05-28-2015, 08:24 AM
(05-27-2015, 06:38 PM)fredtoast Wrote: In his third season Dalton had a t6errible run game behind him (18th in yards and 28th in yards per carry), and he had a VERY inexperienced receiving corps. Four of his top six receivers (Sanu, Jones, Bernard, Eifert) came into that season with a COMBINED 2 years of NFL experience and 34 receptions among them.
1. It's funny because the biggest excuses for Andy in 2014 is that Eifert and Jones missed the entire season. What is their worth? We can't pretend that they were the reason he had a shitty 2014 yet turn around and make it seem like they were no big deal in 2013. It doesn't quite work that way.
2. In 2012, a mediocre BJGE had to carry the full workload with his 3.9 YPC, 6 TDs while adding an amazing 100 yards and 0 TDs receiving. He also fumbled 3 times losing 2 of them.
In 2013, we had Bernard to give the team a boost at RB. Bernard helped out with a 4.1 YPC and 5 TDs while adding another 500+ yards and 3 TDs in the passing game. Pretty cool, right?
In 2012, Andy had Andrew Hawkins as his #2 target from the slot along with receiving superstar Armon Binns sharing some time on the outside with the rookies Sanu and Jones. Oh, and Orson Charles was the #2 TE at the time as well, let's not forget about that.
In 2013, Andy had second year guys stepping up in the #2 role with Marvin Jones actually getting significant snaps as the year went on and Sanu as well. Andrew Hawkins got to be the #4 receiver. Hawkins seems a lot better when he's your 4th or worse option and doesn't have to be your prime target past A.J. Green. Do I really need to explain how much better Tyler Eifert is than Orson Charles?
You can sit here and cry stats and inexperience all that you'd like, but the fact remains that Andy had a much better group of player surrounding him in 2013 than in 2012. I give Andy props for not completely shitting the bed with the guys he played with in 2011 - 2012. There were some good players in place, but he clearly had his best supporting cast in 2013. Conveniently, that was his "big year" as a pro. I'm just saying that if some folks are going to cry injury in 2014, they need to at least recognize that the Bengals have been doing everything they can to load talent around Andy Dalton. The difference in talent on the field from 2012 to 2013 is at least something to consider before giving 100% of the credit to Andy for that season.
