JESSEFEFFER

In defense of Kyle, consider how he basically throws the blocker while executing his swim move and doing a 90o pivot. This is why he lost his balance, imo. He's probably thinking that he did nothing wrong except succumb to the laws of physics.

If this ranking is all an opinion about "QB futures," much like a stock analysis, then I could respect it more. Probably not agree with it, but I'd be able to see where it's coming from. If it's about their production and their ability to help their team win in the here and now, then this ranking is way off base. There is a certain failure rate with every QB. I see it in every game I have ever watched. If you don't look at both the successes and failures and attempt to see how they balance out, then I won't respect your opinion. Until Fitz squanders a good/great defensive effort with some poor overall play, I will still believe he will help more than hurt their cause this year. We have 75% of the season left to see how the story develops.

The 4 Fitz picks didn't really hurt that much amazingly enough. Missed field goals resulting from them and the one underthrow was like a net 38 yard punt. When the last two came it was pretty much game over anyways as they were down 35-21 or worse and were not even defending as well as a speed bump. Desperate times call for desperate plays. Now the two fumbles which sandwiched in between the picks and occurred when up 14-7 and down 28-21 were huge point swing, game changers.

I think it was the defender landing on him with the full weight of his body while CJ was in a vulnerable position that did the deed.

Years ago I had a similar injury ("sprung" AC joint) from an outfield collision. I later hit a home run during the game although I could not raise my arm above chest high. Point is that there are probably some arm motions that are not a problem while others might be impossible. Just a theory but it could explain how he could be practicing and thinking he could play. It would be nice if both Spiller and Jackson were both announced to the crowd during pregame introductions.

Ryan Fitzpatrick is one of the BEST QBs at avoiding sacks while Cutler is one of the Worst. This is a tough thing to quantify but it certainly has no effect on ypa or completion %. Personally, I think I would measure it as some ratio of QB hits to sacks, a measure of "almost sacks" to real ones becasue defenders can't hit a QB when more than one step away from the QB attempting a throw. This one hidden, somewhat unquantifiable, talent/skill that Fitz has, explains how Fitzpatrick loses to Cutler on the traditional QB passer rating but evens out on ratings like those done by Football Outsiders and the related ESPN Total QBR. If their turnover stats are similar and Cutler is 3 or 4 times more liklely to take a sack when pressured, this becomes a huge difference between the two, It's was really the biggest point of the Flutie vs, Johnson debate. I read on one sight that Fitz has only been hit 5 times this year. This is off the charts good and it is partially a byproduct of the GM/talent evaluators, the HC offensive philosophy, an involved o-line coach and a QB that has allowed the offense to function while the ofensive line was developing.

To revisit this debate, here is an analysis of Cutler provided by a Bears' fan with some experience as a QB coach at the college and high school levels. It's rather technical but it's an interesting breakdown of what is missing from Cutler's game and offers an explanation about why he might be forever flawed. It comes from Football Outsiders as well. When I read it I thought it fit in very well with this discussion. Here is the link: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2012/what-wrong-jay-cutler

He took the shot on the left thigh but his right leg was anchored and was then flexed more.

If the Bills win it will be due to a KO type victory from the line play. Winning in the trenches is still a formula for consistent success, imo. By the way, Football Outsiders has them in the top 10 if you appreciate their approach to analysis. Here is the link: http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/teameff

Once again, more evidence that Nix, Whaley and Gailey do have a plan and are executing it.

I am sure that there are others that are more "in the know" than me, but if I recall correctly, I thought the transfer was all about a squabble over some disciplinary action Gronkowski faced at Williamsville North that affected his eligibility for some sport there. It may have been only for a spring sport though. He was on the national radar during his junior year and was already listed as a 4 or 5 star recruit. There was no need to further showcase his talent to enhance his offers and there was no need to disrespect the high school football played in NYS. Sure it was better competition in Pa but he already had the interest of all the major FBS programs as it was.

Take a look at Eli's career. It took over 4+ seasons and 50+ starts for Eli to become ELI MANNING. Even then, he threw 25 picks in 2010, his 6th year as their starter. Do not think that the reality of today is the way it's always been nor is it the way it is destined to be. Bad things happen to all QBs when pressured and some of them have no game to handle it and they will get chased from the NFL. Fitz can read pressure, adjust protection, take hits and avoid sacks. He has a game that can withstand, if not beat, pressure.

It was just as likely that Bills fans were calling out to CJ as there was a higher density of us near the Bills' tunnel. I know, I was one of them. Just an acknowledgement of how he has elevated his game and a hope for a speedy recovery. He looked very down as he was carted off and he needed some shout outs, imo.

Fitzpatrick is a far better quarterback than he is a passer. Some will understand this and probably agree and others won't get it at all.

Then what force was applied to the ball to propel it FORWARD if it wasn't the throwing motion?

It was the onside kick. It sustained the momentum and caught the Oilers unprepared as these rarely happen early in the 3rd quarter.

