The difference in Andy Dalton

[Daddy-O]

(10-03-2015, 01:48 AM)Brownshoe Wrote: The biggest difference with Dalton is his pocket presence. He's been able to make all of these throws before, but he's doing it more often because he's became better in the pocket. He is stepping up in the pocket and buying himself more time.

He's always been solid with a clean pocket.  He makes his reads so quick and gets rid of the ball so quickly he sometimes masks the poor protection (making them look better, statistically, than they really are IMO).

I just don't buy the "all of a sudden AD's different" mentality.  He's always been good but there's been a number of factors that have impacted his ability to take the next step, like different offensive schemes/coordinators, losing key players around him, youth at the center position, etc., etc.

Historically year 5 is  the year you see some QB's make big strides.  Can't underestimate "maturity".  Not only from a football intelligence aspect but also a locker room aspect.  Dalton just doesn't have that outgoing personality so I'm sure it has taken him a very long time to truly feel he is "the man" within the locker room.  Time takes care of this because of the NFL turnover, most of that locker room is now more youthful than he is, so by nature there's a comfort.

Just my thoughts anyway....