The A.J. Green Factor: Three Receptions On Three Separate Drives That Scores 17 Total Points
by Josh Kirkendall on Nov 27, 2011 6:15 PM EST
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PrintBengals rookie wide receiver hauled in the game-winning 41-yard touchdown against the Cleveland Browns during Cincinnati's season opener earlier this year. Not only did it win the game against the Browns in Cleveland, it was Green's first career reception (and first career touchdown reception as you probably deduced at this point). Since then Green has been every bit as advertised and more.
Against the Denver Broncos, Green posted his first 100-yard receiving and 10-reception game. He came into Sunday's game leading all rookies in yards receiving and touchdown receptions, amassing exciting touchdown receptions on holy prayers from rookie quarterback Andy Dalton.
Against the Cleveland Browns during Cincinnati's 23-20 win over the Browns, Green only caught three measly passes. What in this world could three passes really offer?
Well, plenty.
With 1:10 remaining in the first quarter from the Browns 40-yard line, Green sprints down the right sidelines before stopping around the 25-yard line and turning. The football was already in the air as Green positioned himself, turning after the reception and completing the 24-yard gain. On the next play Benson dodged traffic, scoring on the 16-yard touchdown to tie the game at seven. Green would largely disappear for some time until 1:58 remained in the third quarter where the team's superstar wide receiver beat cornerback Joe Haden on a deep route down the right sidelines for a 35-yard reception. On the next play, Jermaine Gresham hauled in the 22-yard touchdown pass to reduce Cincinnati's deficit to three.
That's two receptions with the proceeding plays, on both receptions, leading to touchdowns.
Yet it was Green's final act during his three-part play on Sunday that was the most memorable. On third and eight from the Bengals 47-yard line with 1:08 remaining in the game, A.J. Green lines up left and launches off the line of scrimmage. Andy Dalton takes the shotgun snap and launches the football deep towards Green, who jumps over God himself, hauling in the reception and sprinting towards the right sidelines for a 51-yard reception, before being pushed out of bounds at the two-yard line. Eventually the Bengals would settle for a game-winning field goal with half a minute remaining in the game.
Green finished the game with three receptions for 110 yards receiving, his third 100-yard receiving game of the season.
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AJ Green makes...
…Our entire offense better. Dalton needs to buy him a dinner or two.I was fortunate enough to e at the game and let’s just say that last pass to green was a) a lousy pass and b) one of the most incredible catches I’ve ver seen.
by goffchile on Nov 27, 2011 6:20 PM EST via mobile reply actions
To be fair
Dalton barely got that pass away before he was leveled.
I'd say it wasn't so much "before he was leveled" as it was "as he was leveled"...
He got that ball out with the defender literally in his face:
FEARLESS!
It's an ankle bracelet, not a halo....
by yurintroubl on Nov 27, 2011 10:31 PM EST up reply actions
I actually think if Dalton puts that pass on the money, AJ makes the reception and gets instantly tackled.
His extending for the ball and spending about 3 minutes hanging in mid air confused Joe Haden so much that by the time he came down Haden had already run past him and wasn’t in position to make the tackle. That’s why AJ was able to run away with it.
Plus, Dalton was throwing into traffic, so if anything he’s going to err on the side of throwing it high where he knows only AJ can get it.
Green catches everything. That is all that needs to be said.
It’s pretty amazing.
Change gone come mane! Trust me! Cause i Bleed tigerblood!--Jerome Simpson
the guy is hall of fame good...really!
sorry ocho.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Nov 27, 2011 8:23 PM EST up reply actions
Even as a Texas Longhorn fan/student
I had no problem, and definitely encouraged, Colt getting smashed…felt kinda bad, but then again it only reinforced that I’m a Bengals fan first, Longhorn fan second. WHO DEY!
Does this team need offensive option to be elite?
Lets face it — Green is awsome, and he will be a great offensive cornerstone. This game, however, was almost lost when the offense stalled in the 4th — outside of the big catch Green made on the last drive.
Our defense can keep us in almost any game — but if the offense continues to stall for long and crucial periods then we will be mired in short playoff stints.
I think we need one more play maker who can keep drives going. We can’t rely on the big play against better teams.
we need two things--
A steady ball control reciever—i think gersham is that guy, but he’s not there yet; and we need a playmaker at rb.
by goffchile on Nov 27, 2011 6:30 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Re: steady ball control reciever
Shipley.
