McCarron Pick Is "Not About Andy Dalton"

[elcheato]

 
They do, but Baltimore and Pittsburgh will both be better (better in the improved from last year sense, not necessarily better than Cincy), with better quarterbacks and improved defenses.
 
And if your Browns hadn't stupidly fired the fantastic coaching staff they'd assembled after one season, I'd say they were lined up to make some noise, too.
 
Well, that would depend on how long Gordon's suspension is, too, but still.

I disagree on Baltimore and Pittsburgh, I think they're still declining.
 
That Browns coaching staff determined before the year that Brian Hoyer was the 3rd best QB on the roster, and only won 4 games with what I would call one of the more talented Browns teams in recent memory (not a hard feat, but the team does have a lot of talent).
 
The defense underachieved, and players weren't held accountable. The coaching staff was not good, at least last year.
 
Did they deserve another year? Maybe, but I'm of the belief if you don't think things are going to work out, end it.
 
I like Pettine/Shannahan/O'Neil more. I think their philosophies in creating a team are better. A team that is going to do a lot of different things offensively, but will depend on their ground game (Manziel/Tate & West with a nasty offensive line) to open up the pass attack, and the defense will play press man, and wants and has corners capable of being put on an island (Haden & Gilbert).

 

[elcheato]

The only thing I disagree with here is the good receiving core. Their 2nd best receiver is Tyler Eifert, and he for some reason doesn't even start over Gresham.

Unless some strange situation happens, they will have to play Denver or NE in the playoffs. Talib and Revis can both lock down AJ (Talib if he has safety support up top. When you rely on Sanu & Eifert, with an above average QB at best, it's very hard to create any offense.

Just because Denver and New England are great, doesn't mean Cinci isn't a contender. Again, I am just going off my personal ideology of the NFL. If you make the playoffs, you're a contender. Low seeds have been consistently thriving in the playoffs since 2006. And the Bengals are a division winning team, and the odds on favorite to repeat as division winners. Not the best team in the conference, but certainly a contender.

 

[Bengals1Fan]

I'm a bit late to the Bengals party but I will throw in my two cents. Personally, I wasn't for drafting a QB, I think Dalton is good enough to lead the team. Look at Russel Wilson in Seattle. He's not a superstar like Manning or Brady. But he is better than the average quarterback. Dalton has a lot of great stats in his back pocket, because he has a lot of good pieces around him. You can't tell me Russell Wilson would have won that superbowl without his defense, or Marshawn Lynch, or even some of those receivers. In the Bengals case, defensively we're pretty solid. Receiver wise, we are a bit better than Seattle was, in the Backfield, we're on our way. When we have these pieces, you need a quarterback who can get the ball to the other options and let plays develop. Like Eli Manning, when he had Plaxico Burress, David Tyree, etc. In my opinion, a Talented quarterback can lead an untalented team to win. (Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning.) However a talented team can lead a less talented quarterback to the same amount of wins if not more. (Russell Wilson, Eli Manning, Andy Dalton.)
 
Moving on, I like the pick. McCarron from what I've seen has a good football IQ. He's a smart quarterback. He's also a hard worker. Something you want in a young quarterback. While he's not the best QB in the draft, he does show potential. Quarterbacks taken in the 5th and later rounds tend to play well. They come in with a chip on their shoulders and are out to prove. Do I say start him at all this year or next? Hell no. But barring disaster, it's good to groom a young guy with a lot of fire. He could become a good quarterback with a lot of attention and practice. The Bengals staff will surely give him that.

 

[elcheato]

Comparing to Seattle is a lost cause. Seattle really doesn't have that good of an offense. It is average to above average, but they have the best defense in the league BY FAR.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Seattle has a Top 4 RB in the NFL, and the best secondary the NFL has seen in years. I personally haven't seen a secondary that dominant since the 04 Patriots.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Just because Denver and New England are great, doesn't mean Cinci isn't a contender. Again, I am just going off my personal ideology of the NFL. If you make the playoffs, you're a contender. Low seeds have been consistently thriving in the playoffs since 2006. And the Bengals are a division winning team, and the odds on favorite to repeat as division winners. Not the best team in the conference, but certainly a contender.

Playoff contender ≠ Super Bowl contender. Could they make the Super Bowl? Maybe. It would only happen if there was an injury to the Pats/Broncos that significantly depleted the team. I mean, the Patriots lost 4 Pro Bowl talents last year due to injury, and still easily made it to the AFC Championship Game.
 
Dalton's biggest problem is when he relies too much on AJ Green. He doesn't read through his progressions quick enough, and when there is pressure, he automatically targets Green. And versus guys like Ike Taylor, or Jimmy Smith, yeah, that might work. That won't work versus Darrelle Revis, or a focused Aqib Talib either. Denver has the pass rush to get to Dalton quickly enough to force a poor throw. New England has a solid pass rush, and a great secondary, and will take advantage of every throw Dalton takes. 
 
I would say they are significantly below the Top 2 in the AFC, and thats why they aren't contenders. New England is only a contender because we strengthened our defense a lot, and we are the 2nd best team in the conference. Denver is still the significant favorite to come out of the AFC

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

I guess nobody has ever heard of Marvin Jones who had a really nice year for the Bengals. I don't think Tyler Eifert is the Bengals second best WR. 

