From Second Round To Top Ten?

Is the Andy Dalton Fan Club jam-packed?

Not yet, there’s still a couple of seats available. 

NFL Films guru Greg Cosell on TCU QB Andy Dalton: Merits no more than a fourth-round draft selection.

“He won’t go there. He’ll go higher,” Cosell stated. “But he doesn’t throw it very well. He doesn’t spin it very well. He’s a guy you’ll have to camouflage. He needs a strong running game to be successful.”  Harsh words for a player that could be selected as high as 8; according to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora.

When a QB like Blaine Gabbert’s stock is falling out of the Top 10, another QB’s stock is rising into the Top 10.  That’s the case with Texas Christian’s Andy Dalton, as the Tennessee Titans have reportedly become intrigued by the possibility of drafting Dalton with their eighth overall pick.  Words thrown around to mention the Horned Frogs’ tosser: “elite prospect” and “less of a risk”. Lofty praise for a fourth-round talent?

Several league sources said the Titans are high on Dalton and consider him to be an elite prospect who carries less of the varied risk of other quarterbacks in this draft. One source indicated the offensive coaches in Tennessee are pushing for Dalton, while the defensive staff is high on Auburn defensive lineman Nick Fairley.

All of a sudden, Dalton is a lock to hear his name announced on Day 1.  So, maybe the new hype surrounding the TCU thrower is not that far-fetched?  Consider this; from his sophomore year to his senior campaign, Dalton led TCU to a 36-3 record, and two Bowl wins.  That has to say something, right?  It speaks volumes.

Take the fresh OC from Cincy for example.  “It’s getting very hard for [Bengals new offensive coordinator] Jay Gruden to hide how much he loves Andy Dalton,” one quarterback coach told SI’s Peter King.  The buzz is elevating itself to a new level.  The status of Dalton is straight-up getting to be like “The Jeffersons” (“Movin’ On Up”).  At the moment, the Carolina Panthers are currently pondering him and Cam for the #1 pick in Thursday night’s draft.  You can tell the Titans war room is heating up.  Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.

If not at 8 with Tennessee, then where?  How about South Beach?  New offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was the OC for Dalton’s NFL comparison – Colt McCoy.  Could there be a connection in Miami at 15?  Also, it’s hard to deny Jon Gruden, who started out as a QB’s coach in college and currently conducts “QB Camp”.

How can you not listen to Gruden? “I think Andy Dalton can play in any offense,” Gruden said. “He has a heady nature. He’s an outstanding, well-versed quarterback with four years of production.”  How about his lack of arm strength, Jon?  “The field becomes more available,” he said. “Putting the ball in the middle of the field favors Andy Dalton.”  Sounds to me like a QB that can get the job done on Sundays.

Dalton is one of the smartest with the football in his year’s QB class, but he also loves to take risks.  During his “QB Camp” Gruden called Dalton “one of the great decision-makers in college football history,” but was irked by Dalton’s propensity to “put the dagger in people” rather than make the right call during key moments.  Wouldn’t you want a very accurate quarterback to gamble from time to time?  Needless to say, the Andy Dalton Bandwagon is getting quite full.  Soon enough, there won’t be any room left – and the Titans or Dolphins could care less.