07-04-2015, 11:53 AM
(07-03-2015, 08:58 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: You could blame the performance of the WR/TE's on Dalton. That would be fair. What about the defense? Dalton causes all those issues as well? What about the first 2 playoff games that - last I checked - Dalton didn't participate in? What about the 8 seasons of prime-time choke jobs before the Bengals drafted Dalton?
If you blame the entire team's failures on Andy Dalton, then why do you even want Marvin Lewis gone? How can you say with a straight face that you want Marvin Lewis gone when you think it's so clear that the QB causes team-wide failure? It doesn't seem like it would be fair to judge Marvin when he is so crippled by his QB.
I'd love to see you answer each of these questions, but I have a feeling the only response you have is something about you being objective and me loving the QB. You might single out the first playoff game and mention Palmer's injury, but you won't answer anything about the 8 years of prime-time failure that preceded Dalton, and you won't answer why you want Marvin gone when it's so clear that the QB causes all of the playoff/prime-time problems.
I would like to take a crack at these....
- QB's performance is not solely just effecting the WR/TEs and their stats. Other things go on in-game that the QB is in control of that influence the running game as well.
- ADs 7+ turnovers in 4 games ABSOLUTELY effects the defense.
- The first two playoff games are irrelevant to AD's performances or the team's results.
- Those blaming the coach's poor performances from the 2005-2010 seasons need to stop living in the past. Marvin Lewis, and his staff, has become much better since the reboot in 2011 at game management, etc. Jay Gruden did have a silly game plan in that first game against the Texans to go away from the Bengals best player, but the on field performances are what the biggest problem was.
- No one within reason should be calling for Marvin Lewis' head in 2015. He is a much better coach than the 2010 version that should have been run out of town.
- No one should be blamed anyone on the Bengals for the Playoff loss to the Colts.
- AD was AWFUL... not just bad... AWFUL in the 3 previous playoff games. Anyone surprised by this at this point hasn't been watching with open eyes. He's a streaky player and as inconsistent as the weather. Period.
- What about 8 seasons of prime time choking? AGAIN, the coaching staff and team as a whole has been MUCH improved from 2011-present so that can't be laid on or off of them completely.
- Why can't the QB bail out the D when it matters most? Or turn around a tough first quarter? He hasn't shown the ability to when the pressure is on. Period.
- Bottom line for me: The team has all of the pieces to be successful, but has primarily lost in the playoffs because of an imbalance in talent/performances at the QB position. Since 2012 the Bengals have had one of the top 10 most talented rosters in the NFL. AD has squandered those years with terrible showings at the end of the seasons. The moxie and skillset that AJ McCarron brings has me excited for the future should AD bomb out again. I've seen this movie too many times before so I'm not placing any bets.
AD isn't complete trash. He has the ability to do well and be a key component of the team's success. For those having faith in him, that's a nice positive outlook. For those ready to look elsewhere, I understand that, too. It's the same thing I thought about Marvin for years... He CAN, but he DOESN'T. A players window isn't opened as large as a coach's.
