3/4 Season Grades

[DB2012]

Player, rating, and explanation if needed.

QB Dalton, B+, He has avoided the sophmore slump, great sign.

RB Green Ellis, C, His total body of work is "average."

TE Gresham, B, He continues to slowly get better, year to year.

WR Green, A+

WR Jones, D, Obviously could go up, but I expected more, quicker.

WR Hawkins, B-, Solid when healthy

LT Whitworth, B-

LG Boling, B-

C Robinson, C, "Overall body of work", better than expected tho

RG Zeitler, A

RT Smith, A

DE Johnson, B

DT Peko, C

DT Atkins, A+

DE Dunlap, B-

LB Lawson, D

LB Maulauga, C-, Particularly disappointing considering draft pick/hype

LB Burfict, B, a savior here

FS Nelson, B-

FS Crocker, C+

CB Hall, B+

CB Newman, C+

Anyone else care to take a stab?

[Spor_tees]

Robinson a "C"? Really? He's been ranked high by stats, and even his position coach said he has had games where he made 100% correct audibles. He's a stud so far this season. I'd give him a B+ or A-.

[cHaD711Johnson]

Newman's grade is too low. Whitworth's grade is too low.

[volcom69]

Yea i agree Newman has been a big suprise, and i hope he is even better this week agaisnt his old team. Adam Jones should be on your list as well, and rated pretty high in my opinion, its his best year.

[ArmyBengal]

WR Jones- D ??

Are these season ratings based on playing time or your personal expectations.

If it's playing time, injuries haven't helped him in the least. Couple that with the coaches inability to figure out what kind of talent they actually have on their f*cking roster and Jones is an incomplete. Come back to him at the end of the season.

If we are talking personal expectations, that changes the whole thing.

[redsbengalsbucks]

WR Jones- D ??

Are these season ratings based on playing time or your personal expectations.

If it's playing time, injuries haven't helped him in the least. Couple that with the coaches inability to figure out what kind of talent they actually have on their f*cking roster and Jones is an incomplete. Come back to him at the end of the season.

If we are talking personal expectations, that changes the whole thing.

Using personal expectations I'd have to give Sanu only a C because I thought he would become a reliable #2 WR plus a wildcat weapon much earlier in the season and just when he does it, he is gone to injury. He was a beast at Rutgers! Next season looks very good for Dalton and the passing game.

Jones is an incomplete for sure, hopefully he takes his chance and runs with it the next few weeks. Maybe the coaches will take a look at the GB plan for Cobb and copy some of it with Jones.

[ArmyBengal]

Again, if we were to look at WHY Sanu took as long as he did to get on the field, the grade should actually be assigned to the coaching staff that was incapable of getting him snaps earlier in the season: "F-".

[redsbengalsbucks]

Again, if we were to look at WHY Sanu took as long as he did to get on the field, the grade should actually be assigned to the coaching staff that was incapable of getting him snaps earlier in the season: "F-".

agree 100%

[cHaD711Johnson]

A rookie WR who was drafted in the third round. I'll give him a B. Jones grade is also a joke, especially given that he was drafted in the 5th round.

[HoosierCat]

OK, I'll play (added a few guys):

QB Dalton, B. Needs more consistency.

RB Green Ellis, D. Some nice games lately but a lot of that is on the o-line. Not worth the FA $ he got.

RB Peerman, B+. Was coming on before the injury.

TE Gresham, C. A one game, F the next.

TE Charles, I. Flashed some. Needs more PT.

WR Green, A+. 'Nuff said.

WR Sanu I. Trending strongly toward A though.

WR Jones, I. Trending toward "meh."

WR Hawkins, B. as the role player he is. D as a No. 2.

WR Binns, F. He plays good WRs in practice, too bad he can't be one in a real game.

LT Whitworth, B-. On the back end of his career but still has some game left.

LG Boling, B+. The poster boy for "next man up."

C Robinson, B+. See above.

RG Zeitler, A. Good work all year tho it looks like he's started to hit the rookie wall

RT Smith, A. Pay the man.

DE Johnson, B-. Disappears too often vs. good competition.

DT Peko, A. Doesn't rack up big #'s but does a lot.

DT Atkins, A+. DPOY.

DT Sims, B. His return to the rotation has clearly improved the line.

DT Still, I. Trending down. 53rd pick in the 2012 draft couldn't beat out Fat Pat.

DT Thompson, I. Also trending down. 3rd round pick can't get on the field.

DE Dunlap, C. Motivation issues appear to be back.

DE Geathers, B. Bit of a bounceback year for much-maligned DE

LB Lawson, D. Now we see why the team was in no rush to re-sign him.

LB Maulauga, D. Just not developing.

LB Burfict, C+. Still learning, playing out of position, love the energy and potential.

FS Nelson, B-. Needs to step it up after getting paid earlier this year

FS Crocker, B. From couch to interception machine.

SS Taylor Mays, D-. Was what the 49ers thought he was.

CB Hall, B. Had to work back into shape.

CB Newman, A. Possibly the Bengals' best FA signing this year. Whoda thunk it?

CB Kirkpatrick, I. Starting to rival Dennis Weathersby in the "worst luck EVAH" category.

CB Clements, B. Versatility has been a plus.

[ArmyBengal]

Nicely done Hoosier.

Who would have thought with a rookie, an UDFA, a second year player, and moobs that Whitworth get the lowest grade?

Honestly though, I can't say as I really disagree with that. I love Whitworth and his leadership however.

I also have to give credit where credit is due for someone I blasted.

Crocker. While I can't say he's the starter for years to come, he has proven me wrong since being brought back.

Good for him, good for the Bengals !!!

[Earendil]

I can't give enough props to Crocker. What he has done this year has been nothing short of amazing.