Have you watched it yet? Pay attention to when Fitz gets his shoulders turned and hits the near hashes. Look at the position of Fitz compared to Pears, Jackson and Chandler. That's 4 bodies in a line. While the entire home viewing public and most of the stadium could see that Scott was free and clear, Fitz could not. He had his back turned to execute the play fake and when he turns tries to find Chandler he gets a great view of Erik Pear's #79. Can he tell that Chandler is on his route? I suspect this is his option base on the the coverage. Is there a defender over the top? Could there be a 5th body on the hashes? So Fitz does the smart thing and continues to roll until he can better see the field. But Jackson continues to drive Pears deeper into the backfield and toward the sideline. Chandler is taking his route up the field more than across thus keeping Jackson between Fitz and him a few beats longer. Fitz stays patient and continues to roll and eventually clears Pears/Jackson and can see the field clearly. Just as he is getting ready to fire a bullet pass to Chandler, Jackson disengages from Pears and extends his hand toward the blurry flight of the ball which is travleing @ ~65 ft/sec. Jackson's hand and the football appear to be on a space/time intersection and what seemed like a ball destined for Chandler's chest becomes slowed and wobbly and crashes to the turf way short of the mark. Fans throw their fits and Fitz shoulders the blame. Maybe he never saw Jackson's tip or he has decided that he will shoulder all the criticism that comes his way. Either way, Fitz was careful with the ball, patient in waiting to see the field and decisive when he saw what he needed to see. Jackson just happened to make a nice play to get to the ball. This is why if I were on a jury I could not convict on the basis of eyewitness testimony alone. Millions of sets of eyes watched this play, inlcuding some paid analysts, and 99.9% of them think they saw evidence that Fitz was inexplicably indecisive and inherently inaccurate. The Bills have their 24 hour rule but we have nothing better to do footballwise so I'd like to think that I could convince some open minded Bills' fan at lest one, that my breakdown of the play at least plausible and likely 100% spot on. Anyways, time to let it go as we will soon have a new game to over analyze. Off tto Cleveland.

The reason Fitz did not throw the ball when everyone could see Chandler was open? Fitz couldn't see him because Tyson Jackson (and Eric Pears initially) was/were between him and Chandler during most of the roll out starting at the hash mark. The reason the ball hit the turf? Tyson Jackson deflected it ever so slightly as it passed by him and the trajectory changed in an almost imperceptible way. What was a slightly ascending throw, roughly parallel to the turf, was suddenly slowed and angled downward. It's tough to fault Fitz for mistakenly thinking he had cleared Jackson when Steve Beuerlein, most of the 70,000 in attendance and the millions watching at home didn't even consider Jackson to be a threat to the play and most of us continue to miss it even after watching countless replays over the last 4 days. Trust me, Tyson Jackson tipped this pass and all the Fitzteria over this one play is a sign that collectively we don't know wtf we are talking about. Too many fans are inclined to look for evidence of Fitz's defective play that they are seeing it in instances where it does not exist. I suppose this will be a season long theme.

Here it is just as simple. Losman and Edwards were good enough for 7 wins (even if they were tough to watch.) Fitz is way more productive than them. With the way the o-line has come together early and if they stay relatively healthy, 10 wins is a fair benchmark. If Fitzpatrick can't do his part to achieve that, then it's time for plan B. But, let's be fair, he's got a team around him now (apparently so), let's see where he can lead them.

Or the Bengals game from 2010 or the game for the Rams in his rookie year when Martin got knocked out.

Yes, he even stated that he wanted Fitz to spend less time looking away and a split second more to survey the field he came back around. He cited as the source of some of his ints when he reviewed every pass play from last year.

If you could, please rewatch the 1st attempt to Chandler. Play particular attention to Tyson Jackson who was being blocked by Pears. My theory is that Jackson was in between Fitz and Chandler right at the time Fitz got his shoulders turned after the play fake. Fitz kept rolling to clear him and Jackson kept driving to stay between, thus extending the play. Jackson saw Fitz getting ready to release the ball and extended his left arm in a swiping motion. He got enough of the ball to send it off course and slow it down slightly but not enough where the 99.9+% of the people watching could notice it. If this is so, it eliminates the play that had everyone looking for a rope and a tree. Tyson Jackson was celebrating at the end of this play and for a #3 overall pick, he rarely has anything to celebrate.

Thank you. I thought I was the only person to think that. I thought maybe Fitz was waiting for Chandler to hit a certain position but after watching it again I think he was trying to clear Tyson Jackson who was being blocked by Pears on that play but was managing to stay between Fitz and Chandler. Fitz kept rolling to clear him, possibly because he didn't want to throw a lollipop on a windy day and preferred to stick all his throws. Anyway, watch Jackson's left arm as he anticipates Fitz's throw and takes a swipe at the ball traveling by. I am 98% sure he grazed it, probably on the top, based on the trajectory of the ball and the "look at me" celebration he was doing afterward that was shown on the Jumbotron. With the ball traveling at ~60 ft/sec there will be no way to see such a slight contact on a replay it unless it's the super slow motion video that CBS, of course, did not provide. Fitz did not say any different because either he did not notice it because his eyes were focused downfield or he has decided to own any and all criticism, fair or unfair, that comes his way with sort of a big shoulders, anti-Cutler philosophy.

Oh, ok, got you. As these were very close but rather mediocre scores, I used the quotes to suggest that we were seeing virtual ties here. Should have use the quotes for both.