JESSEFEFFER

In my opnion, Matt Cassel as the #2 is the QB caddy. He works the game plan, practices and videotape sessions right beside Tyrod and is in his ear the most when Tyrod is not on the headset talking to the coaches. If anything happens to Tyrod, Matt is the choice to go in. Who starts the next game, if needed, is a mystery but I think it might be EJ. Rex's comment suggested that there is something atypical about the #2 / #3 QB roles. I have refrained from happy dances of any sort because we are still just guessing about how the coaching staff feels about any of these guys. They might like Tyrod as #1 but we have no clue as to the depth of that support. They may like Cassel as #2 but they certainly weren't prepping him to start with 4 series of live action and they certainly exposed themselves to losing him. In their minds, they obviously were ok with EJ at #2 but we have no idea what they want to see from him that he has yet to show or whether they really believe he can develop into a QB they could win with.

I like this game. I see a resemblance to Percy from The Green Mile. Here's another, Johnny Manziel reminded me of Archie from Rob Roy. Once I get these in my head it somehow changes how I think of them. In some cases, I think look-a-likes do fit a proper perception.

I'll play the game. In the following quote: What was going to follow the "....."? "We brought Matt Cassel back,” Ryan said in an unscheduled meeting with reporters. “We said all along we like our three quarterbacks which is obvious. For your depth chart purposes Matt will be two, EJ [Manuel] will be three, but that means…. As I have said from day one we like all three of the guys and we never want to lose anybody obviously. So that is why we made the decision we did." The "your depth chart" implies the one released to the media. The "but" implies that there is more to the depth chart than appearances. What that is, I do not know. But I will speculate for the fun of it. The Bills like to have Cassel with the ones in practices, running plays that are in the game plan. They think there is something of benefit to Tyrod to have Matt Cassel there with him during practices and reviewing the tape. EJ will run the scout team because it's a better look for the D to defend a QB that can challenge them more and good for EJ because it gives him more reps than what the typical #2 gets. If they were actually going to miss/replace Tyrod for any significant amount of time, I don't know what the hell happens then. But if the answer to that is EJ, then what you have is an atypical #2/#3 situation which seems to be what Rex was starting to say and then didn't finish. #2 and #3 for the purposes of your (the press release roster) roster, but the Bills' situation is not what it seems. Somehow.

I know feeling this all too well. So many games where the Bills never hit him even once. It was like he had the red, practice pinney on. Sure, he's a HOFer but he looks much different when harassed. They all do. Super Bowl 42 was the blueprint and the Bills have never really been able to follow it. Here's hoping.

Yep. Similar play last year where SD's Kendall Reyes tipped a ball intended for Sammy. It came in at his shoetops and certain Bills fans talked about EJ throwing another "dirt dart."

How often during the season would reporters even observe scout team work? I think not much. When observing in camp and EJ is running scout team what types of mistakes might you see? They are theoretically running their opponents offense against a superior defense. What should happen? Should EJ challenge the defense with downfield throws into tight/nonexistent windows or throw checkdowns, scramble/throw the ball away and take sacks? The latter does him nor the defense any good. Does the camp media even take this into account? I would read reports saying EJ's with the 3rd team against the #1 defense without any context. Running scout team may have been the coaching staffs' idea to speed up EJs decisions, make him better utilize space and time and force him to challenge defenders once they decided he wasn't in the running for the #1 job. Sort of like taking batting practice at 50 ft. to help increase bat speed. That's much of the problem with camp reports -- the lack of context. Sort of like EJs horrible 4th and 3 pass. Well, it was tipped and the majority of observers missed it. That sort of thing happens alot, especially when one is predisposed to ripping EJ.

I suspect that someone significant won't be at practice and he is having a pre emptive strike media strike to explain the reason why.

I don't get the M & T angle and find Tim Graham's tweet about it to be snide . The ad campaign has likely been in the works for weeks/months. The ad buys as well. Are the Bills supposed to tell them before they tell Fred? Are they supposed to give their sponsor some sort of heads' up about the possibility that it might happen weeks before it actually does? I doubt the time difference between when Fred was told and the rest of world found out is less than the time it's taking me to post this. In retrospect, cutting him in February would have been much better for all concerned.

That would be odd since EJ did get 2 1st downs by running and the 4th and 3 pass was tipped. EJ was making making accurate throws and good decisions but once he was no longer with the first team "the writing was on the wall." What that writing said is not clear though and to EJs credit, he never acted like he was done. As far as the OP goes, let's play a game of logic from EJ's POV. If I am not taking 1st team snaps, I am not really competiing to start. If I am not the starter, the Bills may decide against keepinng me on the roster. If I am not on the roster then I will be elsewhere. Have I spent any time contemplating where "elsewhere" might be or what it might mean to my career? Not really. I am focused on learning this offense and trying to perform well each and every chance I get, whatever the circumstances. I do not see a story there.

