After several weeks of anticipation, Cincinnati Bengals rookie QB Mack Dalman has been announced as the team's week 1 starter. Dalman, the 6'5" QB out of Auburn (#17, above) was ecstatic to be selected with the 24th pick in the 1st round of the GGML draft this past Sunday. The true Junior QB obliterated records in college and is still only 21 years of age. After many thought he would be a top pick earlier in the year, rumors of his development issues began to crush his draft stock. Coupled with the fact that this draft was the deepest in recent memory in regards to the QB class, experts proposed that Dalman should have played out his senior year at Auburn.
“I like to think this is a blessing in disguise. I get the chance to play with the reigning rookie of the year and MVP in Joe (Mixon, HB). I know that a few of you thought I should have stayed in school, but it is my time to shine. I’m going to prove my worth to everyone soon enough. No disrespect to Andy- but this job was mine the moment he failed to carry this team to the playoffs last year. That won’t happen this year. Interview over,” responded Dalman when asked about his thoughts surrounding his draft day plummet.
The Bengals made several moves this offseason in attempt to ease the growing pains:
Drafted-
Joey Blanchard (RT, 77 OVR)
Shawn Haskins (LG, 77 OVR)
Garrison Neal (TE, 77 OVR)
Signed-
Terrelle Pryor (WR, 83 OVR)
Resigned-
Tyler Eifert (TE, 96 OVR)
Mackenzy Bernadeau (LG, 77 OVR)
Andre Smith (RG, 77 OVR)
The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Green Bay Packers at home for just the second time in franchise history, putting up 27 points while only allowing 17. The Bengals picked off Aaron Rodgers a whopping 3 times while allowing 0 passing TD.
"It was great to see our boys putting in work against one of the best QB's in all of NFL history. The addition of Darius Slay has helped us only give up 1 passing touchdown through 3 games, and that was on a broken play," Coach Houshmandzadeh replied.
After previously only scoring 25 points through 2 games, the offense was provided a tremendous spark in the form of rookie HB Joe Mixon. Mixon ripped through the cheesehead defense with 21 rushes for 171 yards and his first rushing TD of the season.
"I hate that I got off to a rough start but I'd like to thank the big guys up front for my perfomance in the game yesterday," Mixon said after hearing his stat line at the conclusion of the game.
Whether or not they can continue their success remainds to be seen, as they will be on the road again to face a hungry browns defense without former WR AJ Green (traded to AZ) or HB Gio Bernard (traded to CLE). Bernard declined to comment on his way out of Cincy Airport but reports suggest he will be sharing as much of the Cincy playbook as he can remember.