Defending Dalton

[walzav29]

He's just not accurate enough, at 6.5 YPA he's getting by with a completion % that's acceptable-to-good this year, because he's throwing dinks and dunks (Shula's favorite). But that YPA is bad.

He wasn't like that in college (9.5 YPA, same comp % in low 60's), but put up similar yards, INT's and TD #'s.

The Bengals' had the 31st easiest schedule this year. 31st!!

I think Dalton played well against one good team all year long, no post season teams.

I guess you have to give him one more year to improve, oh well.

19/27 328 3TD 1Int vs Redskins which is a playoff team. Cleveland and Pittsburgh basically had the same schedule the last 2 seasons. Let's look at what he has done

Back to back winning seasons 1st time in 30 years

Win on West Coast

Beat Pitt and Balt* (basically starters out)

He has no explosive RB, never a consistent #2. A TE who drops passes. When CP went to the playoffs in his 3rd year. That was TJ and Chad's 5th season, Rudi Johnson had 1400 yards, Chris Perry had 51 receptions, and they had Chris Henry. Does anyone think that has an effect on offensive production? With ALLLLLLLL that. Still couldn't make back to back playoffs.

[ArmyBengal]

Threw for 299 and a TD against the Broncos as well.

Then there were the 4 TD's against the Giants.

Are there things he needs to improve ?? Of course.

Will he get another year to show that improvement ?? Yes.

Will he be here in 3-5 years ?? That is still a question.

I'm guessing he will be here though.

[cincy9275]

seems like marvin is fine with andy and believes he is the qb to lead this team. so looks like andy is going no where anytime soon.

as for shula who in this draft or F/A who you replace dalton with?

[cincyhokie]

seems like marvin is fine with andy and believes he is the qb to lead this team. so looks like andy is going no where anytime soon.

as for shula who in this draft or F/A who you replace dalton with?

Give the offense more balance. Add a veteran WR. Draft a stud RB. Get Dalton into more play action situations with the run game.

If the Bengals don't give Dalton the things he needs to be the best QB he can be (because he is limited), they are just shooting themselves in the foot.

[walzav29]

You want to really see some limited QB's who struggle? Check out these guys

Jake Locker

Joe Webb

Blaine Gabbert

John Skelton

Ryan Lindley

Matt Stafford

Nick Foles

Brandon Weeden

There are plenty more

[Sea Ray]

What really stuck out to me was the difference in protection that the two QBs received (Dalton v. Schaub).

Schaub had so many instances where the pocket was as big as my house. They had our (excellent) d-line so spread out so far that Schaub didn't have anyone within sniffing distance of him.

For Dalton, even when the protection was good, it felt like he had 2 or 3 defenders that could have easily reached out and swatted the ball at any time. The pocket felt very claustrophobic and it made me nervous to watch. I can only imagine how it would make a young QB feel. Statistically, our o-line seemed to have a good game, but it didn't feel that way watching the game on TV. Maybe Dalton was only taking 3-step drop backs where Schaub was taking more like 5 and getting more separation from the line? I didn't pay close enough attention to know for sure.

That collapsing pocket has been a weakness of our O line for Dalton's two years here. Apparently changing both guards didn't do enough to address this. I wonder if the Alabama center will still be around when we draft at #21?

[ArmyBengal]

Like I said, I fully expect them to keep Dalton around and hope that's the case as well.

Crappy QB's have won super bowls due to them having stellar defenses.

We are a player or two from that on the defensive side of the ball.

Give Dalton a RB and healthy WR's and I have all the confidence in the world.

[walzav29]

Like I said, I fully expect them to keep Dalton around and hope that's the case as well.

Crappy QB's have won super bowls due to them having stellar defenses.

We are a player or two from that on the defensive side of the ball.

Give Dalton a RB and healthy WR's and I have all the confidence in the world.

This is exactly my view.

[cincyhokie]

That collapsing pocket has been a weakness of our O line for Dalton's two years here. Apparently changing both guards didn't do enough to address this. I wonder if the Alabama center will still be around when we draft at #21?

Also interesting how the pocket began to collapse regularly when Robinson was replaced by Cook as the starter.

[redsbengalsbucks]

Dalton just put up the 8th all time best yardage season, by a Bengal QB. Only Palmer, Esiason, Anderson and Blake have had more yards in a season. H e had the 14th best yardage total in his first year, I have no problem if he can continue to put up numbers like he already has. The problem is a below average pass protecting line and some young/lacking WR's.

I would bet a healthy Dalton puts up better numbers next season, if the team can solve either/both of those problems.

[wpeldios]

If two years from now dalton is playing exactly like he is now then we have a problem. As it is, 2 years in, he has made progress and has played relatively well. Is he a Hall of Fame QB, no. Will he ever be, I highly doubt it. But there are at least 16 other teams in the nfl that I would think are worse off at qb than Dalton. give him some time, some improved weapons, and hopefully some more consistent pass protection and i think he will improve and can be a top 10 qb.

[TJJackson]

Also interesting how the pocket began to collapse regularly when Robinson was replaced by Cook as the starter.

Yep

One can only hope it is an open competition at camp next year rather than Cook's by right of his higher salary

[ArmyBengal]

Lets also not forget that these were second year players that only had the benefit of one set of OTA's and training camp.

There was a lot of lost time with a bunch of new players and coaches, changing a ton of stuff.

It's a freakin miracle they've made the playoffs in back to back seasons coming from the AFCN.

[walzav29]

Also look what the other guys have, and tell me the Bengals have the same

Brady - Welker, Gronk Hernandez

Manning - Thomas and Decker

Schaub - Andree Johnson, Arian Foster, Daniels

Flacco - Rice, Smith, and Boldin

I love the potential of Marvin Jones, but he was a rookie with limited starts. Love BJGE for tough yards, but that was it. Its AJ Green. Logically. If Green is doubled you go to someone else. The Bengals took Johnson out of the game, and Daniels had 9 receptions.