Nihilarian

Of course Rex wants to win right away. But he also wants a long term answer at QB, and thus the reason for giving EJ a long look in pre season. I'm happy the coaches are giving this chance to EJ, and it doesn't matter who starts the season at QB. It only matters who plays well enough to get this team into the playoffs.

If all the insiders are to be believed this could be an audition for a possible trade in the near future. This for a guy who was supposedly going to be cut months ago. But then the outsiders were spouting that Matt Cassel might be the one who is the goner before training camp started, and then once camp opened he saw a lot of reps with the first string. Bottom line is that nobody really knows what the coaches are thinking save the coaches themselves. If you are an EJ fan you should be somewhat torn on this start because on one hand he is getting a shot in prime time with some of the starters to show what he can do. OTOH he hasn't been getting that many reps with the ones, and is more used to playing with the scout team, and backups. I suppose a lot will depend on how well the Bills running game works, and offensive line holds up against the Steelers defense. Anyway, I look at this as a smart move by the coaching staff to try and find out what exactly they have in EJ, and if he has developed enough in his short time under Greg Roman to be given a shot as the starting QB. I personally hope that he has, and that he plays well with the starters. The Bills need a dominate "pocket passer" with a strong arm that will eventually develop into that franchise QB.

whoa, 28 pages already... nice to see that nobody cares about the QB position

Is this just to give the secondary work or is the starting front line actually trying to get to EJ?

Gotta love it

wow!

If Roman can build a strong, solid offense with a power run game, and be able to protect Cassel properly. Then I can see Cassel doing well like he did with his year of starting for the Patriots, or that one 10-5 season he had at KC with ex Patriot Charlie Weis as the OC. OTOH, Should things not go so well with the run game, or with the offensive line then we could see that 1-7 Matt Cassel who threw 6 TD's, 12 INT's emerge. If this ends up being the case I can see Rex Ryan wanting to go with Taylor / EJ after a few games of the bad Matt Cassel.

Thinking about how badly some Of Rex Ryans QB's have played for him. Mr. Butt Fumble, Mr. 3-10 Geno Smith. I'm really hoping Greg Roman calls the ball.

Gonna be interesting to see which QB gets the start against Pittsburgh, as whomever that is will more then likely be the starter come Sept 20th. So far Rex not telling anyone who will start, and has said that all three will get a chance with the first string offense.

This! I used to get ST Max free all the time, and now its getting tougher with their new two year contract. Since I got a great deal last year with the start of that two year contract, new Genie along with ST Max free. Now this year they are playing hardball, and don't want to give much break. Anything over 100.00 a month is kinda of ridiculous to pay for TV service, and around that price includes the NFL network, ESPN, and HBO. All I really want is the shortcuts anyway, as I can't watch or record that many games on any given weekend..or i go brain dead for anything else. I can't spend my entire day watching football (even tho I want to sometimes) The Bills game is all i really have time for each week. Those shortcuts are great as I can record as many as I want and watch one or two a night, as its only a half hour show with no crappy commercials or announcers to listen to. The problem is that you can't get the shortcuts without the ST. Currently In a holding pattern awaiting the first week of the season to make another call.

He is a good guy. I can remember he used to post on this site from time to time. He also hated Tom Modrak with a passion, and once Modrak was fired I haven't read anything from him.

As it stands right now I don't think starting EJ with such a depleted supporting cast will do him much good, as the coaches seem to have already made up their minds. From what I've been reading here it looks like it was a foregone conclusion that EJ was history until he stepped up and played really well in those first two pre season games. Now it looks like the team will be keeping EJ on the roster after all as third string. EJ supporters should be happy he is being given a chance to sit, watch and learn behind an experienced veteran QB with some actual NFL coaches tutoring him. That combination should result in a properly developed QB by next year. Would I like the idea of EJ starting this season behind that power run game with all the weapons healthy in his supporting cast, heck yes! This team needs to find its long term starter! Saying that I'm not entirely convinced that Taylor and his great scrambling ability is the answer. The team needs that dominate pocket passer. Perhaps Taylor will convince me in this next game against the Steelers. Anyway, It looks like Greg Roman choose Cassel, and wants him to start. Rex Ryan's choice was Tyrod Taylor Matt Cassel supporters should be happy because it looks like he will be starting the season, and Taylor fans should also be happy that despite being the backup he might get a chance to run the wildcat for two point conversions, and at other times.

Good stuff 26CornerBlitz. Good news to me that the Ryan thinks Bills have three good QB's, and its a high, high possibility that they will keep all three. Good to see Freddy is back!

Clearly because most Bills fans have a literal hate for everything to do with the New England Patriots. I even stopped eating "Kraft" Macaroni and cheese because of the name and I know!

He was a good player on a solid team like the Patriots or even with the Chiefs when ex Patriot OC Charlie Weis was the KC OC. Cassel went 10-5 both those times. Its all those other years that make me nervous. Like the 1-7 season with 6 TD's & 12 INt's. Should the run game falter or the Bills o line not be as good as it looks now in pre season, and Cassel needs to carry the team. I wouldn't be surprised to see him carry it... to a dumpster. If Cassel is the backup when the Bills play the Patriots, and somehow NE looks like they know exactly what plays the Bills are running....

If I'm not mistaken I can recall reading that after drafting kaepernick 49ers HC Harbaugh stated he got the best player in the draft. So i would have to agree with this thought.