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

I think Denver is in a league of their own really with the talent they have. I wouldn't even put the Patriots to their level. Only thing that made Denver a little suspect was the defense and I think they've added some nice pieces to address that. They will be and are the favorite in the AFC, obviously. The second best team in the AFC is a little open to me. I think the Colts could contend for that spot. 

 

[bosoxlover12]

fwiw
 
Seattle Seahawks 6/1
Denver Broncos 7/1
New England Patriots 15/2
San Francisco 49ers 15/2
Green Bay Packers 12/1
Chicago Bears 20/1
Indianapolis Colts 20/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Philadelphia Eagles 22/1
Carolina Panthers 28/1
Kansas City Chiefs 33/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 33/1
Arizona Cardinals 40/1
Atlanta Falcons 40/1
Baltimore Ravens 40/1
Cincinnati Bengals 40/1
Dallas Cowboys 40/1
Houston Texans 40/1
New York Giants 40/1
San Diego Chargers 40/1
Cleveland Browns 50/1
Detroit Lions 50/1
Miami Dolphins 50/1
Minnesota Vikings 50/1
St. Louis Rams 50/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
Washington Redskins 50/1
New York Jets 66/1
Buffalo Bills 75/1
Tennessee Titans 75/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 100/1
Oakland Raiders 100/1

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

fwiw
 
Seattle Seahawks 6/1
Denver Broncos 7/1
New England Patriots 15/2
San Francisco 49ers 15/2
Green Bay Packers 12/1
Chicago Bears 20/1
Indianapolis Colts 20/1
New Orleans Saints 20/1
Philadelphia Eagles 22/1
Carolina Panthers 28/1
Kansas City Chiefs 33/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 33/1
Arizona Cardinals 40/1
Atlanta Falcons 40/1
Baltimore Ravens 40/1
Cincinnati Bengals 40/1
Dallas Cowboys 40/1
Houston Texans 40/1
New York Giants 40/1
San Diego Chargers 40/1
Cleveland Browns 50/1
Detroit Lions 50/1
Miami Dolphins 50/1
Minnesota Vikings 50/1
St. Louis Rams 50/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 50/1
Washington Redskins 50/1
New York Jets 66/1
Buffalo Bills 75/1
Tennessee Titans 75/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 100/1
Oakland Raiders 100/1

 
Not much. Tampa Bay could very well win the NFC South. I just don't know about Josh McCown. I mean he's proven to be a solid, average at best QB but I think they could have done better there. 

 

[Hurricane Season]

Seattle has a Top 4 RB in the NFL, and the best secondary the NFL has seen in years. I personally haven't seen a secondary that dominant since the 04 Patriots.

Maybe Peyton will cry about the Seahawks secondary and have the league nerf pass defense again, like he did with that 04 pats secondary.

 

[TTN2810]

 
Not much. Tampa Bay could very well win the NFC South. I just don't know about Josh McCown. I mean he's proven to be a solid, average at best QB but I think they could have done better there. 

 
McCown played like a top 5 QB last year though, and the Bucs are doing everything in their power to recreate that situation. They're basically recreating the trio of 6'5+ weapons he had, with Jackson/Evans/ASJ arguably as dangerous as Marshall/Jeffery/Bennett. Tedford is a great offensive mind too. Realistically with all that talent on the field and the expertise of Tedford, that should be a top 5 offense next year. AND they already have a top 5 defense. They're going to shock the league, they're a huge sleeper. I'd say it's more likely than not they do win the NFC South, they have the best roster on paper, even over Carolina IMO. They just need to execute.

 

[WHO-DEY-BENGALS_18]

 
McCown played like a top 5 QB last year though, and the Bucs are doing everything in their power to recreate that situation. They're basically recreating the trio of 6'5+ weapons he had, with Jackson/Evans/ASJ arguably as dangerous as Marshall/Jeffery/Bennett. Tedford is a great offensive mind too. Realistically with all that talent on the field and the expertise of Tedford, that should be a top 5 offense next year. AND they already have a top 5 defense. They're going to shock the league, they're a huge sleeper. I'd say it's more likely than not they do win the NFC South, they have the best roster on paper, even over Carolina IMO. They just need to execute.

 
I guess I just don't completely trust McCown yet lol.. The NFC South is going to be a tough division. I can see the Falcons having a bounce back year, Panthers should be strong again and the Saints are always tough. I do like what the Bucs have built, on both sides of the ball. Like you said, it looks great on paper. Whether it translates to wins is yet to be seen.. 

 

[BwareDWare94]

I thought McCown had as much to do with Trestman as it did with the receivers. I'm more worried about TB's coaching staff pieces than I am the weapons. 

 

[TTN2810]

Without Marshall and Jeffery they were no where near what they where as a unit. Trestman helped for sure, but Tedford isn't anyone to overlook either.

 

[elcheato]

The Bucs can try to recreate that situation with tall receivers, but they don't have a receiver on the roster as good as Jeffrey or Marshall. No RB as good as Forte either.

 

[Elite]

Vincent Jackson is definitely in the same class as Marshall and Alshon and if Doug Martin plays anything like he did his rookie season he is definitely very comparable to Matt Forte
 
Mike Evans is a big question mark though

 

[Iceman]

This is all based on if McCown can beat out Glennon for the starting QB.  As bad as TB was last year, Glennon did quite well (IMO).  When they get Martin back, they will be a for sure NFC South Contender.  Especially if Cam is put on the Madden 2015 cover!!