Dalton Bandwagon

[flamingrey]

Barring any major injuries to key offensive players, I'm on!

Last night was the type of game we would have lost every single time the last 4 years. It wasn't on national TV, but it was a high pressure game against a great defense. And the comeback from 17 in the 4th was bonus. If this doesn't give Dalton confidence in big games, nothing ever will.

Many of us have opined that Dalton has to be in the perfect situation in order to be successful. Well, he has his perfect situation. I think by far the Bengals offensively have the most overall talent in the league. And Hue is the guy that can and has brought it all together.

This is the first time since 2005 I have felt this team can do big things.

Now, Marvin just has to stay out of the way.

Go Bengals!

 

[DanBengalfan]

we kept hoping he would improve, maybe he's finally turned the corner.

 

[cincygrad]

Holy shit..... You know we're having a ridiculous year when FlamingRey climbs on a Dalton bandwagon.

This is either a great sign for things to come or the world is coming to an end next week.

 

[ckhokie]

Have to say I think I'm right there with Rey.

Getting boo'd at the All-Star Game finally made him realize it was time to get his act together?

 

[cincygrad]

To be fair, this is his first year with Hue AND his weapons. We probably gave him too much shit last year given that he played without Eifert and Marvin Jones and AJ was a shell of his normal self for most of the year.

To me, Eifert is the biggest game changer..... He's been terrific. And it further points out what a disappointment Gresham was.

 

[ckhokie]

And it further points out what a disappointment Gresham was.

...and the coaching staff, who continued to play Gresham, even when Eifert was healthy

 

[cincygrad]

...and the coaching staff, who continued to play Gresham, even when Eifert was healthy

That's the Bengal way!

But that really only counts for Eifert's first year.... And that was with Gruden.

 

[DanBengalfan]

That's the Bengal way!

But that really only counts for Eifert's first year.... And that was with Gruden.

Gruden was over hyped evidently. of course, he could just be trying to run the Skins into the ground for a high draft pick.

 

[flamingrey]

To be fair, this is his first year with Hue AND his weapons. We probably gave him too much shit last year given that he played without Eifert and Marvin Jones and AJ was a shell of his normal self for most of the year.

To me, Eifert is the biggest game changer..... He's been terrific. And it further points out what a disappointment Gresham was.

I wouldn't say we gave him too much because it was still a talented roster. He still should have done more/better.

But the beauty of it this year is that with everyone healthy, there are almost too many weapons/options to fail.

And that is the key and what gives me hope.

 

[ckhokie]

Gruden was over hyped evidently. of course, he could just be trying to run the Skins into the ground for a high draft pick.

um...the Skins have looonggg been in the ground. Well before Gruden got to DC.

 

[DanBengalfan]

um...the Skins have looonggg been in the ground. Well before Gruden got to DC.

is he trying to bury them, yuck yuck. <rimshot>

 

[Cincyfan78]

To be fair, this is his first year with Hue AND his weapons. We probably gave him too much shit last year given that he played without Eifert and Marvin Jones and AJ was a shell of his normal self for most of the year.

To me, Eifert is the biggest game changer..... He's been terrific. And it further points out what a disappointment Gresham was.

Agreed.

When you compare what Dalton has now to what he had last year, it's not even close. It's really amazing the offense did enough to make the playoffs considering how abysmal the defense was at times last year.

No Eiffert
No Jones
AJ was hobbled all year by turf toe
It took until, what, game 9 before Hill finally got the RB job full time
Injuries across the OL with little to no depth. I mean, we had Newhouse manning RT for Smith when he went down, and then 2 games later had to rely on Winston who was sitting at home on his couch for over half the season.

Dalton had a down year, and yes there are many things he could have done better last year, but outside of Brady or Rodgers, not many QB's are going to make studs out of duds.

 

[BurrowDeep2Chase]

It takes a while for Quarterbacks to develop this day in age. That's why you have to stick with them for 5+ years. Resetting after 3 years and starting over can only hurt a franchise and put them in an endless loop.

 

[DanBengalfan]

It takes a while for Quarterbacks to develop this day in age. That's why you have to stick with them for 5+ years. Resetting after 3 years and starting over can only hurt a franchise and put them in an endless loop.

do not tell this to anyone in Cleveland. ever.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

do not tell this to anyone in Cleveland. ever.

Or Washington.

 

[Cincyfan78]

do not tell this to anyone in Cleveland. ever.

Big difference between what they've been trotting out there since 1999 and Dalton. For all his ginger flaws, he's been better than anything Cleveland has had (This year not withstanding for Ginger flaws)

 

[BurrowDeep2Chase]

The Browns should have just stuck with Colt Mccoy and passed on spending a 1st rounder on Weeden in 2012 and then yet another 1st rounder on Manziel in 2014 and then just signing another QB anyways in Josh Mccown who is 36. McCown has actually been pretty good but they spend 0 time developing quarterbacks. Those draft picks could have been spent on help for McCoy.

 

[DanBengalfan]

the browns also had a very good QB from UK that they couldn't help.

Crouch, Couch, Crotch. I remember the kid actually helped UK win which was a damn near impossible task at the time.

 

[DanBengalfan]

Big difference between what they've been trotting out there since 1999 and Dalton. For all his ginger flaws, he's been better than anything Cleveland has had (This year not withstanding for Ginger flaws)

the reality in Cleveland is they are in worse shape than the Bengals business wise. they aren't really interested in winning, although they would be happy getting lucky once in a while. The Gordon situation hasn't helped.

 

[Cincyfan78]

the reality in Cleveland is they are in worse shape than the Bengals business wise. they aren't really interested in winning, although they would be happy getting lucky once in a while. The Gordon situation hasn't helped.

I'll go a different route: I think they are trying to win, but instead of investing and growing players, they are trying to hit HR's at every draft pick and F/A signing, and they are striking out miserably. They are too easily infatuated with flash and ignore substance. This was Mike Brown's problem in the 90's and early 2000's, even after Marvin arrived. Once Tobin took over as a defacto GM, and Marvin started having a lot more input from 2010 on, this team has built a true team that is second only to GB when it comes to cultivation of a roster.