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Post by 77bengal on Dec 4, 2016 14:51:19 GMT -5
Months prior to the 2013 NFL draft, I listed little known RB Rex Burkhead as a selection the Bengals should make in the later rounds. There were a few fellow posters that said they didn't like the pick, but I was confident that Burkhead's abilities would translate well to the NFL because he also possessed another trait that isn't as easily coached: His intense, extreme competitiveness. Granted Burkhead has been injured for much of his career and has played in the shadow of Gio Bernard thus limiting his touches. But we're now starting to see what I was raving about all those years ago. The guy is a great offensive weapon that should either be starting or getting at least ten touches per game. If this guy played in New England, he'd be showcased on ESPN's 'Plays of the Week' nearly every Sunday. In my opinion, Burkhead is one of the teams soon-to-be free agent priorities. This guy has got to be re-signed. Not doing so would be a big mistake.
Once again, it's nice to see the teams other receivers getting some snaps and making plays. This change has the entire team playing with much more enthusiasm. You can see it in the way they play, the way they walk, and their overall demeanor. Cody Core, another player I had the Bengals taking in my 2016 mock draft, has made his first two catches as a professional. The first was a deep pass that put the Bengals at the Eagles six yard line. If my memory is correct the other catch was for a first down.
Like I stated previously on another thread, the Bengals are only a good coach and a good draft away from being the top dogs (cats) in this division and going deep into the playoffs. The only thing standing in the way of this is Mike Brown. Until Brown's out of the picture, we fans can expect to see Marvin Lewis cheering on the sidelines with his pom-poms, a mish-mash of drafted players sitting on the sideline while Rey Maualuga blows a coverage and Domata Peko gets blown five yards off the ball. Lets just hope that this is the year it all changes.
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 5, 2016 17:03:15 GMT -5
77 I write him into the playbook right now. And nicely done with the NE comment because that was where I was going. They'd design a chunkof the playbook for him and every fan in the country would be oohing and aaahing over him while he collects dust on our bench.
And I have been wanting to see Core also. I was excited about him as a deep threat when we drafted him. But while racking up 3 wins he collected dust on the bench. Getting the talent is one thing. Infusing it into reality is a problem for this team. They can't get out of their own way and let that talent help them avoid this disastrous season. They make better decisions on playing time and I guarantee we are on the cusp of another playoff appearance instead of playing out the string and thinking about 2017. The coaching has got to go. If it's status quo my enthusiasm for next year will be severely dampered.
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Post by 77bengal on Dec 5, 2016 19:52:52 GMT -5
Several Cincy Jungle articles as of late have reflected many of the concerns that a few of us have posted for some time now. I've been a huge critic of Marvin Lewis' inability to draft and develop talent properly and it seems that many others are starting to take notice of this problem. Below is an example of such from Sports Illustrated. I'm just glad that the media is starting to show the cracks in Lewis' armor that have always existed but were tough to see. www.si.com/nfl/2016/11/27/marvin-lewis-cincinnati-bengals-nfl-week-12
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 5, 2016 22:38:15 GMT -5
Several Cincy Jungle articles as of late, have reflected many of the concerns that a few of us have posted for some time now. I've been a huge critic of Marvin Lewis' inability to draft and develop talent properly and it seems that many others are starting to take notice of this problem. Below is an example of such from Sports Illustrated. I'm just glad that the media is starting to show the cracks in Lewis' armor that have always existed but were tough to see. www.si.com/nfl/2016/11/27/marvin-lewis-cincinnati-bengals-nfl-week-12We've reached an impasse. It's time to move on. If Mike Brown doesn't see it he will be dangerously falling behind his fan base. Not a good thing to do as an owner.
