Tier 3 QB

[YsCascadia]

(08-22-2018, 08:59 PM)Shake n Blake Wrote: Great memory and good points. There's way too many variables to use one game as proof that AJ was held back by Dalton. 

Yep. 

Don't get me wrong.  Aside from maybe 3, 4 or 5 teams (NE, GB, NO, and possibly Carolina and Seattle) almost every fan base wonders if they could possibly upgrade their QB spot with player x or y.  So wondering what our team could be like without Dalton at QB and having Matt Ryan is not wrong and it isn't impossible to think we might be better with a different QB.

However, to think that Dalton is holding AJ back is laughable.  For all we know, AJ could be holding Dalton back.  Just look at the Bills game last year.  Green had many mistakes that almost cost us the game.  One of Dalton's best season's was the one that Green missed time and had to spread the ball around to other WRs.

A lot of Dalton's success though is due to the ability of the OLine to block (can be said for all the QBs), also the game plan to mask any glaring weaknesses.  When given time, Dalton is just as good as Andrew Luck.  He was the QB of the last 2 seasons that had a terrible OLine and still had us in many games. 

6-9-1?  Not for a few missed FGs and we have a 10-6 record beating out Pittsburgh for the Division, hell we would have beaten Pitt even with the tie.

7-9?  I have already said how I think the Texans were handed the win to that game based off of some bad calls / non calls, however if not for Watson's TD (refer to the Hopkins *catch* and holding) we win that game.  GB, Mixon slipped and loses yardage, he stays upright and we stay perfect against Rodgers.  A complete whiff by WJIII (which I believe was him trying to not draw a penalty since Bell looked to be headed OB) and we beat Pittsburgh.  That is another 10-6 season.  I do believe the Titans also won with a late TD which would have been an 11-5 season.  Not enough to beat the Steelers for the division, but enough to secure a playoff spot.

All of this is with a bad OLine.  If the OLine can improve then Dalton can have an MVP season and we can make a return to the post season.  Hopefully it can lead to a SB appearance and even win.  Though even if he were to win, Dalton will be treated like Eli and not be credited as much as he should.