05-09-2018, 05:41 PM
(05-09-2018, 08:13 AM)PDub80 Wrote: You didn't directly answer the question.
Also, was last year Andy's first year playing? Why are you grandstanding on it like there aren't 6 other seasons where he's been basically the same guy.
I'm not as enamoured with the 2015 8 game stretch. He crashed back to reality against the Texans on Thurs Night Football. Dude played lights out for an 8 game stretch 3 years ago. Didn't show that before.... Hasn't shown it since. Lets all remember how he broke his thing: making a tackle after an awful throw for an INT at home against Pittsburgh.
So, I'll ask it again for BFine..... Is Andy a tractor or a wagon?
Hint: He is not the tractor.
- I'll 100% give you this, and I think most would agree.... The tractor on the Bengals is Marvin. The players aren't allowed to be in charge or do their thing or play "their game".
That's my one saving hope for Andy. Is that he breaks out of this Marvin shell and lets loose. I think he would be better off playing fast and free and NOT under Marvin's thumb. But that's on Andy as a leader and as a professional to do that. Until then, he's part of the problem.
Yes I did. I gave a lengthy and nuanced answer. No QB is truly a tractor or a wagon. They all need help. The good ones can make their teammates a bit better, but they can't create blocking or a run game...and those are things every QB needs to be truly successful.
As for the "8 game stretch" - he played 12 full games that year and only had one game with a rating below 95.9.
I don't form my opinion on Dalton solely on that season though.
- I look at 2012, when he posted 31 total TD's and had the 13th best passer rating.
- I look at 2013, when he broke Bengals records for yards (4293) and passing TDs (33) with 35 total.
- I look at 2014, when despite poor overall season numbers (due to the 2.0 game and a flu game), he led the team to a sweep of the Ravens and a 3-1-1 record without AJ Green.
- I look at 2016, when he went for 4000 and a 91.8 rating despite getting battered.
- I look at the 63-44-2 record as starter.
- I look at 4 seasons where he was 15th in passer rating or better (always among 35-40+ passers, not 32 as people mistakenly assume)
- I look at his career rating being among the better in the league, regardless of how you want to slice it up.
- I look at his low fumble/turnover rate.
- I look at his impressive deep ball numbers.
- I look at how he turned around his own prime-time performance, but we're still losing.
- I look at how 3 other QB's have all been terrible in their playoff games and come away feeling Dalton (like so many others) has been wasted.
The training, nutrition, medicine, fitness, playbooks and rules evolve. The athlete does not.