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Post by lostwou on Dec 6, 2016 6:27:34 GMT -5
I agree. Quite frankly I think Dalton should go as well. He is inconsistent to say the least and quite predictable. I think where Dalton lacks is attitude. He doesn't have a winning attitude. He doesn't seem to show heart for the game. Say what you want about McCarron but he has a winning attitude and heart. Just needs some reps and an OL. But I believe we are stuck with Dalton. When I watch him play he seems unsure of himself out there. He doesn't check down always looking for Green. We need a LEADER at QB Dalton is no leader. McCarron is a leader just how good a leader remains to be seen. I think fire Lewis and trade Dalton get what you can for him. Only it would be a risk to do so you would have to be committed to McCarron because theres no QBs in this draft. But, it might be a risk that pays off.
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 6, 2016 15:00:40 GMT -5
I agree. Quite frankly I think Dalton should go as well. He is inconsistent to say the least and quite predictable. I think where Dalton lacks is attitude. He doesn't have a winning attitude. He doesn't seem to show heart for the game. Say what you want about McCarron but he has a winning attitude and heart. Just needs some reps and an OL. But I believe we are stuck with Dalton. When I watch him play he seems unsure of himself out there. He doesn't check down always looking for Green. We need a LEADER at QB Dalton is no leader. McCarron is a leader just how good a leader remains to be seen. I think fire Lewis and trade Dalton get what you can for him. Only it would be a risk to do so you would have to be committed to McCarron because theres no QBs in this draft. But, it might be a risk that pays off. I have absolutely no problem with Dalton and think he does have the heart and leadership. He has been banged up so much this season it's pathetic. Look what just happened in the 1 game he gets untouched Lost.
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Post by 77bengal on Dec 9, 2016 21:00:41 GMT -5
I agree. Quite frankly I think Dalton should go as well. He is inconsistent to say the least and quite predictable. I think where Dalton lacks is attitude. He doesn't have a winning attitude. He doesn't seem to show heart for the game. Say what you want about McCarron but he has a winning attitude and heart. Just needs some reps and an OL. But I believe we are stuck with Dalton. When I watch him play he seems unsure of himself out there. He doesn't check down always looking for Green. We need a LEADER at QB Dalton is no leader. McCarron is a leader just how good a leader remains to be seen. I think fire Lewis and trade Dalton get what you can for him. Only it would be a risk to do so you would have to be committed to McCarron because theres no QBs in this draft. But, it might be a risk that pays off. I have absolutely no problem with Dalton and think he does have the heart and leadership. He has been banged up so much this season it's pathetic. Look what just happened in the 1 game he gets untouched Lost. Everyone in football acknowledges that QB Andy Dalton is more talented than QB A.J. McCarron and understandably so. However, let me pose this question to everyone. Which of these two QB's, Dalton and McCarron, is mentally stronger; better at rising to the occasion when the game is on line? My thinking is that it's close, but I may give a slight advantage to McCarron. And if McCarron is 'mentally stronger' than Dalton, then which QB gives the Bengals the best chance at winning a Superbowl?
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Post by lostwou on Dec 11, 2016 5:57:48 GMT -5
I have absolutely no problem with Dalton and think he does have the heart and leadership. He has been banged up so much this season it's pathetic. Look what just happened in the 1 game he gets untouched Lost. Everyone in football acknowledges that QB Andy Dalton is more talented than QB A.J. McCarron and understandably so. However, let me pose this question to everyone. Which of these two QB's, Dalton and McCarron, is mentally stronger; better at rising to the occasion when the game is on line? My thinking is that it's close, but I may give a slight advantage to McCarron. And if McCarron is 'mentally stronger' than Dalton, then which QB gives the Bengals the best chance at winning a Superbowl? Not only is he mentally stronger imo he is more accurate especially on the long ball. Also he doesn't make as many mistakes and scrambles better. The only thing Dalton has on him is playing time.
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 11, 2016 18:24:28 GMT -5
AJ was absoltely terrible in the playoff game last year. You guys IMO are dreaming! LOL!
