Black and Blue Review
In the Panthers’ two losses this season, the Steelers and Ravens each established the run while using short passes to negate Carolina’s pass rush. The Panthers could fall to another AFC North team if they allow the Bengals to do the same on Sunday.
Cincinnati’s ground game has been solid but unspectacular behind running backs Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill. The Bengals are ranked 18th in the NFL, averaging 110 rushing yards per game. As always, shutting down the run will be No. 1 on the Panthers’ to-do list, but Andy Dalton’s dink-and-dunk style may be a bigger threat.
The Bengals quarterback has been sacked just once in four games, and a big reason is he’s getting the ball out faster than anyone in the league. That’s a huge concern for the Panthers, who died deaths by a thousand passes against the Steelers and Ravens. Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Flacco combined to complete 44 of their 61 attempts, and neither quarterback was sacked.
Using some data from Pro Football Focus, here’s a look at Dalton’s effectiveness as a dink-and-dunk passer, accompanied by quotes from various Panthers this week.
Percentage of Dropbacks When Time in Pocket is 2.5 Seconds or Less
| Rank | Name | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Andy Dalton (CIN) | 77.0 |
| 2. | Peyton Manning (DEN) | 70.6 |
| 3. | Tom Brady (NE) | 68.6 |
| 6. | Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) | 63.9 |
| 8. | Joe Flacco (BAL) | 61.6 |
Dalton’s completion percentage on dropbacks that last 2.5 seconds or less is 67.8 percent. On dropbacks longer than that, his average falls to 52.4%.
“It doesn’t matter what kind of blitz you have on, or what kind of defensive line you have, if a quarterback is able to get the ball out of his hand as quick as Dalton can. you’re not going to be able to get pressure on him.” — linebacker Thomas Davis
Dalton’s NFL Rankings:
- 1st — passes thrown while under pressure (17.7%)
- 1st — sacked (1)
- T1st — hit while throwing (0)
- T1st — intercepted (1)
Dalton has not faced pressure on 90 of his 108 attempts. He’s 61-of-90 for 747 yards and three touchdowns in those situations. Under pressure, he’s 9-of-18 for 179 yards, with a touchdown, an interception and a sack.
“They’ve got to do it to slow us down, so we look at it like he’s scared to hold the ball because he doesn’t want to get hit by the defensive line.” — defensive end Mario Addison
Dalton ranks 2nd in the NFL with an 8.6 yards per completion average. But he’s 32nd in yardage through the air. Only 38.3% of his passing yards come before the completion.
“You’ve got to make sure you tackle. Those teams make their money by dinking and dunking, and the guy missing a tackle, and it springs to 10 or 15 (yards).” — linebacker Luke Kuechly
The Bengals are last in the NFL with a 30 percent third-down conversion rate (13-of-44). Dalton’s 26 percent third-down percentage (8-for-31) is also last in the league.
“The biggest thing you have to do is be good on first and second down, and get them in third and longer situations so they have to throw the ball a little longer and allow your line to get there.” — Davis
