Rocky Landing

That's a ridiculously simplistic assessment of Kolb's career. His pattern has been that he plays well early in the season when he's healthy, and then succumbs to injury. And, considering the dismal O-line he was playing behind in Arizona, it's difficult to say if it's a chronic pattern. But, even if it is, the consensus on these boards that Kolb has no value as a starter strikes me as short-sighted. If Kolb had truly "proven that he is nothing more than a back up in this league," then Marrone is a fool for acquiring him. I get that everyone is optimistic about EJ- I am too. But, I'm not willing to ignore everything that was written about him before the draft. Most notably, I am bothered by assessments made at the end of his college career that raised questions about his mechanics, footwork, and inconsistency. Add to this the fact that we have a new coaching staff with a new system, and a very young team overall. In my opinion, we are better off with a veteran under center for the first few games at least. What's so baffling about that?

"Put faith in the coaching staff you just hired, and go with EJ Manuel?" You're making the assumption that Marrone has already decided to go with Manuel? I'm not convinced of that for a moment. The new coaching staff we just hired are also the same people that acquired Kolb. Vince didn't start right away, either. He didn't start until week four of his rookie year. Very good points here.

I just heard a story on the radio during my hour-long morning commute that the talks between the NFL and Anschutz Entertainment Group have stalled out and are at an impasse. I live in the crap-hole that is Los Angeles (born and raised in Rochester). It would feel very weird to have the Rams return to L.A., but someone confirm or correct me if I'm wrong: is it not league rules now that when teams change locations, they are no longer allowed to keep their names?

I was kind of hoping (and I think Doug Marrone would agree with me) to do a little better than 3-13. Even so, you're comparing apples to oranges. Manning, Brees, Luck, and RGIII all started in established systems. We've got a new coaching staff and a new system. Also, all four of those QBs were stellar prospects when they were drafted. This years QB class was widely reported as exceptionally weak, and Manuel wasn't even considered to be in the top three. Now, after a handful of practices without pads, people on here think he's the next Big Ben, and that "it's EJ's job to lose" without having proved ANYTHING in a real game. I don't buy it. Kolb beat the Pats in week two, last season, with one of the worst O-lines in the league. That included a rushing touchdown. I don't know about you, but I would like to win the opener against the Pats. I'm hoping that Marrone will have a game plan- I'm sure he will. But, coming up with one, and using it, will be a lot easier with a known commodity behind center instead of an unproven, project rookie.

I agree with this. But Kolb should last quite a bit longer than he did in Arizona. We have a much better O-line. I believe that Marrone is looking at winning week one- OF COURSE he is! And, in week one, with a new coaching staff, and a new system, there are too many variables as it is. Marrone knows that Kolb can go in and play with consistency and handle the pressure. He beat the Pats in week two of last season. It's a lot easier to come up with a game plan if you know how your QB is going to perform. I think that the Bills should settle in to their new system and coaching staff before throwing a project rookie on the field. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't see EJ starting until week six against the Bengals or later.

This I think this is also how you learn bad habits.

Yes, really. I remember Trent coming back from a two week lay-off from a concussion and making a diving TD into the end zone. Trent didn't start his career as Captain Checkdown. He was set up to fail in Buffalo and developed some very bad habits as a result.

Even if I believed that you watched those first four games, that would be a delusional statement. Terrible idea. We didn't draft Manuel because he was a phenomenal talent. We drafted him because it was a position of need and we wanted to find someone who could develop into a franchise QB. Kolb should be a stopgap. Unless we don't care about winning games this season (and I'm pretty sure Marrone and co. does), we shouldn't push Manuel out onto the field until he is ready. Putting him out there too soon would be setting him up to fail, and possibly damaging his future potential.

In other news, plans for an NFL stadium in (or near) Los Angeles have ground to a halt. I actually live in L.A. (born and raised in Rochester), and I cringe every time I read that Buffalo is on the short list of teams that could move to L.A. It's a scary thought. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that league rules now state that teams that change locations are not allowed to keep their name. So the Bills would be gone forever. Even if they could, the thought of the "Los Angeles Bills" turns my stomach.

I'm not suggesting Amendola's going to start the season injured. But, when a player, especially a WR, gets injured so many times, their production definitely drops, especially against a decent secondary- which we might just have.