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Post by clinz on Dec 11, 2016 19:09:37 GMT -5
AJ was absoltely terrible in the playoff game last year. You guys IMO are dreaming! LOL! He did have them closer than the previous 4 years. His QB rating was higher. Completion % is higher than 3 of Dalton's starts. Dalton had more passing yards in 2 games. One of them just 30 yards more. He has the same amount of TD's that Dalton has (1). That's pretty telling. Dalton doesn't make players great around him. We don't know AJ's potential is. His pedigree is pretty high from college. If he had more PT time I could see him elevating his play along with his teammates. We've seen Dalton's ceiling. AJ's could be higher. We'll see how AJ does once he's on another team.
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 11, 2016 21:59:56 GMT -5
AJ was absoltely terrible in the playoff game last year. You guys IMO are dreaming! LOL! He did have them closer than the previous 4 years. His QB rating was higher. Completion % is higher than 3 of Dalton's starts. Dalton had more passing yards in 2 games. One of them just 30 yards more. He has the same amount of TD's that Dalton has (1). That's pretty telling. Dalton doesn't make players great around him. We don't know AJ's potential is. His pedigree is pretty high from college. If he had more PT time I could see him elevating his play along with his teammates. We've seen Dalton's ceiling. AJ's could be higher. We'll see how AJ does once he's on another team. With the season Dalton had last year, if he plays that game I bet the stats between the two look a lot different. I'm no Dalton super fan because of 2015 though.
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Post by lostwou on Dec 12, 2016 10:04:45 GMT -5
AJ was absoltely terrible in the playoff game last year. You guys IMO are dreaming! LOL! I disagree with that Rod. For him to come off the bench and play like he did with no previous game experience was pretty damn good. Aj put us in the position to win that game. It was penalties on Burfict and Adam Jones along with Hills fumble that lost the game not AJ. He was the only bright spot in the game. If we would have won that game AJ would have gotten game ball.
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Post by Rodneck on Dec 12, 2016 14:29:07 GMT -5
We had about 8-3 and outs during a very boring early part of that game while getting shut out for 3 quarters. Last year I blamed the coaches for not properly preparing him for that game with conservative/run out the string type gameplans in the games prior. The strength of the team at the time was defense and that was what kept us in that game. I credit AJ for performing in the 4th quarter but if Dalton is in that game I think we walk over the Steelers. He was having that type of season.
Now isn't this a luxury nearly a year later and after a lost season to indulge some revisionist history! Got news for you=no QB on this team has a ceiling right now because they are too busy laying on the ground. The QB conversation to me is like being concerned with an ailing appendix when you are dying of cancer. That cancer has proven to be a coaching staff that cannot manage a game or personnel. IMO til that is solved and both lines are fixed the QB issue is a minor concern.
That said. Should a new staff be brought in I would at least be bold and think about trading Dalton and letting AJ start. He gets experience while the staff is in transition and I think we are in a situation to be a playoff contender not pretender by 2018. The ceiling I think we have seen is Marvin Lewis'.
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Post by 77bengal on Dec 12, 2016 20:55:42 GMT -5
I'm not sitting on the fence, but I agree with everyone. Lots of good points being made. A.J. did his part in last years playoff loss. The refs, Burfict and Jones blew it.
I think Dalton's long ball is one of the best in the league. When you take into consideration the amount of pressure he's under game in and game out, his numbers are incredible. Many QB's would've folded by now.
While at TCU, Dalton was clutch. He led the Horned Frogs to many come-from-behind victories and he displayed a lot of mental toughness when doing so. And although he has done the same since entering the NFL, it hasn't been as frequent or as consistent as it was in college.
What I do know is this: A players mental fortitude can overcome many physical limitations.
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Post by lostwou on Dec 13, 2016 7:05:28 GMT -5
I'm not saying I would definitely prefer AJ over Dalton. I would have to see more from AJ. But its definitely not a bad spot for a team to be in to have AJ as a backup. He may get traded. I hope for his sake its not to the Browns. But I do think AJ has some qualities Dalton lacks. If Hill hadn't fumbled, we would have won our first playoff game in how many years? Lead by a QB that had only what 3 starts? And against the Steelers. Something Dalton had 5 chances to do and played horrible! Twice against Houston who was playing their 2nd 3rd string QB. To me that says a lot.
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