Cincinnati Bengals back WR A.J. Green for better route running -NFL News
People around Cincinnati Bengals’ wide receiver, A.J. Green, are concerned for the player’s shortcoming on route running even though he proved himself to be the best receiver in his rookie year and that his performance helped him earn a place on the Pro
Bowl roster in the 2011 season, leaving his many competitors far behind.
Above all of them is offensive coordinator, Jay Gruden, who says that Green can become the most successful player of his time with an improvement on route running.
The coach said:
"He's always been such a good receiver that he could beat guys a lot of times just by running around them."
He added:
"There were times last year when he wasn't as detailed as he should be in terms of getting off the line, his depths and his route running. I think some of those routes will be cleaned up. He's working on it. He's so receptive to it. Has a ways to go, but
he wants to be great. With the talent he has, throw in the desire he has, the work ethic he has, and the sky is the limit."
Green was the main part of Bengals’ offence last season. He caught 65 passes for 1,057 yards in 2011, his rookie year. His record also had seven touchdown passes.
He was the first rookie to have made it to the Pro Bowl roster since 2003. He is also on the NFL Network’s list of top 100 players for 2012.
Yet he was criticised by some players and independent analysts over his route running.
Seattle Seahawks’ running back, Richard Sherman, is one of the players who had criticised Green’s route running last season after the game in which Bengals defeated Seahawks, 38-12.
While Sherman rated Andy Dalton to be a good quarterback, he said Green was too much talking and bad running.
The main thing, as the offensive coordinator notes, is that the player himself realises the shortcoming and is keen on improving.
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