05-15-2018, 02:38 PM
(05-15-2018, 08:56 AM)Wyche Wrote: 100% this. It's really this simple. I'd add that he can still win games with a mediocre supporting cast, so long as the line is adequate. See 2014. His biggest issue, is the issue with a lot of QBs....pressure up the gut and from the blindside consistently causes him issues. He doesn't even really need an all-world cast of skill position players to succeed, he just needs protection. He is not going to win you games if you can't protect him. It's just that simple.
Fair assessment here. Most QB's don't like pressure, but you can rattle Dalton and throw his mechanics and timing out of whack if he's constantly pressured. The only 2 years where his protection was solid and his receivers didn't look like a MASH unit, he posted the following seasons:
2013: 4293 yards and 33 TDs (both franchise records), 88.8 rating (15th of 37 qualifying QB's)
2015: 4199 yards and 33 TDs (his pace prior to injury), 106.3 rating (2nd of 34 qualifying QB's, and a franchise record)
In 2011, he was a rookie.
In 2012, he was sacked a Bengals record 46 times (still somehow had 31 TD's overall and ranked 13th in passer rating)
In 2014, AJ Green, Eifert and MLJ missed a combined 35 games. Dalton still had some gutsy performances, but the overall numbers weren't pretty.
In 2016-17, the line has been a disaster AND we were missing Green and Eifert for a lot of games. Dalton hasn't been bad really, but I know he'd be better with time to throw.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
