Stop comparing Joe Burrow to Dalton

[CJD]

(01-07-2020, 11:21 AM)MEBengalsFan Wrote: Andy Dalton has played in the NFL and understands what is to be expected as a pro. Burrow is not in the NFL and we don't know how he will react to the faster pace of the game as well as how he will perform against experience players and coaches that scheme specifically against his strengths. 

As for Burrow having such a good year let's take a look at why his stats are so good. He isn't the one making the catch; it's the receiver. He is the player responsible to get the ball to the receiver but the receiver has to make the catch. The reason he is so good is that during the off season the skilled players spent time together honing their craft and it has had a very positive impact for the team. Joe has become a star and his receivers improved with not dropping balls and making catches regularly.  

From what I read LSU receivers spent time catching thousands of balls, many were probably thrown by Burrow. When you spent so much time catching and passing to a specific group and when you are tossing thousands of balls to various receivers as a passer you should be able to improve the chemistry with the receiver as well as see an improvement in your accuracy. This is one major factor impacting Burrow and his ability on the field with his curren team. 

One great QB who has had a tough year is Tom Brady and the reason is he didn't form chemistry with his receivers this pass year and you could see it on the field and how it negatively impacted his play. Chemistry between receiver and QB matters and if you don't have it; no matter who you are as a player it won't help your overall performance. 

As for comparing Dalton to Burrow; many experts prior to the start of this pass college season had Burrow rated similar to Dalton when Dalton entered his senior season. Like Dalton, Burrow surpassed expectations. Both were good at the college level. Dalton has performed well as a pro and has taken his team into the post season 5 times. We don't know how Burrow will perform at this point it is all speculation given his college performance, but as we all should know from prior draft picks college production typically doesn't mean pro production. The reason for that is schemes, chemistry, etc.... 

Every year I see so many people who fall in love with this guy or that guy for a team and usually that player doesn't pan out simply because that player didn't face real competition at the college level or someone like Brady come in and over performs because he puts in the work, studies, etc.. because he has the work ethic to improve and become better. 

So many variables can impact a player. Injuries, your teammates, schemes, coaching, lack of experience, chemistry or lack thereof, etc...

I'll just wait and see how the Bengals FO decides to move forward with FA and the draft. 

I don't disagree with anything that you said.

However, I think it's safe to say the bolded does not apply to Burrow, who ran an absolute gamut in this past year in terms of competitive teams.

And, as far as someone who puts in the work, studies, etc, I've read that Burrow is, in every conceivable way, that player. So that doesn't concern me either. 

As far as the receivers argument, there's no doubt that LSU has great receivers. But you have to wonder...

How did Jefferson go from a 54 rec/875 yd/8 TD WR in his sophomore year to a 102/1434/18 WR in his junior year?
How did Chase go from a 23/313/3 WR to 75/1559/18 WR in one year?
What about Moss going from 6/49/1 to 42/534/2?
Or Marshall Jr who went from 12/192/0 to 43/625/12?

Jefferson and Moss, in particular, were just 3 star recruits.
Chase was no push over, as a 4 star recruit, but it's not like any of these guys were projected to be stars in college necessarily.
Marshall Jr is the exception, as he was a top 10 recruit, but he wasn't the primary motor of this offense either.

And these players' increase in production isn't because there was someone ahead of them taking up most of the stats that graduated.
In 2018, Jefferson was LSU's leading receiver, with the next highest being TE Stephen Sullivan, with 375 yards.

The 2018 LSU offense, with virtually the same receivers, was significantly less prolific than it was this year.

Burrow was obviously in his first year starting last year and he was serviceable, but not great. His QB rating in 2018 was 133.2. Right between where Jacob Eason and Jordan Love are this year (143.2 and 129.1, respectively).

He elevated his receivers' play just as much as they elevated his. 

Like you said, chemistry. Work. Study. Effort.

These are all things Burrow and his receivers displayed between 2018 and 2019.

I have no doubt that Burrow will only continue in his pursuit of greatness in the NFL with the Bengals next year.