Arkansas Bengal Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 So far, Andy Dalton looks 'sensational' August, 2, 2014 Aug 2 6:00 PM ET By Coley Harvey | ESPN.com CINCINNATI -- Asked Saturday afternoon to sum up Andy Dalton's first few days of training camp, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson used one word. "Sensational." A little over-dramatic? AP Photo/Al Behrman Andy Dalton has impressed the Bengals with his reads and accuracy during training camp. Not if you've seen Dalton practice and handle himself around his teammates and reporters the past 10 days. Seriously, it's like a case of the body snatchers. Since the start of voluntary workouts back in April, I've found myself scratching my head as to who this mystery man now wearing the Bengals' No. 14 jersey was. I know I've mentioned as much here before and others who also cover Dalton and the Bengals on a daily basis have made similar comments, but really, and in all sincerity, the quarterback looks like a completely different person. Passes that Dalton struggled to deliver last season, he's hitting. Progressions he might have missed or didn't get to before, he's spotting. Personality traits that some thought he lacked, he's suddenly got those, too. It's like a case of the body snatchers.So far. Again, it's important to mention that we're only at the start of training camp and that there are still five months before the Bengals embark on what they hope will be a fourth consecutive playoff appearance. Much of the progress myself and others have noticed could fall by the wayside between now and then. But I'll tell you what: If such a drop-off occurs, it doesn't look like it's happening any time soon. Jackson feels the same way. "I've been really impressed with him over the last several days," Jackson said. "He's really starting to buy into the urgency, getting the ball out of his hands and he's making great decisions." Jackson's comments came after he had just watched Dalton have a near flawless day slicing up the Bengals' second-team defense. The quarterback unofficially was 17-for-20 with approximately 200 yards passing, some 120 of those to tight end Tyler Eifert. Dalton also had one touchdown and another potential three that were negated thanks to either questionable pass interference penalties or markdowns from referees who had to spot where they thought players might have been tackled. (The Bengals didn't tackle in Saturday's scrimmage inside Paul Brown Stadium.) Beyond the sheer statistics, Dalton -- to me -- looked comfortable in the pocket, confident and in full command of everything that was happening in front of him. He looked like the quarterback of his team. He left no doubt about that. And why would he doubt his status as the starter? After all, team president Mike Brown and head coach Marvin Lewis have told both Dalton and reporters that they foresee him directing their offense for years to come. That message has clearly boosted Dalton's confidence and allowed him to focus on playing his best football in the present, even while his contract negotiations continue in the background. If they've been distracting to him, I can't see it. He truly seems to be living what he says when he points out that he isn't worried about what he's going to get or when he's going to get it. Like he told me on Day 1 of camp: "Whatever it is, when it comes, it comes." So far in camp, Jackson has seen everything I have. He has detected poise from the quarterback. "Very calm. Very assured of what he's doing and how he's doing it and where he needs to go with the ball," Jackson said. "There's good communication when he comes off. Even when things didn't go right he could tell me why, what he felt. And that's what you've got to look for. A quarterback's got to be poised. "He's been very in control of when things have gone really good and when things have gone really bad. That's a good sign." Combine those traits with statistics like the ones above -- stats he's replicated at practices against both the first- and second-team units throughout camp -- then it isn't so hard to believe that the player who for three seasons struggled mightily with consistency really has been "sensational." ... At least, so far. http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/9657/bengals-andy-dalton-sensational-hue-jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnickyCat Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 :fistpump: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishBengal Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 The improvements made in his throwing motion during the offseason may have a lot to do with it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Great to hear. Can he do it against a defense that wants to rip his head off though? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 He already has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-GoBengals- Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 He already has. yes, he has really taken it to the division and shined in the playoffs and primetime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Le Tigre Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Not to be contentious, but the response was in the context of what was mused by Jason. So yes, he already has. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Well it's good to hear our starting QB doesn't look like shit in practice, I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scharm Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Looked good today. Might have been high on a couple throws but that's about it. Looked more comfortable than last years TC, honestly. I thought he was a little non smooth last TC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Bengal Posted August 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Maybe Andy really did work his ass off during the off season. It makes sense--he's playing for a new contract this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whodey? Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I'm really glad the starting quarterback for my favorite team is trying to improve his game for his sake and also for his team. That is awesome. I also realize that no matter how good our star quarterback is there are certain people on this board that will never be happy with him. To those folks I feel the need to tell them to root for a team they feel good about, because I really like this one. I cant fucking wait. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnglishBengal Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Maybe Andy really did work his ass off during the off season. It makes sense--he's playing for a new contract this year. Contract year or not, it makes no difference. Dalton has been very conscientious each offseason despite his limitations. He will always try his best and try to get better each year. Marvin says: and that's a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CincyInDC Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 If this news doesn't get you pumped up for the season, you are not a fan. I miss the neg reps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Not to be contentious, but the response was in the context of what was mused by Jason. So yes, he already has. He hasn't played well against the blitz. I'm waiting for him to have the poise to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|schotzee| Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Well it's good to hear our starting QB doesn't look like shit in practice, I guess Yea. I'll be cautiously optimistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Dub Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Or maybe, just maybe, after an offseason spent shitting on the dude from great height, he doesn't actually suck ass quite as bad as all that? Not to say he hasn't improved, but this "body snatchers" stuff.. "Who is this guy?!" That'd be the same QB that's won 30 games and taken his team to the playoffs every year since he entered the league, continuing to improve. For those of us not drunk on the Haterade it's not all that surprising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie_B Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I hope so, but there is always pre-season hype every year about various things, I want to see it on the field when it matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|kennethmw| Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I'm really glad the starting quarterback for my favorite team is trying to improve his game for his sake and also for his team. That is awesome. I also realize that no matter how good our star quarterback is there are certain people on this board that will never be happy with him. To those folks I feel the need to tell them to root for a team they feel good about, because I really like this one. I cant fucking wait. Agreed. Haters gonna hate, it's what they live for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluhartz Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I'm really glad the starting quarterback for my favorite team is trying to improve his game for his sake and also for his team. That is awesome. I also realize that no matter how good our star quarterback is there are certain people on this board that will never be happy with him. To those folks I feel the need to tell them to root for a team they feel good about, because I really like this one. I cant fucking wait. this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cincity Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 I'm really glad the starting quarterback for my favorite team is trying to improve his game for his sake and also for his team. That is awesome. I also realize that no matter how good our star quarterback is there are certain people on this board that will never be happy with him. To those folks I feel the need to tell them to root for a team they feel good about, because I really like this one. I cant fucking wait. Thank you. :good: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.A.B. Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 We live to hate on Andy Dalton. If he turns in a Pro Bowl season I'll probably just jump off a bridge. Nothing to live for amirite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Blake Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 This is absolutely devastating for those of you who love bad news. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
membengal Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 This is absolutely devastating for those of you who love bad news. Don't you worry, there are those who will make this a bad thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HairOnFire Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 Don't you worry, there are those who will make this a bad thing. More likely they'll insist it doesn't matter because it's not happening in a playoff game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
|schotzee| Posted August 3, 2014 Report Share Posted August 3, 2014 We live to hate on Andy Dalton. If he turns in a Pro Bowl season I'll probably just jump off a bridge. Nothing to live for amirite Really! And God forbid if Cincy wins a championship with him at the helm , I'm gonna pick another team! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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