[HoosierCat]

I can't give enough props to Crocker. What he has done this year has been nothing short of amazing.

The whole D has a weird reversal-of-expectations thing going on in a lot of spots. Still and Thompson got a lot of play before the season, but haven't made much impact. Atkins and Dunlap was practically one word, "Atkinanddunlap," in the offseason, but only half the duo has lived up to the hype. Taylor Mays was going to be a superstar in Zim's system. And Kirkpatrick was going to fighting for a starting spot opposite Hall.

Meanwhile, Crocker was so done he was cut, Geathers (now on track for his best year, sack-wise, since 2006) was an overpaid bum who should be cut to free up cap space, Terence Newman was old and washed-up and Burfict was a head case. (And I admit to holding some of these views myself.)

Just goes to show you never can tell.

(Oh, I forgot one, which given the name is easy to do: CB Allen, F-. Biggest waste of FA $ since Bryant.)

[kingwilly]

Mine in italics.

OK, I'll play (added a few guys):

QB Dalton, B. Needs more consistency.Now a B, maybe a month ago a C-

RB Green Ellis, D. Some nice games lately but a lot of that is on the o-line. Not worth the FA $ he got.agree, thouhg he is coming on strong, mostly due to blocking.

RB Peerman, B+. Was coming on before the injury.yep and he's a ST ace

TE Gresham, C. A one game, F the next.bmaybe a C+, cause when he plays hard and focused, he's very good.

TE Charles, I. Flashed some. Needs more PT.I would lke them to feature him more, also a ST guy

WR Green, A+. 'Nuff said.Green=Money... has had a few drops though. A to A+ (like a 96, not a 99)

WR Sanu I. Trending strongly toward A though.really liked the dimension he brought. Marvin slowly lets him play, which was stupid

WR Jones, I. Trending toward "meh." not enough to judge. Unfortunately, reminds me of Caldwell

WR Hawkins, B. as the role player he is. D as a No. 2. they HAD found ways to get him the ball. Must have lost those playsheets

WR Binns, F. He plays good WRs in practice, too bad he can't be one in a real game.he's gone anonymous. Like Tate, too.

LT Whitworth, B-. On the back end of his career but still has some game left. maybe a C+, too many stupid penalties

LG Boling, B+. The poster boy for "next man up." Agree, siezed the moment

C Robinson, B+. See above.ditto

RG Zeitler, A. Good work all year tho it looks like he's started to hit the rookie wallhis run blocking has come on, so that's a plus

RT Smith, A. Pay the man.Tag him first. Let's see his body hold up anothr year before betting the farm on him (recall Stacey Andrews)

DE Johnson, B-. Disappears too often vs. good competition. agree but has played better v run

DT Peko, A. Doesn't rack up big #'s but does a lot.now rotating with Sims, has had more gas late in games

DT Atkins, A+. DPOY.agree. he's gonna need to be paid quickly before he prices out of the budget. SOMEONE will pay him HUGE coin

DT Sims, B. His return to the rotation has clearly improved the line.doing great and not anywhere near being in shape. Guy is a doughnut

DT Still, I. Trending down. 53rd pick in the 2012 draft couldn't beat out Fat Pat.rooie wall/learning curve

DT Thompson, I. Also trending down. 3rd round pick can't get on the field.more a testament who he's behind (Peko/Atkins/Sims)

DE Dunlap, C. Motivation issues appear to be back. ..or has he finally overcome them? I think the latter

DE Geathers, B. Bit of a bounceback year for much-maligned DE Geathers does cath heat but is a solid B

LB Lawson, D. Now we see why the team was in no rush to re-sign him. I think he's not as fast as he was. He does not cover the ground like when he got here

LB Maulauga, D. Just not developing. I don't know how many teams he'd start for to be honest. Maybe a place like AZ or Tennessee, not a top D

LB Burfict, C+. Still learning, playing out of position, love the energy and potential. id he can get through the learning, skys the limit and we see lots of it shining through

FS Nelson, B-. Needs to step it up after getting paid earlier this yearI think he suffers when not matched with a legit SS. Sum of its parts kind of thing.

FS Crocker, B. From couch to interception machine.wily vet who has to work to hide his lack of speed

SS Taylor Mays, D-. Was what the 49ers thought he was.boy he's pretty bad. Gotta wonder what they do with him

CB Hall, B. Had to work back into shape.applause for his hard work to return. Has had some moments where he looks like he did in 2009

CB Newman, A. Possibly the Bengals' best FA signing this year. Whoda thunk it?guy has the skills and has accepted what Zimmer is preaching. What a steal

CB Kirkpatrick, I. Starting to rival Dennis Weathersby in the "worst luck EVAH" category. what a bummer

CB Clements, B. Versatility has been a plus.true but also very slow now. hardly can keep up with TE's

Will add some coaching scores:

ML, B+. Despite some seriously bad clock mgmt and game decisions, has assembled a very solid squad

JG, B. Still working to find the right mix of plays, and affected by injuries, to get most out of Dalton and Green. Can't throw to Green EVERY time...

MZ, B+. Despite losing Howard, Sims and Kirkpatrick, has assembled right guys for the scheme. Roughest pathes behind this D now. Count on them to close/win games.

[volcom69]

Very nice Hoosier! I read some where that Smith right now was the best RT in the game, I think it was PFF. I agree pay the man!

Also Greg Cosell said Watt and Atkins are best players in the league right now!

[HoosierCat]

Good stuff Willie. I agree with your coaching grades. Re Still and Thompson, yeah, I get that they are sitting behind some good players. But when I look at needs at RB, WR and LB, and see a second and third round pick collecting splinters, my teeth grind in frustration. I'm sure that's coloring my views.