I believe that Skelton started the season opener last year for the Cardinals and was benched in the second half for Kolb who brought them back to win. Kolb started and won the next three games including a victory over the Patriots in week two. After that, he played injured before being replaced by Skelton. Kolb's biggest problem in Arizona was staying healthy. The Cardinal's front line was atrocious (as was Philly's while Kolb was starting). But, he played well in Philly and Arizona when he was healthy. He has an accurate arm, a decent deep ball, a quick throw, and great work ethic. And, most importantly, he has veteran experience. As I mentioned in an earlier post, he is a known commodity. In other words, when he goes out on the field in a real game, the coaches know what to expect from him. That's going to be an important asset for a new coaching staff, and a new system. Safe to say Kolb will be healthy at the beginning of the season. With a healthy Kolb, Marrone will not likely see any reason to rush EJ out onto the field. I'd be surprised to see EJ start before week five against the Browns.

There seems to be some confusion about the "any given Sunday" quote. It's meant as, "on any given Sunday, any team in the NFL can beat any other team." But, "any given Sunday" is not really the same as "EVERY given Sunday" An underdog is still an underdog. That being said, I think we have a serious shot. The Pats have a lot of concerns at the moment. Gronkowski, if he plays at all, will be subpar. Hernandez has issues. Their secondary is suspect. Their best receiver seems to be Danny Amendola, who is new to the team and injury prone. They lost Welker. IF our D plays up to their reported potential (like we all hoped they would this time last year). IF our young receivers step up and perform. IF Marrone knows how to utilize the run, and Spiller/Jackson can break into the secondary. And IF we get some decent QB play from whoever is the starter (I believe it will be Kolb), then this could be our "given Sunday." Why not? Go Bills!

I don’t know, but sometimes I think Bills fans are downright delusional. Before we easily traded down to acquire Manuel, he was generally considered to be around the fourth or fifth best QB in a remarkably weak QB class. Just about any description of him, pre-draft, included words like, “inconsistent,” and “project.” And now, after a handful of practices without pads, he’s the next Big Ben. Clearly. He has potential. I was happy with the pick and would have been quite disappointed with Geno Smith. But, throwing a project rookie into the fire week one against the Pats (as a 7.5 point underdog, currently) can have its own damaging affects. It will be much healthier to bench Kolb for Manuel than the other way around. Furthermore, I can’t imagine that Marrone, a first time NFL HC is going to rely on a project rookie in his very first game against a team like the Pats. Anyone who doesn’t think that Marrone wants to win his first game is crazy. Kolb has his flaws, but he is a known quantity, which makes things like play-calling a lot easier. Even if EJ lights it up in game three of the preseason (unlikely), starting him against the Pats is a higher risk. IMO- start Kolb.

There are some Vegas casinos that have odds on the opener, and we are currently 7.5 point underdogs.

The sky is falling... and landing in Los Angeles!

The opinions on this board regarding EJ Manuel are a testament to our fans’ optimism, short-term memory, and willingness to rewrite, and if necessary, completely ignore history. Before we easily traded down to acquire Manuel, he was generally considered to be around the fourth or fifth best QB in a remarkably weak QB class. Just about any description of him, pre-draft, included the words, “inconsistent,” and “project.” What’s really amazing to me is that the majority of Bills fans seem to have completely written off the season opener against the Pats. But, I have a hard time believing that Coach Marrone feels the same way. And, I have a hard time believing that a new coach with zero NFL HC experience, and a new staff is going to throw a rookie “project” into the mix against division rivals, the NE patriots. Could EJ explode in the preseason and turn into a genuine NFL starter with a better chance of beating the Pats than Kolb? I suppose. Is it likely? I doubt it. And, what is the potential damage to a “project” QB that we all hope is the future of the franchise if he is thrown into the fire before he is ready? Start Kolb.

Care to make a wager on that?

I've always thought that Edwards got a raw deal (as did we all) under Dick Jauron. A no-huddle offense with a weak O-line? Who ever thought that was a good idea? As far as I'm concerned, Edwards was set up to fail. Be that as it may, I'm more interested in the comparison between Kolb and Tarvaris Jackson.

I don't think there is any way Manuel will start in the season opener. Marrone isn't going to want to start his career in Buffalo with a loss to the Patriots. Manuel may very well be the long-term solution at QB. But, he's not the week one solution. I think we are going to see the QB that Marrone believes will have the best chance of winning in week one starting in week one. I would put Manuel third on that list. I would give Kolb the edge over Jackson.

Good to see that we are, once again, winning the offseason.

I don't think they are going to go for a QB in the first round. But, if they are planning on it, I think they could safely trade down to the bottom of the first round and still get whoever is available at #8.

If we're going to take one of these crappy QBs in the first, we better trade down.

We are 10 point underdogs.

I'm not going to put this on Fitz. Two of his ints were horrible. But, it's pretty hard to come back when the defense is allowing a TD on five possessions in a row. And, I'll even forgive Fitz's late int. He was in a position where risks were necessary.

OMFG