Orton Being Underappreciated Again with Bills

[Fan in Chicago]

I've seen this posted several times with nothing to support the statement based on Orton's actual game performance. He's gotten worse as the season has progressed with the offense being at its most inept with him in the lineup.

 

I think at this point, Marrone must be in a 'do not rock the boat' mentality. If he makes a switch and things go wrong, he will be fired. This has the makings of the Flutie-RJ controversy where to this day, people debate whether Flutie should have started against the Titans.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I've seen this posted several times with nothing to support the statement based on Orton's actual game performance. He's gotten worse as the season has progressed with the offense being at its most inept with him in the lineup.

 

Look, I like EJ and hope he succeeds, but:

 

1) EJ doesn't make that throw early in the game to Watkins down the sideline.

2) I have never seen EJ make the back-shoulder throw that Woods caught

3) EJ doesn't read the blitzing corner and make that long throw to Bryce Brown.

4) On the last drive when we needed a third down conversion, I am not confident in EJ making the throw to Chandler in tight coverage for a 1st down conversion.

 

And this was only yesterday, when Orton was pretty bad.

 

The other thing that people forget was that what drove us all crazy about EJ was his inability to throw the ball with any accuracy anywhere, even the dump offs. Orton isn't great (e.g., he missed Woods on an easy cross), but he is better. He's not getting his dump off and screen passes batted down like EJ was, or throwing them into the ground.

[Dibs]

.......He is however who we thought he was. A journeyman QB who can win some games by himself but is mediocre overall.....

 

I was actually expecting better play from Orton....and I wasn't expecting much in the first place.

I don't really recall how he has played throughout his career but I'd be pretty sure it was a damned sight better than he has played for us over the last bunch of weeks.

[26CornerBlitz]

I think at this point, Marrone must be in a 'do not rock the boat' mentality. If he makes a switch and things go wrong, he will be fired. This has the makings of the Flutie-RJ controversy where to this day, people debate whether Flutie should have started against the Titans.

 

I agree that he's not going to change, but based on the totality of what I've seen from Orton since he took over "best chance to win" just isn't the case. As I noted elsewhere, one offensive TD vs. KC, zero at MIA, one vs. CLE, two garbage TDs at DEN, and zero yesterday vs. GB. That is simply a pathetic string of performances and Orton is largely responsible for it.

[BuffaloBaumer]

The story of Kyle Orton's career is he is a pretty good player, however, for some reason, nobody wants him. This trend has continued in Buffalo with Bills fans. I live in Indiana which is where Purdue University is (Orton's alma mater). My two brothers and sister-in-law went to school there when Orton was the quarterback. Because of this, I have followed his career more closely than most. Firstly, I want to dismiss the idea that I am biased toward Orton for this reason. I actually despise Purdue. I went to Indiana University out of high school and Purdue is our rival.

 

Orton followed Drew Brees at Purdue and was a very good college QB. However, because he followed Brees he was underappreciated even at Purdue. Orton was drafted by the Bears in the early 4th round. He started 15 games as a rookie and won 10. Yes, I know, the Bears defense was great then. However, he was a rookie, came in and made good decisions as a game manager and did what was necessary to win games. They benched him 2 games before the playoffs began in favor of Rex Grossman who was coming off injury. The Bears lost their first game in the postseason with Grossman at the helm. Orton saw zero game action the next year placed on the third string behind Grossman and Griese.

 

In his third year with the Bears, with three games left, he was given the starting role again finally. He went 2-1 in the final three games.

 

In his 4th year with the Bears, he entered the season competing against Grossman for the starting role. He won the starting role. He went 8-7 as a starter, missing one game for injury. They missed the playoffs by one game.

 

After this year, he was expecting to come back to the starting role he left in Chicago. He was traded to Denver for Cutler.

 

In his first year with Denver (2009-2010), he went 8-8 with pretty good statistics. In his 2nd year, he started 13 games. Their record was not good, however his statistics were pretty good. He had an 87.5 passer rating for the year. The Broncos coach was fired midseaon and Tebowmania began when he had a poor game late in the season. The interim coach benched Orton in favor of Tebow for the final three games. In his third year, he started poorly and the chants for Tebow immediately reached a fever pitch. He went 1-4 as starter this year with a 75.4 rating. He ended up with 49 touchdowns, 28 interceptions and almost 5,000 yards in 2.5 season with the Broncos. He was cut by the Broncos.

 

The Chiefs claimed him off waivers. Two other teams tried to claim him but the Chiefs had the worst record. With three games to go in the season, Orton was named the starter. In hist 1st game, he beat the then undefeated Packers in weak 15 of the NFL season. He went 2-1 as a starter for the Chiefs. The Chiefs didn't resign him.

 

He has been backing up Tony Romo (a yearly pro bowler) in the previous two years. In the limited time he has had to come in for Romo he has performed. Dallas knew he had value and really wanted to keep him as backup to Romo. However, clearly he did not want to stay and back up Romo.

 

He is now in Buffalo. He has a QB rating of 89.2 despite playing a disproportionate number of highly ranked defenses. He has over 2,300 yards and a 2-1 TD-Interception ration. Sadly, the story of Orton's career continues in Buffalo. Orton performs pretty well but is not wanted. Is he a tier one franchise QB? Of course not. However, I think Buffalo (like everywhere else) is not appreciating Orton for what he is. Orton can win in Buffalo. Don't run him out of town.

 

He is absolutely terrible and if he plays one down next year, this defense will be wasted.

