John Ross Haters

[BengalChris]

(09-11-2019, 08:07 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: Just out of curiosity, what were the bogus excuses you refer to?

Let's count them.

1. Marvin hates him
2. He's really a rookie (used for 2 seasons and even this off-season)
3. QB is incompetent  (used to explain the 35% catch percentage) - ignores that Green and Boyd didn't experience this problem. Now this one could apply to Driskel, but at that same time Boyd didn't have a problem.
4. Marvin doesn't know how to use WRs (completely ignores all the very, very good WRs who have come through here in the last 16 years)
5. He's injured (used repeatedly even when he wasn't)
6. His average target distance was 14 yards (used to explain the 35% catch percentage) - ignores that AJ's were only 4 feet shorter and all WRs in the NFL with longer average target distance had a better catch percentage.
7. Balls are uncatchable (ignores that he was having route running problems and wasn't in the right spot and ignores that Dalton is a fairly accurate QB and ignores that Boyd and Green didn't experience the same problem)
8. He's not getting any opportunities and playing time (which was completely untrue last season)

The fact is that he has improved this season. A LOT. Whatever the cause of the improvement, coaching, play design, extra work in the off-season, a combination of all those, it doesn't really matter. He has improved a lot and I'm happy to see it. It's bad for a team with a top 10 picks flops, even in their first season. Gotta get those high picks contributing.

Did I doubt that he'd ever really get it? Yes, I did. Seen guys come and go over the years. One good college season and a big flop in the NFL.

Did I underestimate what ZT could bring to the offense? Yes, by quite a bit. But I also see the poor running game as an Achilles Heal for this team presently. It has to get better.

Look, I'm happy that he's come along. The team needed him to step up and he did on Sunday. He did surprise me. I was prepared to be disappointed again.