Andy Dalton is slowly become the butt of every NFL joke after his preseason performance on Monday. Dalton went 6/13 from the field for 46 yards and 2 interceptions.
That is worse numbers than most backups put up. Dalton's inconsistencies have hindered the development of one of the best wide receivers in the league A.J. Green and can also at times cripple the Bengal's offense entirely. Dalton has looked very inaccurate and is somehow playing worse than when he began offseason workouts. Dalton also found himself on the turf for most of his starting series thanks to the Buccaneers defensive line.
The Buccaneers defensive line gave Dalton fits sacking him three times. Dalton's bad play seems predicated on the offensive line but 2 picks in a preseason game from a starting quarterback is very disturbing to say the least.
The Bengals drafted two offensive linemen in the draft in hopes to quell some of their quarterback's misfortune. But if this line is healthy and has several high round draft picks can it really be the problem? Dalton missed AJ Green all night, overthrowing him, underthrowing him; it at times was hard to watch.
The Bengals have a ton of talent on their roster but the overall lack of consistency is pretty astounding. At some point when the offensive line is doing its job and the wide receivers are getting open the blame should be placed squarely on Dalton.
The lack of chemistry is also alarming for fantasy players all over the country who have watched Dalton throw balls that even Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariota would not throw. Dalton is going to need to be on his game if the Bengals want to reach the playoffs again and so far that is not what we have seen.
