Andy Dalton (American football)

Andy Dalton

Andy Dalton playing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
No. 14     Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Personal information
Date of birth: October 29, 1987 (1987-10-29) (age 24)
Place of birth: Katy, Texas
Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Weight: 215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
College: Texas Christian
NFL Draft: 2011 / Round: 2 / Pick: 35
Debuted in 2011 for the Cincinnati Bengals
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011
TDINT     20-13
Passing yards     3,166
QB Rating     81.8
Stats at NFL.com

Andrew Gregory Dalton (born October 29, 1987) is an American football quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He played college football at Texas Christian University. In his final college game, the 2011 Rose Bowl versus the Wisconsin Badgers, Dalton led the Horned Frogs to a 21-19 win over the three point underdog Badgers. He left the TCU program as its all-time leader in wins and many statistical passing categories.[1]

Some draft experts felt that while Dalton's accuracy as a passer, his above average mobility, and his ability to throw on the run were his high points, his lack of a strong throwing arm was a detriment. He was selected by the Bengals in the second round (thirty-fifth overall) of the 2011 NFL draft and signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract.[2] New Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden instituted a west coast-style offensive scheme to help maximize Dalton's talents, and he and rookie receiver A.J. Green, the Bengals first round selection from the University of Georgia, have become a prolific quarterback/receiver combination.[3]

Due to Dalton's strong performance and the Cincinnati Bengals' unexpected improved win-loss record, some believe Andy Dalton is a legitimate rookie of the year contender over first overall pick Cam Newton of Auburn University, who was drafted by the Carolina Panthers.[4]

Contents

Personal life

Andy Dalton attended Katy High School in Katy, Texas. He led the Tigers to the state finals his senior year in 2005. That year, he was named the Greater Houston Area offensive player of the year by the Houston Chronicle. During his high school career, Dalton completed 80 percent of his passes for 15,550 yards with 70 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Dalton married TCU and Zeta Tau Alpha alum Jordan Jones, now Dalton, in July 2011.

College career

Andy Dalton committed to Texas Christian University. He was redshirted his freshman year, but he traveled with the team to every road game and was listed as the Horned Frogs' third-string quarterback behind senior Jeff Ballard and redshirt freshman Marcus Jackson.

Entering the 2007 season, Dalton was in competition with Jackson to be the starting quarterback. Two weeks before the season opener against Baylor, TCU head coach Gary Patterson named Dalton the starter.[5] After going 8-5 as a freshman, he accumulated a record of 34-3 as a starter for the rest of his career at TCU.

On September 4, 2010, Andy Dalton recorded his thirteenth victory as the Horned Frogs starting quarterback, passing Sammy Baugh as TCU's all-time wins leader. Against Baylor, Dalton completed 21 of 23 pass attempts for 267 yards and two touchdowns, and was named the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week.[6] On January 1, 2011, Dalton, who completed 194 of 293 passes for 2638 yards for 26 touchdowns during his senior season, led his team to a victory in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

Dalton holds school career records for wins (42), touchdown passes (71), passing yards (10,314), pass attempts (1,317), completions (812), completion percentage (61.6). He also set single-season records for touchdown passes (27), passing yards (2,857), completion percentage (66.1), which were all set in the 2010 season; and attempts (371) and completions (222), which were set in the 2007 season. He also holds the single game record for highest completion percentage, 91.3 percent, which was set against Baylor in 2010.[7]

College stats

Year Team Attempts Completions Completion % Yards TDs INT
2006 TCU
Redshirt
2007 TCU 371 222 59.8% 2,459 10 11
2008 TCU 307 182 59.3% 2,242 11 5
2009 TCU 323 199 61.6% 2,756 23 8
2010 TCU 316 209 66.1% 2,857 27 6
College Totals 1,317 812 61.7% 10,314 71 30

NFL career

After being drafted, there was much speculation over who would be the Bengals' starting quarterback, Dalton or veteran Bruce Gradkowski. Carson Palmer, the first overall draft pick in the 2003, demanded to be traded or released, and was eventually granted his request. On August 8, 2011, before their first pre-season game versus the Detroit Lions, Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis released his first depth chart per NFL rules, but noted that it meant little. The depth chart had Dalton was listed as the first-string quarterback, followed by Gradkowski.[8] On November 3, 2011, Dalton was named the NFL Offensive rookie of the month for October. Dalton led the Bengals to a 4-0 record with 909 yards passing and 6 Touchdowns in the month. [9] He has joined the club of rookies with over 3,000 passing yards along with fellow rookie Cam Newton and has led the Bengals to their third winning season since 1990. He is also one of only five rookie quarterbacks ever to throw at least 20 touchdown passes, joining Newton, Peyton Manning, Dan Marino, and Charlie Conerly on the list.

Dalton was named as a Pro Bowl Alternate in his first year.[10]

References

External links