To Start or Not to Start Dalton? That is the Question

by Carson'sConvicts on May 15, 2011 4:30 AM EDT

Now that the draft is over and we all can relax and celebrate because we got our man without trading up into the 1st, lets talk football. Andy Dalton will be the face of the Cincinnati Bengals Franchise for years to come but does that mean he's going to be the day 1 starter for the Bengals in 2011?

Doing my research, I found an article on www.ProFootballTalk.com that suggested that the Bengals should target a veteran free agent QB. “We really have no one that’s taken a real NFL snap,” Bengals quarterbacks coach Ken Zampese said, per Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It’s prudent to look into that area if that person is the right fit for us.” The article would then go own to suggest that the Bengals would target a lower-end free agent QB like Charlie Frye or Rex Grossman.

I don't think I'd be the only Bengal fan that would be enormously disappointed and pissed if the Bengals brought in a guy like Charlie Frye or Rex Grossman to take the reins of the team for a year and to teach Dalton. If we wanted to teach Dalton how not to be an NFL QB why not bring in JaMarcus Russel or Vince Young?

My take on this situation is complicated. The Bengals have one of the easiest schedules in the NFL so I believe it would benefit the Bengals and Andy Dalton to get some experience while playing less talented opponents. But theres also the risk of throwing him into the fire when he's not ready and ultimately hurting his chances to grow into a successful QB (see Alex Smith). My other fear is the lack of a strong offensive line. But on the other hand, the Bengals did do a great job over the past 2 drafts in acquiring great talent to surround Dalton at WR and TE so maybe it wouldn't be too bad?

But if the Bengals do decide to add a veteran QB to teach Dalton who should it be? We all don't want Rex Grossman or Charlie Frye so he is the list of the 2011 NFL Free Agent Quarterbacks (minus Peyton Manning and Micheal Vick).

Brett Farve, Seneca Wallace, Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Moore, Alex Smith, Matt Leinart, Marc Bulger, Todd Collins, Caleb Hanie, Brady Quinn, Drew Stanton, Trent Edwards, Luke McCown, Brodie Croyle, Chad Pennington, Tyler Thigpen, Tarvaris Jackson, Jim Sorgi, Kellen Clemens, Kyle Boller, Bruce Gradkowski, Dennis Dixon, Billy Volek, Troy Smith, Kerry Collins, and Rex Grossman.

Personally I would put Matt Hasselbeck, Bruce Gradkowski, Troy Smith, Kerry Collins, Seneca Wallace, Chad Pennington and Marc Bulgar to the top of my list. Any one of these guys can bring experience into the Bengals locker-room and still give the organization the opportunity to win games on Sunday while teaching Dalton to be a smart NFL Quarterback.

What do you all think?

(via http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html)

Poll

Should the Bengals start QB Andy Dalton in his rookie season or bench him for a year to a veteran replacement?

Start Dalton

88 votes

Bench Dalton

43 votes

131 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Cincy Jungle's writers or editors.

Tweet Comment 27 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Also see

http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html for free agent OL, K, LB and DL. Some of the notable players aren’t half bad..

by Carson'sConvicts on May 15, 2011 4:37 AM EDT reply actions

Hasselbeck

and Bulger would be the only one that I would bring in to groom Dalton. For they are the only ones that had any success at winning.
Kerry Collins is too old, Chad Pennington is too injury prone and although I like Trent Edwards, he has some age to him along with being out of football for 2 years.
The rest of them couldn’t groom a dog. Although, some (like Troy Smith and maybe Sorgi) may have the potential to be a starter but not a groomer. They have to work on their game first.

by WHYUS!! on May 15, 2011 7:49 AM EDT reply actions

My personal favorites from the FA QB pool are Pennington and Gradkowski.

One of those two could come in and compete. I don’t mind Dalton starting this season, but only if he earns the job against legit competition.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on May 15, 2011 11:45 AM EDT reply actions

Troy Smith

Visit Inside The Shoe
The Buckeye blog for every fan!

by Ian_InsideTheShoe on May 15, 2011 4:35 PM EDT reply actions

who is this strange looking guy and why is he smelling his fingers?

he doesn’t look anything like Troy Smith

by ephram on May 15, 2011 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions

That guy is Jon Stewart

2011 and beyond. Only one thing came true on the last wishlist.
This year's wishlist
1. Bengals win Super Bowl (Something I hope for every year)
2. Reds win the World Series(or at least a playoff game)
3. Ohio State Wins a Big 10 title
4. Cavaliers actually finish with a winning record
5. Wings win the Cup

by Danimal, Destroyer of Worlds on May 18, 2011 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks.

is he a GM for somebody?

by ephram on May 19, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions

He's the Gm of the Daily Show

by Throw the ball on May 20, 2011 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Seriously?

