Andy Dalton: Why He Fits the Bill for the Miami Dolphins QB Needs

Names like Cam Newton, Jake Locker, and even Delaware's Pat Devlin may be enticing, and good ol' Chad Henne might be the perfect fall-back, but do they really seem like they are going to be the next Dolphins franchise QB? The next Dan Marino? Whose shoes no Dolphin quarterback has ever even come close to filling?

While at this point the Dolphins seem set on passing on an average QB draft class, and avoiding free agency to stick with fourth year Chad Henne, the options are always there to replace the struggling Henne.

As I said in my article about the Dolphins QB situation here, there are plenty of choices still available to be the franchise QB for years to come. One in particular, however, shines through the clouds as the logical answer. Andy Dalton, the senior quarterback for the TCU Horned Frogs.

Dalton dominated in 2010 with 2,857 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. He led the non-AQ Horned Frogs to a Rose Bowl victory, and national prominence. So why is he perfect for the Dolphins?

He's A Born Winner

From his sophomore to his senior year, Dalton led TCU to a 36-3 record, and two Bowl wins. His three losses? Utah, Oklahoma, and Boise State, all nationally ranked at the time.

Dalton has given TCU the spotlight, something that only Boise State and Utah have truly been able to do in non-AQ conferences. In anticipated battles Dalton has been a warrior. Against Utah, a potential upset in 2010, he tossed for 355 yards and three touchdowns in a 47-7 rout.

Against Wisconsin, on a national stage in the 2010 Rose Bowl, he let go for 219 yards, one passing and one rushing touchdown. His team won, in one of college football's most storied games, 21-19.

Andy Dalton's Stats By Year

Year	Yards	Touchdowns	Record
2007	2459	10	8-5
2008	2242	11	11-2
2009	2756	23	12-1
2010	2857	27	13-0

Used to the Heat (Temperature)

Dalton is from Katy, a small town in southeast Texas, and a rather warm one. He played high school ball at Katy High School, and college ball at TCU in Fort Worth, Texas so he can handle Miami heat (the temperature, not the high powered basketball team.)

The intense Florida heat that overcomes opponents at Sun Life Stadium wouldn't be likely to affect Dalton, but other QB's who would be brought in like Carson Palmer (nice and cool Cincinnati), Kevin Kolb (chilly Philadelphia), or Jake Locker (rather volatile but not overly hot Washington state).

Used to the Heat (Pressure)

Andy Dalton is certainly used to the pressure of playing at a mid-major, or non-AQ school. He has had to face the toughest competition, the toughest odds, and the toughest scrutiny at TCU, and he has yet to fail. He took on the nation's elite players when he played teams like Boise State, Wisconsin, BYU, and Clemson.

There Will be No Pressure.

Chad Henne did not get it done in 2010, and neither did Tyler Thigpen or Chad Pennington. The Dolphins are coming off consecutive 7-9 years, and third-place finishes in the AFC East. The team and its quarterbacks have struggled, so at this point, they have nothing to lose.

If he doesn't succeed, join the club. How many Dolphins quarterbacks post-Dan Marino haven't succeeded? A lot. So he'd be in good company. If he doesn't lead the Phins to the playoffs, well then maybe give Chad Henne another shot, or trade for Kevin Kolb, or even draft Matt Barkley or John Brantley.

Little Fish, Big Pond

You mean Andy Dalton won't be the headline player in the NFL in 2011? What else is new. He had to try and make noise at a mid-major school in the middle of Texas, while players like Andrew Luck and Cam Newton were tearing up elite defenses.

If Dalton heads to Miami, he will be surrounded by boatloads of talent in the AFC like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Phillip Rivers. He will have to work extremely hard to make a name for himself, as all underrated rookies have to do.