Cincinnati Bengals: What's the Deal with Carson Palmer?

Whoever has hijacked the real version of Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer and replaced him with an extremely mediocre version, please return to sender.

He has been a shell of his former self, dating back to last season. He threw two INTs in the first four drives on Sunday against the Panthers. If the Panthers secondary had any resemblance of good hands, he would have ended up with three or four more interceptions.

The laundry list of excuses is becoming comical. Sunday’s included a wet ball, offensive line inconsistencies, predictable play calling by the offensive coordinator, and timing issues with the receivers.

Last year apologists pointed to the lack of weapons at Palmer’s disposal. They brought in Terrell Owens, Jordan Shipley, and Jermaine Gresham to fix that. Andre Caldwell went from the No. 2 receiver in the playoff game against the Jets to a guy that can barely get on the field this year.

Yet the passing offense still stinks.

How did Palmer allow time to expire at the end of the first half with the ball inside the Carolina five? That’s the kind of mistake a rookie makes. Not a seven-year veteran.

Something isn’t right with Palmer, both mentally and physically. He has been short arming throws, blowing time-outs to avoid delay of game penalties, and he hasn’t even been able to complete the easiest of throws.

Simple throws in the three-drop set, such as the out route, the underneath crossers. A basic route like the slant even has been poorly executed.

Palmer does not look comfortable and he doesn’t seem to have any rhythm with Owens or Chad Ochocinco. Owens is understandable, but Chad?

The deep ball has been non-existent in the first three games. Palmer used to throw one of the prettiest deep balls in all of the NFL. Now it’s an adventure to complete a screen pass.

Check some of his stats, courtesy of Lance McAlister: 

QB Rating

22. Palmer. 71.3
He ranks behind the likes of Bruce Gradkowski, Seneca Wallace, Vince Young, and Matt Cassel.
 
 

Completion percentage:

26. Carson Palmer, 56.6
He ranks behind the likes of Sam Bradford, Shaun Hill, and Alex Smith

Yards per attempt

29. Carson Palmer, 5.80

He ranks behind the likes of Derek Anderson, Matt Moore, and Alex Smith

This isn’t a “the sky is falling” sentiment. But how can you not be somewhat concerned?

Maybe the receivers aren’t always running the correct route. Maybe the O-line has been mediocre at best. Maybe the running game hasn’t taken off like it did last year. But it looks as if the 2010 Bengals are what they are, a great D that will need to carry the offense.

The Bengals were able to coast against an awful Panthers team. A performance like Sunday will not cut it against the likes of Pittsburgh, Indy or New Orleans—three teams the Bengals will face later this season.

Palmer needs to figure things out mentally first. No more delay of games. No more losing out on easy points due to the clock running out. No more miscommunication with the rest of the offense.

Once the mental side is cleared up, then Palmer can work on his mechanics and footwork. Unfortunately, it’s baby steps right now for the Bengals. Luckily they play the Browns and the Buccaneers before the bye week.

Maybe the offense will take the next three weeks to figure it all out. Maybe Palmer will make the necessary adjustments and everything will be fine.

Yes 2-1 is 2-1. It’s exactly where most figured they would be after three games.

So there is plenty of time to figure this out. But right now, the offense is the biggest issue on a team that has a ton of potential in an ultra competitive AFC North.