Bengals Banter: Talking Turnovers, Andy Dalton, & Vontaze Burfict
By Jason Marcum
Oct 14, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) celebrates after a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-US PRESSWIRE
Despite the fact that quarterback Andy Dalton has thrown five of his nine picks over the past two games, leading to two straight defeats to Dolphins and Browns teams that were a combined 1-8 going into Week 5, offensive coordinator Jay Gruden isn’t putting all of the blame on Dalton:
"Every play is different he’s throwing interceptions on, it’s not like we are throwing the same play into the same coverage and the same guy is getting it. It’s different guys, sometimes it’s a scramble drill, the one at the end of the game only option we had to throw it up, the slant he threw it and that was as much on the receiver as it was on the quarterback because he slowed down and Sheldon Brown made a great break which happens from time to time. The other was a scramble play threw it to AJ, AJ got his hands on it which was great throw actually, just nickel was holding AJ’s arm down he couldn’t get his hand up and instead of getting a holding call we got an interception. Really, all three of those, I have a problem with them but it’s not like it’s all on the quarterback."
Joe Reedy took a look-back at the infamous 2011 trade of former franchise quarterback Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders. It was a trade that netted the Bengals a first-rounder which they converted into Alabama cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick, and will also have an extra 2nd-rounder in 2013. As of now, that could be in the 30s, essntially making it an extra firt-round pick, as every year we see in the draft the fall of first-round NFL talent fall into the early second-round.
Defensive end/linebacker Dontay Moch became a father this week after his girlfriend gave birth to a healthy baby girl.
As of now, rookie weakside linebacker Vontaze Burfict is on pace to break the Bengals rookie record for most games started by an undrafted free agent. Former Cincy middle linebacker Armegis Spearman holds the record for most starts by an UDFA when he made 11 for the 2000 Bengals.
The Bengals are ranked 21st in ESPN’s power rankings, and 23rd in ESPN AFC North blogger Jamison Hensely’s power rankings:
"The Bengals had the biggest fall in the power rankings this week, dropping six spots. That’s what happens when you lose to a team that had lost 11 straight games. This is a season low for the Bengals on this year’s power rankings. Cincinnati hadn’t dipped below No. 18 in the previous six weeks."
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