Thanks I don't really know why but I can't help myself but root for EJ in all this. I dunno, perhaps its because he is Bruce Smiths godson. It might be its because he is man who is has a clean background and has no skeletons in his closet. (didn't steal a lap top or cheat on tests, and get thrown out of school.) Maybe its because I read about how smart he is, and how hard he works at his craft from other players. Maybe because i watched him smile, and be happy after he learned he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills! That he actually wanted to come to Buffalo. http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-draft/0ap2000000163754/Bills-draft-EJ-Manuel-No-16

I need to get my popcorn out for the battle of the insiders. Its kinda scaring me to hear that Cassel is Greg Romans starter. My reasoning is that looking at his overall record the Chiefs gave up a #2 pick, and gave Cassel a 67.2 mil contract, and went he 4-11 before suffering a season ending injury. Cassel improved to 10-5 in 2010 but that might have been because he was in ex Patriots OC Charlie Weis offense for a season. The next year he goes 4-5 under Bill Muir as OC. Then in 2012 went 1-7 under Brian Deboll as OC,and was benched in favor of Brady Quinn. If the supposed insiders think that EJ's game against Houston was a disaster... then they really didn't look at some of the stinkers ole Matt has played in. 6 TD's, 12 INT's while going 1-7 in 2012 What does it say that Andy Reid didn't want the guy, and released him in favor of obtaining Alex Smith from the Niners? With Tyrod Taylor the Ravens drafted him in the 6th round pick in 2011, and when the rest of the NFL scouts wanted him as a WR the Ravens thought to develop him as a QB. Was this Ozzie's way of flirting with a running QB which was popular back then, or did Ozzie actually see a decent starter in the rough? The guy really hasn't had enough legit NFL playing time for anyone to really know. http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/tyrod-taylor?id=2495240 Taylor played well enough in pre season for the Ravens to keep him around. http://www.milehighreport.com/2015/3/14/8216575/nfl-free-agency-quarterback-tyrod-taylor-turns-a-down-deal-from Rex Ryan likes athletic QB's and was thinking about signing Mike Vick in Buffalo. Taylor has to be intriguing to Ryan as he loves the guys speed, and ability to scramble. Shades of Mike Vick in his heyday, and yet Vick in his 12 years in the league has only played an entire 16 games but once. With all this controversy over who the starting QB will be once the season starts I happen to think that even the coaching staff isn't entirely certain at this point. They clearly brought in Cassel to be the starter while thinking about giving EJ more time to develop despite what the current insiders say.IMO... While EJ may have been on a short leash and regulated to third string in the first two pre season games. The guy was impressive enough in both games to keep things interesting. The Bills still have two more pre season games to go before Rex Ryan / Greg Roman are forced with facing the decision as to which QB to start. Who that might be at this point I don't think anyone knows just yet.

I'll starting thinking about this after the next two pre season games. Both Pittsburgh, and Detroit can score a ton of points while playing good defense. We will know more after the next two games.

I look back at previous running QB's and a lot of the good ones did well until an injury hampered their mobility, and then they were forced to throw solely from the pocket...then they fail. Russell Wilson is in a class all by himself atm, and nobody is even close to his level of pocket awareness, ability to scramble while making big plays. Plus, he is doing it with mostly nobody's on offense with his receiving corps, as the best WR from last year is Doug Baldwin ranked as the 42nd best WR. With a top 10 offense in both yards, points. While we all love what we are seeing from the guy right now. To me its a long shot that Taylor will stay healthy enough to last the entire season. The Bills need a dominate pocket QB. As far as Cassell goes. I can't stand that high percentage short passing game, as it reminds me of Edwards. Then, if a O line starter should get hurt on that statue of Matt will really resemble the Venus de Milo with no arms. EJ needs to keep improving and show he can work with the first string offense. Why my vote was "its to early to tell".

I'd call it lousy too. Looking at the play by play for the first half, and Goodwin's end run that was stuffed for negative 9 yards did not help. Hill off RT for 3 yards Seale off RG for 6 yards Seale off LT for -4 yards Seale off RG for 3 yards Seale of RG for 2 yards Hill off RG for 2 yards Hill off RT for 2 yards 7 run plays for 14 yards =2.0 ypc avg Hill off RT for 4 yards Goodwin left end for -9 yards 2 run plays for -5 yards Hill off RG for 10 yards Hill off LG for -1 yards Seale off RT for 2 yards 3 runs for 11 yards= 3.6 ypc avg, Seale off RG for one yard unless my math is off somewhere 13 run plays for 21 yards in the first half. = 1.6 ypc avg The QB Taylor rushing made the rushing stats look better then they were.

Good stuff GunnerBill. Both TT & EJ showed well. Loved that EJ showed up at the end and won the game. That Buffalo first string defense is so intimidatingly good. But that second string O line is horrendously bad. We need to start praying now that the line starters all stay healthy this season.

Not really sure where this came from. The guy took a bunch of scrubs that probably won't make the team, and drove them down the field despite their bad play, penalties. Then not only got a TD, a two points conversion but also won the game. Seriously, who gives a darn where his feet are if the guy can throw a laser into a very tight window in the end zone for a TD!! But then, haters gonna hate i suppose. This OP has some issues.

I don't think the Bills FO is in any way shape or form ready to give up on EJ, and never was ready to move on from him. They probably realize that with only 14 game starts under bad coaching that the guy needs to sit and develop properly is the reason he was working with 2nd & 3rd string. The FO needs to see what TT & Cassel have to offer for the upcoming season. If Cassel continues with his high completion / short passes stuff, and doesn't move the chains to score I can see him as the backup to either TT or EJ .

I think things will change as teams game plan for what he can do, and it will take some really great skills / luck to be a successful running QB in the NFL. Newton has learned to be a decent pocket QB while Kaepernick & RG3 have not. Wilson is in a class all by himself. I think nobody really knows if TT can survive even a regular season game against a good defense, much less a season.