PDUB question

[dre_nole]

IM a huge FSU fan, and ever since he left for the NFL i hardly have been able to see him play, except a couple games his rookie year, and just last week on espn.

What struck me was he still made some defenders miss, but he didnt really show that stop and start on a dime, and change of direction. Maybe he didnt really need to that game, but it has me concerned, because PDUB is just an amazing player, and an amazing person. I have not meet a nicer, and funnier guy in my life.

He looked like he didnt have the same moves he had as a college player at Florida State, and his rookie year with the bengals.

Im sure you guys know more about him, now so im hopefull you can tell me whats up with him, and what were your expectations when he came into the league, and if he has fullfilled them.

thanks!!!

[membengal]

He's gutting it out while playing with a bad knee (and a bad shin last week as well).

He has shown himself at the end of last year and this year to be a warrior. I cannot imagine this team without him.

As for my expectations, last year he met them. It helped that the coaching staff finally identified his strengths and used him in the slot more. He is extraordinarily clever at working open to convery third downs and in the red zone.

P-Dub is one of my favorite players.

[JPW]

What struck me was he still made some defenders miss, but he didnt really show that stop and start on a dime, and change of direction. 

He sure showed it in the pre-season....

As long as his knee continues to get better, you can expect a Big Year from him this year.

[Kirkendall]

I expected too much. I thought he'd get mad yards and TD's.. but I now know what to expect out of him -- possession receptions complimenting CJ -- and he's more than fulfilled that role.

PW has caught more passes in his first four season than any previous Bengal in team history during anyone's first four Bengal seasons.

PW - 253

Collinsworth - 246

Pickens - 239

Scott - 210

Eddie Brown - 208

CJ - 195 (including this season which is his 4th season)

[Barbarian]

I expected too much. I thought he'd get mad yards and TD's.. but I now know what to expect out of him -- possession receptions complimenting CJ -- and he's more than fulfilled that role.

PW has caught more passes in his first four season than any previous Bengal in team history during anyone's first four Bengal seasons.

PW - 253

Collinsworth - 246

Pickens - 239

Scott - 210

Eddie Brown - 208

CJ - 195 (including this season which is his 4th season)

Yep--but too bad PW hasn't done jacks**t with the ball AFTER THE CATCH, which is what PW was touted for in college.

He's still to have a 1,000 yard season as well.

I'm still voting for major bustola.

[dre_nole]

TO be fair tho, there really isnt any reviever in the nfl right now that has great run after the catch ability.

Steve Smith is the only name i can think of off the top of my head.

[Barbarian]

TO be fair tho, there really isnt any reviever in the nfl right now that has great run after the catch ability.

Steve Smith is the only name i can think of off the top of my head.

There's a few out there--Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Tory Holt.

PW should be up there too with his speed. However, he's underachieved so far (how odd for a Bungle Player!!! LOL!!!).

However, I'm going to let him get over his injuries before dissing on him.

I commend him for playing through his injuries--thats odd for the Primadonna Era of the NFL. At least PW is tough--I give credit where credit is due.

[kevnz]

Part of P-dubs problem his first few years has been he's had no one to take some heat off of him. Not to mention he didn't exactly have steller QB play to get him the ball. It wasn't until Kitna had a firm control of the offense and Chad had started to shine that P-dub has really come on.

Remember, fast in college isn't the same as being fast in the NFL. Not to mention he's used as a possesion type reciever cause Chad is the gamebreaker at WR.

[HoosierCat]

I'm still voting for major bustola.

Y'know, I always love the "P-Dub is a bust" argument because it so well demonstrates the selective memory of all too many football fans. I remember the conversation surrounding the 2000 draft; mainly, it was all about how weak a draft the year was, and how the Bengals had done just well enough to miss out on the top DE prospect, Courtney Brown. I was even in favor of trading up to get him, I wanted a good DE so bad, and thank gawd Mikey doesn't listen to me. Let's revisit the top 10 picks...

1 Courtney Brown Browns DE Penn State

Well, that worked out real well, didn't it? The man referred to as "Princess" by many Browns fans never had an impact, was routinely injured, and may now be facing a career-ending injury. Now that's major bustola material!

2 LaVar Arrington Redskins LB Penn State

Another guy who never lived up to his billing or his monster contract. He's had one good year, 2002, in which he got 1/2 of his total career sacks (11) and 40% of his total career FFs. Outside of that the best you can say is solid but unspectacular.

3 Chris Samuels Redskins T Alabama

Has been a starter but hardly the rock you want at 3rd overall. Atheletic but still making mental errors regularly four years later. Levi is no worse.

4 Peter Warrick Bengals WR Florida State

Well, we know all about Peter, don't we? Kirk put up some impressive stats earlier, but no, he hasn't been a game breaker. Was he taken too high? I suppose, but in this top 10 there was only one better choice...

5 Jamal Lewis Ravens RB Tennessee

...and we had Corey Dillon, still beloved of so many around these parts. So you're welcome, Baltimore.

6 Corey Simon Eagles DT Florida State

Solid D-lineman, wish we had him here. But frankly his numbers don't exactly blow away Dan Wilkinson's four years in Cincy and he was widely considered a bust.

7 Thomas Jones Cardinals RB Virginia

And people rag on Peter Warrick...

8 Plaxico Burress Steelers WR Michigan State

Now we can make a comparision, the top wideout off the board versus the second. Let's see...Burris wins yards, P-Dub wins TDs. I'll take P-Dub but frankly it's a tossup (unless you consider Burris' attitude issues...)

9 Brian Urlacher Bears LB New Mexico

Another one that got away but we had Spikes and Simmons. LB wasn't a priority.

10 Travis Taylor Ravens WR Florida

Fewer yards and TDs than P-Dub. Maybe if they had a real QB...

Bottom line is that Warrick was considered the top WR on the board in a weak draft, and the only ones who made out in the top 10, Baltimore and Chicago, took players in positions in which we were already stacked.

[Kirkendall]

The thing about PW is his consistency on picking up third downs as well as his run after catch. He's not a bust, but he's not the big time receiver a lot of us expected him to be. I think the role he's playing now completely utilizes his skills in the NFL.

It was soon determined that PW wouldn't need to be the no. 1 guy -- which he isn't in the NFL -- and slides into damned good possession and dependable receiver, when we need him the most. He just needed a maturation process combining with an understanding from an offensive coordinator to fully understand the benefits PW brings to the team.

9 Brian Urlacher Bears LB New Mexico

Another one that got away but we had Spikes and Simmons. LB wasn't a priority.

I wouldn't mind having Urlacher at all.. Imagine this: We already had two Outside linebackers in Spikes and Simmons; can you imagine our LB corp if we had Urlacher and kept Spikes? SHESH!

This team could be completely different from the team we're seeing today.