02-24-2016, 12:38 AM
Yes, the season ended in a debacle that could only be described by the phrase WTF.
But given time to recover from the shock of that messy game I felt I could now look back at the season without that final game clouding my view.
So here's what I liked about 2015
1. Andy Dalton - I'm not a big Andy Dalton homer fan [as probably most of you know] and his performances in playoff games really had me thinking that he's just one of those guys who isn't going to take the next step and become the QB this team really needs him to become. Well, in 2015 I must say that I was pretty impressed in that he became the QB I really felt he would never become. In situations where he use to panic he became certain and reliable. When something went wrong he use to get desperate and make the situation worse, whereas now he just seems to shrug those things off, a trait every competitor really needs to become an eventual champion.
2. The defense overall - This was a damn good defense all around. From the DL to the secondary it was a well run unit. And it complemented the offense very well. Atkins returned to form and this really helped Dunlap's game and the rest of the DL play well. The secondary was loaded with talent everywhere.
3. Vontaze Burfict - Before Burfict's return the team gave up 13, 19, 24, 21, 24 and 21 points (20.33 points per game). That 20.33 is respectable number all by itself and was good enough to go 6-0. But after Burfict's return the team gave up 10, 10, 10, 34, 7, 3, 27, 14, 20, 16 and 18 points (15.36 points per game). Despite his late blow to the head in the playoff game, Burfict's presence on the field just makes the defense better.
4. The coaching staff - Normally I'd not give all that much credit Marvin Lewis and his coaches cause time after time I've seen them be out coached in big games and in some not so big games. But in 2015 they seemed to prepare the team better. I saw more regular and better in-game adjustments (something I've been highly critical of in the past).
5. The team grit - This team has more grit than I can remember in the last couple of decades. The comeback against Seattle, the way the team never quit when down 15-0 in the playoff game, save for that last second meltdown.
But given time to recover from the shock of that messy game I felt I could now look back at the season without that final game clouding my view.
So here's what I liked about 2015
1. Andy Dalton - I'm not a big Andy Dalton homer fan [as probably most of you know] and his performances in playoff games really had me thinking that he's just one of those guys who isn't going to take the next step and become the QB this team really needs him to become. Well, in 2015 I must say that I was pretty impressed in that he became the QB I really felt he would never become. In situations where he use to panic he became certain and reliable. When something went wrong he use to get desperate and make the situation worse, whereas now he just seems to shrug those things off, a trait every competitor really needs to become an eventual champion.
2. The defense overall - This was a damn good defense all around. From the DL to the secondary it was a well run unit. And it complemented the offense very well. Atkins returned to form and this really helped Dunlap's game and the rest of the DL play well. The secondary was loaded with talent everywhere.
3. Vontaze Burfict - Before Burfict's return the team gave up 13, 19, 24, 21, 24 and 21 points (20.33 points per game). That 20.33 is respectable number all by itself and was good enough to go 6-0. But after Burfict's return the team gave up 10, 10, 10, 34, 7, 3, 27, 14, 20, 16 and 18 points (15.36 points per game). Despite his late blow to the head in the playoff game, Burfict's presence on the field just makes the defense better.
4. The coaching staff - Normally I'd not give all that much credit Marvin Lewis and his coaches cause time after time I've seen them be out coached in big games and in some not so big games. But in 2015 they seemed to prepare the team better. I saw more regular and better in-game adjustments (something I've been highly critical of in the past).
5. The team grit - This team has more grit than I can remember in the last couple of decades. The comeback against Seattle, the way the team never quit when down 15-0 in the playoff game, save for that last second meltdown.
![[Image: 4CV0TeR.png]](https://i.imgur.com/4CV0TeR.png)
