Interceptions

[BengalszoneBilly]

Palmer was clutch in the 4th quarter, and he will be able to win games for us down the stretch this year too, but we are going to need a defense that can allow Rudi and Perry to carry some of the load.

I think one reason for his large number of INT’s last year was because we forced him to throw it so often. If we can get a lead, and focus on controlling the clock, Palmer’s TD/INT ratio will look good.

If the defense continues to struggle, look for 20 or more INT’s this year.

Man, keep on preachin' the truth! You've hit the proverbial nail on the head. Great post Mr. Shank, great post! :player:

[vman1186]

I predict 30 TDs and 17 INTs

[HairOnFire]

Once again... in those last 6 games, he threw 8 INT's. That works out to 22 for the year. I agree he is going to be great, but he has done nothing to prove that he can limit his number of INT's to the low teens.

I agree. Palmer is still going to make mistakes...(we all agree on that, right?)...but I also think his playing style is far too aggressive for low pick totals.

Decide for yourself if it's more mistake than aggressive play, but Palmer will often attempt to squeeze passes into narrow spaces using pure arm strength. When it works it's breathtaking stuff. When it doesn't work it's also breathtaking...as well as a bad stat waiting to happen. Now here's the rub. It won't change. Palmer has a gun and he rarely needs to be reminded of that fact during a game. And even in the bulk of examples where arm strength isn't an issue Palmer simply challenges defensive backs far more than QB's who are more game manager than gunslinger.

You wan't low pick numbers from your starting QB? Sign Neil O'Donnell. You want TD passes by the score and opposing defenses pressured to their breaking points? Then you better call..."the chosen one."

Again, 31 TD passes....17 picks.

[derekshank]

I agree. Palmer is still going to make mistakes...(we all agree on that, right?)...but I also think his playing style is far too aggressive for low pick totals.

Decide for yourself if it's more mistake than aggressive play, but Palmer will often attempt to squeeze passes into narrow spaces using pure arm strength. When it works it's breathtaking stuff. When it doesn't work it's also breathtaking...as well as a bad stat waiting to happen. Now here's the rub. It won't change. Palmer has a gun and he rarely needs to be reminded of that fact during a game. And even in the bulk of examples where arm strength isn't an issue Palmer simply challenges defensive backs far more than QB's who are more game manager than gunslinger.

You wan't low pick numbers from your starting QB? Sign Neil O'Donnell. You want TD passes by the score and opposing defenses pressured to their breaking points? Then you better call..."the chosen one."

Again, 31 TD passes....17 picks.

Great post HairOnFire... No one complained about Brett Favre being a bad quarterback when he was winning superbowls... or even 2 years ago when he led the league in TD passes (and threw 21 INT's). I've heard some complaints in recent years about Favre INT's, but he wouldn't throw nearly as many TD's with a less aggressive style of play.

Favre always had high teens low 20's INT's, but I doubt you'll hear too many Packer fans wanting to kick him out of town for it. We have a guy like that... someone who'll throw some INT's, but he'll throw a ton of TD's too, and win games in the 4th quarter.

I guess the point is, no one likes INT's, but they are not the only, or even a primary measure of greatness. Palmer will alwyas throw INT's, but they won't keep us out of the Superbowl, as long as the defense performs.

[cj4mvp85]

he wont be throwing any more INTS his career so you wont have to worry about it he will throw for about 75 tds this year and no ints!

[HairOnFire]

Great post HairOnFire... No one complained about Brett Favre being a bad quarterback when he was winning superbowls... or even 2 years ago when he led the league in TD passes (and threw 21 INT's). I've heard some complaints in recent years about Favre INT's, but he wouldn't throw nearly as many TD's with a less aggressive style of play.

I hadn't thought of the Brett Favre comparison, but it works well enough I guess. The next logical step for Palmer, in my opinion, will have less to do with reducing his total number of mistakes and more to do with increasing his total production. Staying aggressive. Making big plays a constant part of the gameplan. Always on the attack.

Simply put, I'm less concerned about how many picks Palmer might throw as I am excited by how many TD passes he might produce.

[schweinhart]

The 31 TDs, 17 picks would serve that end.

The aspect I like better about Palmer than Farve is the methodical approach that CP takes w/o the loss of composure. When Farve is bad, he is core meltdown bad and that has seemed to me to be a loss of focus on his part. I haven't noticed that tendency in CP yet and don't think it's coming.

But Farve is a warrior. Not that CP isn't, but he hasn't played hurt yet in the NFL. He's taken some fairly brutal shots and was knocked out of commission by Seymour. CP is tough enough, but the time will come when he has to play hurt for him to do his part to elevate the team to playoff contender and beyond.

CP's passing game does seem a given -- it's top flight and he'll improve upon on it. The touch he lacked in the earlier part of last season he did find and refine in a major way by the end of his year. A healthy O-line will do nothing but help him improve even more. The bad throws should be less and the forced throws that led to picks late in games will also be less if the defense can hold leads.

Still, I'd like to see him improve his awareness of when to run...or get the green light from the coaches to take off when it's there. Not that CP running is going to make or break the team's season but it will move the chains at times and could factor significantly into the outcome of two or so games.

[CBin2k7]

I dont' think about the number of int's as much as the types. How many are drive killers? How many in the red zone? How many set the opponets up in great scoring positon and how many turn into 6 the other way. Those are the things I look at.

[HairOnFire]

I dont' think about the number of int's as much as the types. How many are drive killers? How many in the red zone?

Aren't all interceptions drive killers?

Still, I get where you're going with that. Like Schweinart implied previously...it's the composure level that follows a pick that is most important if ample time remains to produce your own scores. An example might be the pick that was returned for a TD by the Steelers and the following 5 play TD drive that Palmer produced. Learn from your mistakes but don't go into a shell. Don't go conservative. Keep attacking. Do everything to reduce the pressure on a young QB by dramatically increasing the pressure he puts on a defense. Dictate.

As far as correcting mistakes I'd like to see the Bengals do a better job of preparing Palmer for drives that start backed up near his own endzone, improve his ability to look off and then move the safety, and last....call even more audibles instead of simply doing your best to run the play sent in from the sidelines. Beyond that, keep the foot on the gas.