Bengals coach Hue Jackson praises Andy Dalton
By Josh Sanchez
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton’s contract will be expiring after the 2014 season, which has led to some discussion about whether or not the team will be extending his contract before the end of the regular season.
While the conversation continues, Bengals head coach Hue Jackson shared his belief that Dalton is the man who can take the Bengals to the next level.
Jackson pointed out some of the areas that Dalton will need to improve this season, but he also said he believes the Bengals quarterback is “on the cusp of something really good.”
“The first thing I want to do with him is go back to the fundamentals that you use playing the game. From how you get under center, how you take the snap, the sense of urgency in your drop, where you put your eyes, how we’re finishing our throws, our progression,” Jackson said during an appearance on Sirius XM NFL Radio.
“I think Andy’s going to learn that there’s a time in the National Football League where you have to say uncle and just throw the ball away. The key to quarterbacking in the National Football League number one is winning and he has that trait. Number two is being able to win the big games and obviously that’s the hump we have to get over. I think the guy has the makeup to do it.”
If Dalton can take his game to the next level, a contract extension will be well-deserved.
Another quarterback in the division, Joe Flacco, turned a contract year in to a big payday by taking the Baltimore Ravens on a Super Bowl run, and now Dalton and the Bengals can only hope for the same kind of success.