The Stripe Hype Mailbag: Talking Adam Jones and Andy Dalton
By Jason Marcum
This is the first edition of the Stripe Hype Mailbag. In case you missed it, this is one of the newest features we’ve implemented on to the site in order to give you the readers a better chance to have your voices heard.
Sep 30, 2012; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Adam Jones (24) celebrates after a fourth quarter touchdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Everbank Field. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Our first question comes from @razor_michael:
@StripeHype why doesn't @REALPACMAN24 return punts on a full time basis? That dude creates excitement when he touches the ball!
— Razor Mike (@razor_michael) May 19, 2013
My guess is that it has to do with his durability more than anything. He basically gets starter’s snaps at cornerback with Mike Zimmer using 5 defensive backs so often, and having him do full-time punt-return duties would likely lead to him getting injured and missing multiple games.
Adam used to be a better return-man than an actual CB, but after managing to play in 16 games last year for the first time in his 6-year NFL career, he graded out among our top ten corners in terms of coverage grade (+9.9, including playoffs) by Pro Football Focus. That kind of impact is what made the Bengals defense elite last year, and that’s much more important than Jones being on the punt team full-time.
Other Twitter responses
@StripeHype Dalton going deep is music to every fans ears, and perfect to aj so he can maximize his potential, whodey!
— Michele Prince (@mizzshelby73) May 24, 2013
@StripeHype year 3 baby!! Time to shine!!
— Carl the Entertainer (@2wyckedcarl) May 23, 2013
Responding to our article Andy Dalton has to Shed “Average” Label for Bengals to Win Big in 2013, Mark Naltner shared his thoughts on Facebook:
"He has the o-line and all the weapons he needs to do that this year. No excuses if he can’t."
Very well said Mark. Dalton has had a tough first two years with A.J. Green being his only consistent weapon. Jermaine Gresham is too inconsistent, and having to throw to the likes of Andre Caldwell, Jerome Simpson, and a pair of rookies last year, it’s been tough for Dalton to establish good chemistry with his receivers.
Between Cedric Benson and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, he also never had a safety-valve to dump the ball off too when under pressure, and more often then not was forced to take a sack or throw up a prayer.
With Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones back along with the addition of Tyler Eifert and Giovani Bernard, there’s no more excuses for Dalton. He has to come out and post a QB rating better than 87, which used to be good by NFL standards, but in toady’s pass-happy league, you need to be better than that. He also can’t take 46 sacks when he has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
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