Home of the original Kitten Mittens.

by Pardon_My_French on May 20, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I like Pennington a lot as a football player

He’d be a good lockeroom guy, great worker, good in a heavy run, west coast type system that relies more on touch than arm strength

by The Dealio on May 15, 2011 7:41 PM EDT reply actions

somebody just informed me in an another thread

that Pennington just tore his ACL picking up a practice game of Basketball, earlier in the spring.

by WHYUS!! on May 16, 2011 9:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd be happy with Seneca Wallace or Billy Volek

They all have pretty good stats in their limited opportunities to actually play.

Seneca is a greater than 60% completion passer, and has never had more INT’s than TD’s in a season….which is pretty good for a backup getting limited reps.

Volek is a guy who has started before, has experience as a starter (although mostly as a backup), and has a good completion % and gets you more TD’s than INT’s.

You don’t bring in a QB primarily to coach/mentor. You bring in a QB COACH to coach. You bring in a QB to take snaps from the center, and then handoff and throw the football. Then you let the QB’s compete for the job and you play the best QB on your roster, regardless of age or salary or name.

by ephram on May 15, 2011 9:44 PM EDT reply actions

Start him. It’s the best way for him to learn the quickest.

by MrPoopyPants on May 16, 2011 11:38 AM EDT reply actions

Gradkowski or Seneca Wallace.

I like the idea of having our own BRUUUUUUUUCE who knows the Gruden offense. Seneca burned us last year and he’s a Holmgren WCO guy with all the tools. Troy Smith is a possibility if he isn’t going to blow up on the Sideline. I don’t know what the fuck Singletary did to him but I’ll always remember him as a great locker room guy.

by Cry on May 16, 2011 1:18 PM EDT reply actions

watch the language please..

Give pizza chants.

by 80%OFTHETIMEIMRIGHTEVERYTIME on May 16, 2011 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions

One F bomb? Really?

by Cry on May 16, 2011 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions

Use “Eff” instead fo F***?

by MrPoopyPants on May 17, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Because that is the worst word that you can say...

…just use the word m’kay

by Boomer Lion on May 17, 2011 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Mr. Garrison says, “If that’s a bad word to say, the wifey probably isn’t too happy with ya,” m’kay.

by MrPoopyPants on May 18, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions

There are times when you get suckered in,

To drugs and alcohol and sex with women. (M’kay?)

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on May 21, 2011 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

It comes down to if we have a vet

If there isn’t one, Dalton should start, if a vet is picked up, sitting Dalton would be the best in the long run.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 22, 2011 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Is it really that simple?

What if we get a veteran who is clearly inferior to Dalton? Do you sacrifice the short term (where people think we could possibly be a playoff contender) in the hope that sitting Dalton will be better in the long term? How would Dalton feel about getting benched for an inferior veteran just because?

I know that a lot of us like QBs to develop on the bench and I agree in many cases, but you could also argue that the best way to learn is to be on the field.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on May 22, 2011 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

No, it's not that simple

But why would we bring in a vet if he was inferior to Dalton?

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 23, 2011 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Cough cough, Mike Brown, cough cough

by WHYUS!! on May 23, 2011 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Dalton might be a world beater.

Who knows how he’s spent the offseason? Maybe he’s perfectly ready right now. The veteran would be brought in not necessarily to start, but for the competition. We can get a guy who we think will be better than Dalton, but Dalton could always still prove that he’s better come time for camp.

"I bet that sex Bengals fan is really pissed now." -DT3428

by sexsalad on May 23, 2011 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions

I have no problem with bringing in another QB

I actually want that if Palmer actually leaves, but I don’t want us taking a vet who is just terrible, take one who at least is decent, and if Dalton wins out, awesome, if not, there’s a decent starter.

I am a bear of very little brains and big words bother me.

by Topher Doll on May 24, 2011 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions