year progressed. Unranked by Pro FootballFocus. However his overall rating of 71.0 was actually fourth best among Packers cornerbacks.
Grade: D+
Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Played defense and special teams vs. Washington and recorded one tackle and was solid in coverage defending a pass. Filled in as a nickel back in Washington when Sam Shields was inactive and Quinten Rollins left the game both due to injury. Gunter was credited with one tackle and also broke up a critical 3rd down pass intended for Pierre Garcon in the fourth quarter.
Grade: C
Intangibles/Miscellaneous: Along with his great size and cover ability Gunter has fought hard to become a consideration in the Packers cornerback rotation in 2016. He might turn out to be the physical cover corner the Packers need to match up against the league’s jumbo receivers if he can overcome his lack of top-end speed. Another gem free agent find from ‘The U’. If he makes the required second year jump it would not be surprising to see Gunter earn more PT in 2016.
Grade: C
Overall Grade: C-
Comments (12)
Tundraboy
January 27, 2016 at 08:36 pm
Bye bye Goodson, at least I hope so.
bad-y
January 27, 2016 at 08:47 pm
everybody seems to get down on Gunter because of his 40 time. Those 40's are run in shorts and racing flats. I suspect that in pads and cleats he is much closer to the times that others run, Maybe he can't carry a speedy receiver for 60 yards but during preseaon he looked like he could cover quite well.
lebowski
January 27, 2016 at 10:27 pm
The Janis of the D. After his impressive preseason, there were references in Packer articles to Whitt being a bit coy about Gunter, even suggestions he could start at some point in the season. And then…. we never saw him. Nice that we didn't really need him, but he's a big corner who looked like he belonged.
Thegreatreynoldo
January 28, 2016 at 12:27 am
Gunter looks promising as a physical, press corner. His speed is suspect. Was not able to contribute much on STs (just a measly 46 snaps), last among DBs.
croatpackfan
January 28, 2016 at 05:51 am
I'm rooting for Gunter and hope he will be the one we will talk nothing but positively about...
RCPackerFan
January 28, 2016 at 07:07 am
I am looking forward to seeing Gunter get more chances to play next year. IMO, he deserved more playing time then what Goodson got.
But what do I know, I'm just a spectator.
I thought when he had to come in and play he played well.
egbertsouse
January 28, 2016 at 09:29 am
He gets a lower grade than Goodson? Weird.
Gianich
January 28, 2016 at 11:02 am
Too bad he and Hyde couldn't find a fountain of speed to drink from...
PETER MAIZ
January 28, 2016 at 11:51 am
Gunter should be fine even if he isn't 4.45 in the 40. Mitchell Henry in the practice squad, Ted likes him, should be un upgrade over Richard Rodgers and Backman, so he should make the team. With a new tight ends coach, McCarthy better show improvement over the current pathetic status.
sheppercheeser
January 29, 2016 at 04:14 am
I don't understand the C- gradeout. The only knock I'm seeing is the lack of blazing speed- no blown coverages (though the opportunities were few), no dropped interceptions, plus he did well on special teams. What I did read is that the level of expectation was minimal and that he outplayed a second year man. WTH?
Thegreatreynoldo
January 29, 2016 at 08:48 am
He did not do well on STs. He wasn't even good enough to get to play on them, much less excel on STs.
J0hn Denver's Gavel
February 07, 2016 at 08:48 pm
Id like to see him play in the middle more, both against the run and covering TEs on throwing plays in a sort of hybrid bandit role. With that said he sure played the perimeter well enough to warrant another look there too. Looked like he belonged. Played well in preseason and limited snaps at the end of the year. I expect him to get even better.