15.
With Tyrod getting the nod, that’s the number of QBs the Bills have started since Jim Kelly retired. 15 is also the number of years the Bills haven’t made the playoffs. Both those numbers are intertwined because the main reason why the Bills haven’t made the playoffs is because of a lack of consistency at the QB position. If they can’t get consistency out of Tyrod, the number will grow to 16 for both.
Look, I’m not asking Tyrod to be the savior here. He just needs to be average. Average QB play+ Great defense+ Solid running game can equal playoffs. He needs to not make mistakes and make plays when the Bills need him to. He can be Mr. Game manager through the first 3 quarters and let the running game and defense take care of business, but when the chips are on the table and you are down by 3 points in the 4th quarter, you gotta make plays then. A number of fans have compared the Bills to the 49ers and Seahawks because of how they are built and statistically speaking they aren’t great when it comes to racking up passing yards. However, the big difference is Wilson and Kaep have made plays when they needed to. There is a highlight reel for those guys. Again, there will be moments this year when Tyrod will have to make plays. Its just how it always comes down as 17-3 games aren’t going to be the regular season norm.
Rex’s choice- This is all Rex. Once it got leaked that Rex was smitten by Tyrod, I think the writing was on the wall for both EJ/Cassel when it came to starting. He’s in charge of this organization and whatever Rex wants…Rex is getting. I tweeted out that I think a lot of the love for Tyrod was due in large part because of it being obvious that Rex liked Tyrod more and we are just sheep. That wasn’t received well by some who want to think for themselves and not base it off what’s in Rex’s head. Fair enough. I mean, if I’m basing it on preseason, both EJ/Tyrod looked the same to me. Yet, while they looked the same, it seemed like more fans wanted Tyrod over EJ. Aside from the unknown and fans being over EJ because he’s from the previous ownership/coaching regime, the bigger difference..Rex being in the role of the sheep herder and being on his honeymoon. I never seen so many fans and a few lamestreamers act like Tyrod’s Cleveland game performance was like the 2nd coming. Pick up your jaw from the ground, people.
Preseason is still a farce- THE BILLS HAD 500 YARDS IN OFFENSE AGAINST THE STEELERS!! ROMAN EFFECT!!! Pump your breaks. I like Roman, but while most Bills fans block out the times in their football lives where they believed that everything would eventually work out, I do not, especially when its preseason. Preseason is a joke and if the Bills get 500 yards in total offense twice during this season, I will eat a biscuit. I don’t want to hear about how great anyone on this offense is unless they have an established NFL regular season resume. Until Tyrod plays in the regular season, I’m not buying it. Now, if he plays well…great…I’ll eat giant crow! But don’t base him possibly playing well on fake August football.
With QB Tyrod Taylor starting for #Bills in Week 1, expect that either Matt Cassel or EJ Manuel will not be on Buffalo’s roster by then.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 31, 2015
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Matt Cassel or EJ?- Hmmm. I don’t know if Rapoport is talking out of his ass, but anything is possible, especially since they cut Fred. I hate Matt Cassel. I think a QB who has gone 9-17 in his last 26 starts and has just 5 300-yard games since 2009 deserves my angst. He’s not the safe bet. A safe bet normally means you can handle it without being flashy. He’s proven he can’t handle it and being safe usually doesn’t mean shitty. As for EJ, does Rex want to have two young QBs on his roster? Does he want to hear fans asking for EJ if Tyrod struggles? No one will be begging for Matt Cassel to start. Hell, I’d rather they call up Kyle Orton and have him come in 30lbs overweight than Cassel.
Did EJ get a fair shake?- For the first two season, I can unequivocally say he didn’t. Sure, he stunk at times, but Doug Marrone did him no favors and pulling the plug after 14 starts after being a 1st round pick was ludicrous for me. However, with him starting the 3rd preseason game, you have to say Rex gave him a fair shot. However, this goes back to Rex’s choice which I think was cemented more so in June or July. So, was giving him a start just to say he gave him a fair shot or was he really still trying to figure it out. I think its the former.
Final word- Look, I am team EJ because I think 14 starts isn’t good enough to figure out if a guy has it, especially since part of your upper management drafted the guy in the 1st round. I still believe its a team investment to make sure your 1st round pick gets opportunities to win. I would have rather gave it to EJ since day 1 and if he sucked during the first couple of regular season games, you yank him. I understand the Bills logic though, so, I’m not going to die on that island because my feelings for the QB position is pretty bleak. To be honest, I think we are going to have a few QBs start this season for them so all of this may be a moot point. I have zero idea if this is the right move and I’m NOT excited about it.
I’m going with my gut feeling from May when I knew these would be the QBs battling it out. My feeling was we are going to struggle at the position. I hope I am wrong and Tyrod is average because that’s all I’m asking for. However, the law of averages tells me that a 6th round QB is normally not average at the NFL level unless his name is Tom Brady. #Anomaly
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