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Cincinnati Bengals Player Preview: A.J. Green

No doubt A.J. Green is one of the best wide receivers in the league, but can he be even better under the tutelage of Hue Jackson?

Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports


A.J. Green

Height: 6'4"

Weight: 207

Age: 25

College: Georgia

Hometown: Summerville, SC

Experience: 4 years

Few wide receivers have had the immediate NFL success A.J. Green has had. Through his first three seasons, Green has 260 receptions, 3,833 yards and 29 TDs. Green has surpassed 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons and has improved his receiving yards and receptions every year.

With 98 receptions and 1,426 yards in 2014, another year of statistical improvement would put Green over 100 receptions and 1,500 yards.

What makes these stats even more amazing is that Green has plenty room for improvement. In 2013, Green was tied for 14th in the NFL with 7 dropped passes, many of which played big roles in Bengals losses (see: Chicago, Miami, San Diego). Green's physical abilities are unquestioned (and unbelievable), but where he can improve in his fourth season is his mental approach to the game and cutting down on the mental lapses - which result in the drops.

Green is aware of this as well. According to Green "If you're a great athlete, I feel like you'll think you always left something [on the table]....I feel like I still haven't reached my peak yet."

While some believe Green's numbers could dip in 2014 because Hue Jackson is a more run-oriented coach, Hue is also the type of coach that won't coddle Green like Gruden did and will expect - and get - more out of Green. According to Green, "[Hue's] never satisfied with where I am,...that's one thing about him. No matter what I do or what I've accomplished these first three years, there's always more I can do. I remember when the [NFL Network's] Top 100 came out and I was the No. 2 receiver, he said, 'OK, let's go be No. 1."

As a result, even if the number of passes thrown to Green decreases, I still see his stats increasing, and that is a good thing for the Bengals and a scary thing for the rest of the NFL.

Turn up, lean back, enjoy! Real football is 4 weeks away!

A.J. Green- Lose Yourself HD || 2013-2014 Highlights (via Hriday Kaju)