[Fan in Chicago]

I agree that he's not going to change, but based on the totality of what I've seen from Orton since he took over "best chance to win" just isn't the case. As I noted elsewhere, one offensive TD vs. KC, zero at MIA, one vs. CLE, two garbage TDs at DEN, and zero yesterday vs. GB. That is simply a pathetic string of performances and Orton is largely responsible for it.

I also am very frustrated by the Orton-led offense but it is late in the season, we are in the playoff race and Marrone may be on a warm seat which will get very hot very quickly if things back-fire.

[CountDorkula]

Look, I like EJ and hope he succeeds, but:

 

1) EJ doesn't make that throw early in the game to Watkins down the sideline.

2) I have never seen EJ make the back-shoulder throw that Woods caught

3) EJ doesn't read the blitzing corner and make that long throw to Bryce Brown.

4) On the last drive when we needed a third down conversion, I am not confident in EJ making the throw to Chandler in tight coverage for a 1st down conversion.

 

And this was only yesterday, when Orton was pretty bad.

 

The other thing that people forget was that what drove us all crazy about EJ was his inability to throw the ball with any accuracy anywhere, even the dump offs. Orton isn't great (e.g., he missed Woods on an easy cross), but he is better. He's not getting his dump off and screen passes batted down like EJ was, or throwing them into the ground.

 

Ortons play is exactly why we were all wanting EJ to be benched. The last two games were EJ V Houston bad

[FireChan]

 

 

Ortons play is exactly why we were all wanting EJ to be benched. The last two games were EJ V Houston bad

 

I wanted EJ benched because he saw open recievers down field, and still checked down. I'd rather have incompetence than that kind of lack of confidence.

[CountDorkula]

I wanted EJ benched because he saw open recievers down field, and still checked down. I'd rather have incompetence than that kind of lack of confidence.

IS Orton not doing the same thing?

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I wanted EJ benched because he saw open recievers down field, and still checked down. I'd rather have incompetence than that kind of lack of confidence.

 

Agreed. It is sad, but you are right.

[CountDorkula]

Agreed. It is sad, but you are right.

 

He is not though. He is wrong. But "EJ Sucks" sorry had to get that relevant shot in.

 

Orton has had WR's one on one and has not thrown the ball Look at the all 22's. Last week woods and Watkins beat one on one coverage and Orton checked down to the TE's several times.

 

Lack of confidence. Like turning your back to the o-line and just giving up and laying down for a sack?

[FireChan]

 

IS Orton not doing the same thing?

 

Not that I've seen. Sometimes he dumps off early because he senses pressure, but I haven't seen him look Sammy's or Woods' way with 1-on-1 coverage and not throw it.

 

 

 

He is not though. He is wrong. But "EJ Sucks" sorry had to get that relevant shot in.

 

Orton has had WR's one on one and has not thrown the ball Look at the all 22's. Last week woods and Watkins beat one on one coverage and Orton checked down to the TE's several times.

 

Lack of confidence. Like turning your back to the o-line and just giving up and laying down for a sack?

 

He didn't look their way.

Edited December 15, 2014 by FireChan

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

He is not though. He is wrong. But "EJ Sucks" sorry had to get that relevant shot in.

 

Orton has had WR's one on one and has not thrown the ball Look at the all 22's. Last week woods and Watkins beat one on one coverage and Orton checked down to the TE's several times.

 

Lack of confidence. Like turning your back to the o-line and just giving up and laying down for a sack?

 

I think he needs to be more aggressive going down field. But what he is doing now is probably more than EJ was doing. Off the top of my head, I can recall at least five downfield throws to Watkins alone.

[TSOL]

Orton has little confidence in his arm in large part because of a lack of off season training

[TheBillsWillRiseAgain]

Orton was terrible yesterday. Even if we get to 10-6 with him I can't see how the coaching staff will feel ok going into 2015 with Orton and EJ as their QBs.

[CountDorkula]

I think he needs to be more aggressive going down field. But what he is doing now is probably more than EJ was doing. Off the top of my head, I can recall at least five downfield throws to Watkins alone.

 

4TD's in the last 5 games. 2 came in garbage time against Denver. How much extra is he actually doing?

[FireChan]

 

 

4TD's in the last 5 games. 2 came in garbage time against Denver. How much extra is he actually doing?

 

Orton is playing atrocious, no question about it. Hopefully it's a slump and he gets back in stride against the Raiders. But if you really think he's not an upgrade, I'd advise you to watch Houston and San Diego again in its entirety. Our RZ offense still sucks, but at least we get down the field and kick field goals.

Edited December 15, 2014 by FireChan

[CountDorkula]

Orton is playing atrocious, no question about it. Hopefully it's a slump and he gets back in stride against the Raiders. But if you really think he's not an upgrade, I'd advise you to watch Houston and San Diego again in its entirety.

 

Again what would EJ not have done yesterday that Orton did?

 

They are both bad, but at this point to say one is better than the other, I am not sure how true that is.

[Kelly the Dog]

Orton came here being average. He was consistently average. Rarely great, rarely awful.

 

Immediately he was above average for a couple games. Then he was average. Then he was bad. Now he is awful. Just awful. That is getting less production out of an average QB,

[Maury Ballstein]

 

 

Orton is playing atrocious, no question about it. Hopefully it's a slump and he gets back in stride against the Raiders. But if you really think he's not an upgrade, I'd advise you to watch Houston and San Diego again in its entirety. Our RZ offense still sucks, but at least we get down the field and kick field goals.

 

Never surrender! Orton misses 5 yard passes better than ej does.