09-03-2015, 12:03 PM
(09-03-2015, 11:38 AM)PhilHos Wrote: First off, show me a QB that improved whose stats went down and I don't mean yards, TDs, etc (although, even then, you won't find too many). I'm talking about QB rating. QB rating is a rather effective measurement of a QB's performance. To which Dalton's has gone up each year 'til last year.
In non-statistical areas, Andy has improved as well. For example, he's better at reading defenses and making adjustments to the plays, to the lines, etc. And, heck, wasn't 2013 his best year in terms of deep ball throwing?
I never really thought there was an argument to Dalton having improved since he first came into the league. Like his average-ness, I thought it was agreed by everyone other than the extremists, that Dalton HAD improved. Honestly, do you think Dalton was the same QB in 2012, 2013, and even 2014 that he was in 2011?
The only year that I saw clear improvement was 2014 to be honest with you.
In 2011, I actually considered Andy to be a good QB. I told all my friends to watch out because when this kid improves, you're looking at the face of the franchise. Well, he looked eerily similar in 2012 and then again in 2013. The only difference in 2013 was the talent around him jumped by a bit and it seemed like Gruden pulled out an entirely different offensive scheme for that season. Andy was talented enough to put up reasonable stats in 2013 though, so I do give him credit for that. IMO, put those same guys and the same scheme around him in 2012 and he puts up those same statistics. Like I said, I didn't see a drastically different QB as much as I saw different playmakers and scheming. Andy is talented enough to put up numbers when you put good players around him with a solid gameplan.
Andy looked very good for a rookie in 2011 IMO, but he never really improved (much) on his areas of weakness. He looked uncomfortable in the pocket for his first 3 years and his velocity on certain routes has always been a huge question mark. The seemingly random poor decision making has also stuck with him this entire time.
I wouldn't call myself an extremist just because I'm looking past the stats and speaking purely of what I've seen in the games over the last 4 years. It's not a huge knock on Andy because he's still a decent QB and could break out this year, he just didn't drastically improve as some want to make it seem by posting nothing but stats. I'm not saying he was the 100%, exact QB in each year with no changes whatsoever, but I didn't see much improvement on his weaknesses until just a year ago.
