The Cincinnati Bengals are set to start their pre-season against the Atlanta Falcons August 8th, with their first regular season game a month later, September 8th against da Bears. Cincinnati is looking to make the playoffs for the third time in a row and hopefully put the past two Wild Card loses against the Houston Texans behind them. Leading them in his third season is QB Andy Dalton, and he is probably the first guy you’ll see trying his best to get better results than last season and post-season.
Andy Dalton came to Cincy through the draft after disgruntled quarterback Carson Palmer decided he was done with the Bengals, he wanted to be traded, or he’d retire. The Bengals of course would send him to Oakland later on in for a first round draft pick in 2012 and a second round pick in 2013. In Dalton’s first two seasons, he threw for 7 067 yards, with a 60.2 completion percentage, 47 TDs, 29 interceptions and an 83.9 QB rating. Not bad numbers for the young QB’s first two full seasons in the NFL. Dalton is also the only QB in NFL history to make the playoffs in his first two seasons while throwing 20 or more TD passes.
Dalton is a good QB, and is a great QB in the making, with all the tools to be successful. Hearing people say that he could be finished in Cincy if he has a bad season, or that he doesn’t do well in the playoffs is ridiculous. I understand that his postseason stats aren’t great , throwing 4 interceptions in two playoff games and he has yet to throw a playoff TD.
Dalton still has work like every young QB in the NFL. Last year the Bengals turned the ball over 30 times, and Dalton unfortunately was part of 20 of those turnovers. So of course for him he needs to drastically reduce the amount of turnovers he has produced. We already know he needs to play better in playoff games, and if he and the team make it again this year I’m pretty sure Dalton and company will give a much better playoff performance then the last two seasons. Another thing Dalton will have to work on is how to extend drives for the Bengals when they have the ball. According to ESPN, Dalton only completed 47.5% of his passes on the third down, only one of QB had a worse percentage and that was Chad Henne. If Dalton can fix that the Bengals will be a dangerous team.
The Bengals of course haven’t left Dalton alone out there to dry. He has the great young wide receiver A.J. Green to pass to. The Bengals also have Mohamed Sanu, Marvin Jones, Andrew Hawkins and rookie Cobi Hamilton to throw to. There is an argument that Cincinnati should have gotten another receiver that could be a threat and take the double coverage off of Green, but these young receivers want the ball and all of them will try to step up and take the number two spot behind green.
The receivers aren’t the only weapons the Bengals have for Dalton, at the draft the Bengals drafted Tyler Eifert a 6-6 tight end that could make a lot of noise with the Bengals top TE Jermaine Gresham. If the Bengals do this properly with their two tight ends they could have an offense the remarkably looks like the Patriots offense and that could be a very dangerous combination for the Bengals and help Andy Dalton, become a more successful QB. Let us not forget the running backs BenJarvus Green-Ellis and a healthy Benard Scott will add even more offense making a lot of defenses scramble to try and slow down what could be a really strong offensive punch.
With all these weapons set for Dalton to use, its hard to see him fail. On paper this team could be a huge threat in the AFC North. I don’t think Dalton should fail with what he has been given, addwhen you add in one of the leagues best defenses, this team is set to succeed. It shouldn’t have Dalton worrying.
If he has a bad season then yes it will be a disappointment. But even if its not the greatest he is the Bengals QB in the future and in the present, and there is no way he should ever be let go by this team. The Bengals are playoff contenders and you need a good QB to get you there. Dalton has shown he can do it and as long as he steps it up, fans will have more reason to cheer “Who Dey” a lot more. Watch out for the Bengals – they are coming in hard and will fight tooth and nail to the very end.
You can follow me on twitter @NVincelli and the follow the site @lastwordonsport while you are at it.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
Football fans…check out Thursday Night Tailgate Radio as hosts Chris Mascaro and Angelo Cane chat with current and former NFL and College players. NFL stars open up on TNT because they’re regular guys, without network influence. Access the show in the sidebar on our home page or by visiting their website at ThursdayNightTailgate.com. Learn more about the show including their upcoming schedule at their page at LWOS.
Main photo credit: San Diego Shooter via photopin cc