Let's assume this plays out as stated. Recall rex telling those covering Bills' training camp that he knew how the QB rotation looked but not to read too much into it. I guess they just couldn't help themselves and tried to do it anyways.

I tend to agree. Leave the training wheels on until we see if they can take the bicycle out of the driveway.

He will shred poor defenses that lack elite defenders. The Bills will be a matchup nightmare. I just hope he was keen awareness of everything that is going on around him and can avoid the big hits and injuries/turnovers that come with them.

I think Doug Marrone thought he made himself a hot coaching commodity with that 9th win. That and the $4m opt out made him think he had enough leverage to gain more power from Doug Whaley. He thought he had a strong hand but Terry Pegula didn't fold, i.e. give him everything he wanted.

Just got to this point in the thread and I am glad that someone else has posted on it. Marv once said that once someone got a reputation as an early riser they could sleep until noon. Same with EJ's accuracy. Every instance of the ball and receiver not meeting in time and space becomes evidence of what is generally believed to be the truth. Tipped balls, receivers bumped off their route or slipping on their break, a misread sight adjustment. It's been open season on EJ. Weird how that works.

I have seen this analysis far too often with regard to EJ. The instances of EJ's inaccuracy are greatly exaggerated. This particular pass was a TIPPED BALL! Just because Steve Tasker didn't see it does not mean that it wasn't.

The WGR host (Kollar?) was trying to "read the tea leaves" and predicting Cassel as the choice as implied by the Bills' QB usage throughout preseason. I say in a three man race, the normal rules don't apply. I will ask this, though. What NFL team plays their starter for only 4 series for an entire 4 game stretch of preseason? Matt Cassel is the measuring stick and Tyrod and EJ have been given every chance to show they have grown beyond what he offers. How could anyone say otherwise?

Serious question. As a scout team QB what do you think EJ's instructions were? Make safe throws, throw the ball away, scramble for a first down when pressured? Or did the coacing staff want him to throw into tight spaces, challenge the defenders even in tight coverage and see who can battle for the ball? Is the latter likely to make EJ look good in practice 100% of the time? Rex told the media more than once that he knew how the QB rotation appeared to them, but not to read too much into it. I wondered what that meant as it was rather enigmatic. Playing with overmatched offensive talent against the 1st team defense may have done both EJ and the D some good. Helped to speed up his decisions, get the ball out quicker and throw into small or nonexistent windows all the while letting defenders finish the plays by defending the ball. Maybe that's what was showing up on that last drive against the Browns.

He said that they'd keep their best 53 players on the roster and that he was pretty certain that would include 3 QBs. So is Simms 53 worthy?

Also, scout team reps vs. #1 are plays that aren't your own to players who are not likely to win their 1 on 1 matchups. That's alot of throws into tiny or nonexistent windows. When playing scout team, you pretty much have to execute the play to the end to do the defense any good. So, maybe when EJ struggles in that situation how could any casual observer infer much about his actual play? Rex said more than once that he knew how the QB pratice rotation looked to the observers but cautioned them to not read too much into it. Maybe they should have believed him.

I do not think the limited reps for the eventual starter mean that much in this game. No McCoy, Watkins, Woods, Harvin, Hogan. Maybe they could run their multiple TE stuff.

Yep.

They don't have the top 4 or 5 receivers to work with so it's not like they can build much timing with the guys that will actually play vs. the Colts. rex is probably aware of how much crap EJ has taken over the last 10 months, has seen him do and say all the right things, and wants to show him a little support. That might play well in the locker room and if messes with the mental minions of the media, all the better.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/06/22/houston-texans-offense-fear-the-beard/ https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/04/14/receiver-values-amish-powered-jets/ Some nice analysis about Fitz from PFF. I always thought he was a nice "template" QB. He will give all the parts of the offense a chance to function and improve to the point where the offense will mature, but will make too many mistakes in that process that lose games and will need to be replaced by someone better. Basically, these articles say that Fitz has a consistently good effect on the production of his teammates. As to the OP referenced article, I am pretty sure that the last GIF is an example of the flight of a ball being tipped.

When I watched Flutie play the thing that stood out to me was how good he was at avoiding big hits. His size and style of play made this essential to any success he had. I think Russell Wilson is the same. Agile but also aware and decisive. I never really liked Michael Vick's style because he seemed unaware/indecisive too often. He'd run himself into big hits and with that comes injuries and turnovers. That's what we do not know about Taylor and we won't until he plays against good defenses with elite defenders in tough conditions.