It's time to face the facts...

[Nicomo Cosca]

(09-23-2019, 11:15 PM)rfaulk34 Wrote: No one blames everything on one person. No one blames everything on Andy Dalton. If you're going to make that claim, how about you back it up with some instances of people posting that?

Replacing the QB is not going to make everything wine and roses. 

The things that could happen if you replace the QB are;
1. Then next guy is able to manipulate the pocket just a little bit. 

• manipulating the pocket could lead to completing more passes
• those extra passes could lead to longer drives
• longer drives could lead to more running plays
• those extra passes, which could extend drives, could lead to the defense being on the field less
  

2. The next guy makes better choices on receiving options.

• those choices could lead to completing more passes
• those extra passes could lead to longer drives
• longer drives could lead to more running plays
• those extra passes, which could extend drives, could lead to the defense being on the field less
  

3. The next guy could complete a higher percentage of passes.

• that higher completion percentage will lead to more passes
• those extra passes could lead to longer drives
• longer drives could lead to more running plays
• those extra passes, which could extend drives, could lead to the defense being on the field less
  

Or the next guy could come in and the Bengals will instantly be "back in the '90s".  

But back to the blaming...
It's obvious that this team has multiple needs. The line can't seem to run block well enough to get the running game going. The defensive line, since the first game, doesn't seem to be able to get the QB on the ground. The LBs are still a huge liability in the passing game and they're not filling gaps and making plays at and behind the line of scrimmage. Dre is just bad. His guys are running around the field, open, most of the time. 

If the Dline can get to the QB consistently, it helps everyone on the back side immensely. If they can't, it's a long day. They need 2 more LBs that are better than anyone they have now, so that the current guys can play a slightly lesser role--that's they're more suited for. They need to find a replacement for dre, the sooner the better. On the couple occasions he actually breaks up a pass, he celebrates like he just scored with a super model. The only reason his "success rate" or whatever stat it is that's been used to 'show that he's not that bad' is only what it is because teams shred the middle of the field against the Bengals because they're so bad at attempting to cover it. I wonder what dre's "success rate" is on passes that are thrown his way--whether they're completed or not? 

The bottom line is, with blame, you can't replace the whole Oline. You can't really even replace 3 guys at the same time and hope to have greater success than you're currently having. The one thing you can do is replace ONE GUY. They guy behind center. You can replace him easier because...he's one guy, and because he had such a huge impact on the ENTIRE TEAM based on how he plays--shown in the examples i provided above. 

So the next time someone screams about changing the QB, stop with the antiquated "you better have someone better first" and "here we go, back to the 90's". Finely may not be the answer. Dolegalagalagladygaga may not be the answer. 

Andy Dalton is definitely NOT the answer, when the questions is, who is going to lead you to prime time game wins and playoff game wins?

If Finley flames out, you know what you don't have and to move on. If Dolegagalegolala can't get the job done, you know what you don't have and to move on, so you focus on FA or the draft and do what you need to do to get a QB--THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION ON THE FIELD--that can lead you to the promised land. 

Great post.