Dalton most NFL ready of rookie QBs?

[Dave Lapham]

Andy Dalton redshirted his true freshman year, then went 8-4 as a starter as a redshirt freshman. He got better and better going 42-7 as a 4 year starter. His career culminated with a 13-0 season including a Rose Bowl win over Wisconsin. The bigger the game, the better he played as a senior completing over 70% of his passes vs. Top 25 opponents. At TCU, he practiced vs. Gary Patterson's defensive pressure packages every day. Patterson has as good a defensive mind as any coach I have been around at any level. Dalton was schooled on making quick reads and decisions and getting the ball out of his hand quickly. It was 1-2-3 out. His problem the first couple of preseason games was being too quick getting the ball out. He had to let things develop just a beat longer. Very easily correctible. Particularly if your OL gives you better time and space in the pocket so you can step up, slide step, whatever is necessary. He saw the field and distributed the ball well Friday night. His 11 completions went to 6 different receivers. His QB rating was a very solid 107.5. He recognized 0 coverage pressures pre-snap, realizing he had single coverage on the perimeter and went to AJ Green successfully. When you compare how NFL ready he looked to how non NFL ready Cam Newton looked it was startling. Cam never was in a huddle or called a play at Auburn. It was all flashcards from the sideline. Remember with Jon Gruden he couldn't call a play run at Auburn. Cam was confused by what he saw in the secondary and it was pretty standard blitzes when the Bengals did pressure. Andy Dalton may be the most prepared QB to start as an NFL rookie because of the 49 starts he had at TCU and the culture of preparation in which he was schooled. Who is the better athlete...Cam Newton or Andy Dalton? No contest, Cam hands down. Who is most ready to take the first snap for his team on opening day? Andy Daton hands down.

[Bengals1181]

Phil Simms hinted at as much lastnight.


Overall, I think Ryan Mallett was the most pro-ready.

[Sander]

Phil Simms hinted at as much lastnight.


Overall, I think Ryan Mallett was the most pro-ready.

I'd agree with that, although the question for Mallett is how he handles pass pressure.

Also Dalton's biggest problem is arm strength. As in: he doesn't have any. That 'deep' throw to A.J. Green was a prime example: it was inaccurate, leading Green out of bounds, and he couldn't get the ball there in time as Green had to stop to catch the ball. In general with Dalton you're going to be limited to a short passing game. Which is really a shame, as the receiving corps is geared toward a deep passing game.

[Bengals1181]

I'd agree with that, although the question for Mallett is how he handles pass pressure.

Also Dalton's biggest problem is arm strength. As in: he doesn't have any. That 'deep' throw to A.J. Green was a prime example: it was inaccurate, leading Green out of bounds, and he couldn't get the ball there in time as Green had to stop to catch the ball. In general with Dalton you're going to be limited to a short passing game. Which is really a shame, as the receiving corps is geared toward a deep passing game.

his arm strength's plenty strong.

That deep TD to Green, he threw 40yds off his back foot.

He's not going to be consistently launching 60yd bombs, but Dalton's arm is plenty strong.

[Sander]

his arm strength's plenty strong.

That deep TD to Green, he threw 40yds off his back foot.

He's not going to be consistently launching 60yd bombs, but Dalton's arm is plenty strong.

Arm strength isn't about how deep you can throw it, arm strength is about how quickly you can get the ball somewhere, with accuracy, and how consistently you can do that.

Throwing a ball 40 yards isn't all that hard. Throwing a deep out at 15 yards on a line is hard, and Dalton doesn't have the arm strength to do that. Similarly, he doesn't have the arm strength to get the ball deep in time with consistent accuracy. If you look at that throw, it traveled 40 yards, but it was very slow to get there. He underthrew A.J. Green by a lot, as Green had to stop to catch the ball. And, it was inaccurate: an accurate ball there results in a touchdown.

You could see the same issue on that interception he threw in the first game to Green on an identical route. It didn't get there in time, and it was inaccurate. There's a reason Andy Dalton fell all the way to the second round, and arm strength is that reason.

[Bengals1181]

Arm strength isn't about how deep you can throw it, arm strength is about how quickly you can get the ball somewhere, with accuracy, and how consistently you can do that.

Throwing a ball 40 yards isn't all that hard. Throwing a deep out at 15 yards on a line is hard, and Dalton doesn't have the arm strength to do that. Similarly, he doesn't have the arm strength to get the ball deep in time with consistent accuracy. If you look at that throw, it traveled 40 yards, but it was very slow to get there. He underthrew A.J. Green by a lot, as Green had to stop to catch the ball. And, it was inaccurate: an accurate ball there results in a touchdown.

You could see the same issue on that interception he threw in the first game to Green on an identical route. It didn't get there in time, and it was inaccurate. There's a reason Andy Dalton fell all the way to the second round, and arm strength is that reason.

actually that one was the same thing with the Panthers one. Suh was in his face and he threw it off his back foot. If he steps into it, he likely hits Green in stride.

[Dave Lapham]

Dalton will have to throw with anticipation and accuracy. His WRs could potentially outrun his deep ball. The same thing was said about Joe Montana. I certainly am not comparing the two in any other way. But Montana did not have a strong arm by NFL standards, but he had plenty of arm for Walsh's throws in the West Coast offense. The long TD passes by Montana to his receivers included a lot of yards after catch because he hit them in full stride and they never had to work hard to make the catch. This is Dalton's game. The Detroit deep ball to Green, Dalton had Suh in his face on a 3 step drop which should never happen and he threw it off the wrong foot falling away from the line of scrimmage. It was underthrown but Green also admitted he lost it in the ceiling at Ford Field which can happen. As a result he never adjusted to the trajectory which made it even worse. Montana rarely threw the ball over 40 yards in the air. I don't think Dalton will have to either.

[packa7x]

I'm not sure who the most NFL ready one is, but I'd have to say Bengals fans should be optimistic. Dalton looked very good.

[Sander]

Dalton will have to throw with anticipation and accuracy. His WRs could potentially outrun his deep ball. The same thing was said about Joe Montana. I certainly am not comparing the two in any other way. But Montana did not have a strong arm by NFL standards, but he had plenty of arm for Walsh's throws in the West Coast offense. The long TD passes by Montana to his receivers included a lot of yards after catch because he hit them in full stride and they never had to work hard to make the catch. This is Dalton's game. The Detroit deep ball to Green, Dalton had Suh in his face on a 3 step drop which should never happen and he threw it off the wrong foot falling away from the line of scrimmage. It was underthrown but Green also admitted he lost it in the ceiling at Ford Field which can happen. As a result he never adjusted to the trajectory which made it even worse. Montana rarely threw the ball over 40 yards in the air. I don't think Dalton will have to either.

Montana had enough arm strength to make all the throws he needed to, though. Not deep balls, but 15-yard outs on a line. I don't think Dalton can.

[packa7x]

Sander, you bring up a really good point. People often assume arm strength only matters on deep balls. Truth is, the faster the ball comes out and gets to your target, the better you will be. NFL CBs have incredible closing speed and are looking to jump routes. This will limit Dalton.