"I thought, 'Ball, please get down and into my hands.'"
-AJ Green
+1
That’s why I’m saying a really good #2 guy opposite Green would make it unstoppable. Green and the x-factor down the field with Shipley and Gresham in the middle. Matchup nightmares everywhere.
I won't disagree that that would be awesome,
but I’d rather have a really good RB.
"I thought, 'Ball, please get down and into my hands.'"
-AJ Green
That was the first thing I said we needed
Specifically, one who can catch. Imagine us with Ray Rice. I’m actually becoming more and more impressed with Isaiah Pead the more Bearcats football i watch. He’s not a feature back, but I think he could be a great complement to B Scott and Leonard and he’s a receiving threat.
If Pead was there in the 3rd I'd grab him.
I do think he has feature back potential, though. He’s shown the ability to carry a team on his back, imo.
"I thought, 'Ball, please get down and into my hands.'"
-AJ Green
We are in total agreement there Nye.
You and I have been talking about drafting another big time WR since the Palmer deal. I have backed off on trading up to get Blackmon but I still think it wouldn’t be a bad deal. Cleveland will grab him up in a second and if we don’t move up to get him we will have to defend him. Give up one of our two 3rds and move up to get him. Green, Shipley, Gresham and Blackmon would be an absolute nightmare for ant OC. All can get open. All can catch anything. All can get YAC. Add in Hawkins and Simpson as backups and …. whew!
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
You are correct sir. My bad.
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
Well the only problem is
I think it’s going to take much more then one 3rd round pick to move up enough to get Blackmon.
We may be better served staying put and grabbing a receiver like Dwight Jones in the second. I know a lot of people are going to say we tried taking receivers in the second round and they didn’t necessarily work. Dwight Jones isn’t a project like Simpson.
That would still allow us to fix our OL and maybe take a CB in the first. I would hope the Bengals go after a RB like Michael Bush to take care of our RB position.
I agree on Michael Bush
Also in the 2nd Ryan Broyles might be available.
I'd prefer Dwight Jones over Broyles even before the knee injury
Jones is 6’4" and 225 pounds and expected to run a high 4.4 or low 4.5. He has long arms and the ability to out leap other players and fight for the ball.
I’d say Broyles will be available after the 2nd round, especially after the injury. Either way I think Jones is a player that is flying under the radar.
We need a RB who is a receiving threat
An Arian Foster or Matt Forte. That along with another year of development between Andy, AJ, and Gruden could easily make this a top 10 offense and then some. If you throw in a really good #2 receiver, it could blow the topp off of it.
Personally I'd like to get Michael Bush
I think he’s the type of back the Bengals like. He wouldn’t cost near as much as Matt Forte and he’s a little under rated as a pass catcher. Bush would also be a good RB against the division we play and be able to pick up the tough yards.
You could also look at taking a RB like David Wilson in the 3rd or even a Jeff Demps in the 5th/6th. Demps could be used for a handful of plays and as a KR/PR and with his world class speed could be a gamechanger in those handful of plays.
Per Hobs
Green now tied with Isaac Curtis & Eddie Brown for the team record for 100+ yard games by a rookie wideout @ 3.
5 games to go…
Something tells me it ain't over yet.
"If we always agree, one of us is not necessary"
Marvin called him "the best first round draft pick I've ever been around."
And he drafted Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
I’m trying to hard to keep some perspective with Green, but every time I watch him play I come away shaking my head thinking he could be one of the best receivers to ever play the game.
Green is absolutely amazing
To be honest he has had one of the best rookie years ever for a receiver. His numbers may not total Randy Moss’ in TD’s in the end, but he’s just as deadly and actually he’s more important in THIS offense the Moss was in that offense since the Vikings had more playmakers at other positions.
the fact that we are genuinely comparing him to randy moss
is indicative of how good he is. one thing both he and moss share. they catch the long ball. they get open. they get under it and THEY CATCH IT.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Nov 27, 2011 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
Agree and let me say
One thing that is different is AJ is a team player that doesn’t take plays off :)
Yesterday really showed how important he is to this offense.....
with him we are always just one play away from scoring at any one point, anywhere on the field. He always has the advantage over almost any corner, that catch was sick.
by The Van Buren Boys on Nov 28, 2011 8:10 AM EST reply actions
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