07-05-2015, 11:03 PM
(07-04-2015, 11:53 AM)PDub80 Wrote: 1. 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.
2. ADs 7+ turnovers in 4 games ABSOLUTELY effects the defense.
3. The first two playoff games are irrelevant to AD's performances or the team's results.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. No one should be blamed anyone on the Bengals for the Playoff loss to the Colts.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
I've been too busy to give this a proper response, but I finally have some free time. So here goes:
1. I get that, but let's be real. You anti-Andy guys blow it wayyy out of proportion. A QB has more affect on the game than any other single player, but Andy Dalton is not the reason the defense has been miserable, and he's not the reason we haven't had any big playoff rushing performances since CedBen shredded the Jets. Btw, Ced's QB had a 58.3 passer rating in that game, with an INT and a fumble. How was Ced able to have such a big game? By your logic, this should be next to impossible.
2. Dalton had 1 turnover against the Colts and 1 turnover in the Texans 2.0 game. The defense played the same. Same struggles against the run and pass, same lack of forced turnovers and sacks.
3. The choke jobs from '05 and '09 are very relevant, considering it's Marvin Lewis I'm blaming for our current struggles in the same situations.
4. Sure the team has improved as far as year-to-year consistency, but the subject here is prime-time and playoff games. How has Marvin improved in this area?
5. See #4
6. I'm mixed on this. Sure we were missing a lot of guys, especially on offense, but the defense was once again a big disappointment. They gave up a season high in pass yardage and they got torched by a 3rd string RB (Boom Herron).
7. I agree.
8. See #4, and you are avoiding the question. The team has always choked in the bright lights under Marv, and nothing has changed in that regard.
9. Agreed, but you can say that about everyone on the team. Asking "why can't Andy bail out the defense" is no different than me asking "why hasn't the defense bailed out Andy with a few turnovers of their own?". The fire and big plays that we see on a regular basis during the regular season have disappeared during the playoffs. No turnovers, no sacks. Nothing. It's been the same song and dance in every...single...game.
Terrible QB play, a defense that plays timid and gets burned by big plays (both running and passing). No matter how many turnovers the QB has, the defense looks the same. It's been a theme throughout Marv's tenure, and no, it has not improved.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.