Hapless Bills Fan Posted May 17, 2015 Author Posted May 17, 2015 Are you sure about that? Since the Bills acquired Cassel (who I admit, I had seen little of since his big year with the Pats, all those years ago), I have heard 3 analysts (for what it is worth) state that Cassel was an upgrade to Orton, a substantial one. I don't hate Orton as much as some did, but he was fairly erratic last season, the longer he played. The only edge he had over EJ was the willingness to throw the ball, even when he probably should have thought twice. John, all due respect, while EJ has possibly never played as bad as Genos worse, he has never elevated his game like Geno did from time to time...and Dave McBride is correct, Geno played pretty well the last month of last season, or so. He throws a much more accurate and catchable long-ball than EJ too. He hasn't been afraid to throw certain passes that EJ has seemed tentative on...hopefully new coaching will change some of that. I am an EJ guy, and I would argue that the Jets sticking with Geno, even through the ugliness, may prove to have been a wise thing for the former coach...he did improve, and started to get some consistency... I'd be interested to know the basis for saying Cassel is an upgrade to Orton, a big one. I'm not sure I see it. The only thing I can say is that through his career, Orton has been a consistently meh player, while Cassel, several times, has had whatever it is he needs align and has played well. But that's like 2-3 seasons out of 7 where he's had significant playing time.
vincec Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 would it be fair to say that the Bills wi be watching for trade opportunities and even waiver pickups more than most teams? Maybe it isn't panic but I'll bet it's deeply concerned. I don't think so. I'm sure they're saying this because the Bills added more than one QB in the off season (and because they need something to write). I just don't think that means they're panicking. I think it's good to give yourself options, just like at any other position.
Hapless Bills Fan Posted May 17, 2015 Author Posted May 17, 2015 Can we just merge all the QB/EJ threads in the future? Heck, why don't we just merge all the threads in the future since with thread drift they all trend towards discussing the same topics?
dave mcbride Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Panic is the wrong word. Uncertainty is more accurate. I'm an admitted optimist, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect "adequate" play out of one of these three guys. Until camp starts, however, there's nothing else to write about. I got so tired of Fitz's inaccurate windup heaves it made me sick, so I'm quite pleased he's not on this roster. I agree with this. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Taylor ends up being the qb and that EJ ends up on another roster. Still a ways to go. Heck, why don't we just merge all the threads in the future since with thread drift they all trend towards discussing the same topics? Don't feed the merge nazis!
Doc Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Wait, you are saying that a QB can improve with experience? According to many here that isn't possible. Smith started 2x as many games as Manuel has before he showed some improvement. I think it would be wise to have a little patience with EJ (applies to ANY young QB). What would be worse than Manuel not panning out? I'd say giving up on him too soon would be worse. And while dave is pointing to Geno's last 4 games, he went 2-2 and put up half his 6 TD's in the Miami season-ending run-for-the-bus game.
BillsFan-4-Ever Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) Can we just merge all the QB/EJ threads in the future? because some people prefer to read the "short" threads over 50 page threads???? Edited May 17, 2015 by BillsFan-4-Ever
dave mcbride Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 (edited) And while dave is pointing to Geno's last 4 games, he went 2-2 and put up half his 6 TD's in the Miami season-ending run-for-the-bus game. QBs don't have W-L records. One of those losses was a 17-16 loss to the Pats, and he played well in that game, throwing a TD late to put them ahead 16-14. The Pats scored a FG on their final possession to win it.. The other loss was a 30-24 OT loss to Minnesota, in which the Vikings scored on an 87 yard screen pass TD on their first possession in OT.Smith led the Jets to a game tying FG at the end of regulation in that game. Indeed, he played reasonably well in all of the other three games. As for the Miami game, Miami was 8-7 and their coach was staying. How was that a run for the bus game? Even taking out the Miami game - which shouldn't be done in any case because it was NOT a run for the bus game (the Dolphins led 24-14 early in the 3rd and it was 24-24 at the end of the third) - his rating in the previous 3 games was a respectable 86.6. Edited May 17, 2015 by dave mcbride
Bangarang Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 We have one of the worst QB situations in the league and a roster ready to make a run in the playoffs right now. If it's not panic mode yet then it's getting close.
hondo in seattle Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Sports media types aren't paid to say boring but accurate things like, "The Bills don't have the best QB situation, lacking a proven signal caller." They're paid to be opinionated, provocative: the Bills are in "panic mode." I'm just hoping one of the three QBs plays better than Orton played last year and this isn't unlikely. Cassell. In 2008 with Pats and again in 2010 with the Chiefs, Cassell proved he can be a capable starter when surrounded by the right players. We may have the right players to make him look good again. EJ. EJ learned a lot riding the pine last year and spent the off season working with a QB guru. Greg Roman and David Lee both have a track record of helping young QBs do better. T. Taylor. Always great at eluding the rush, he's had 4 years as Flacco's understudy to polish his throwing ability. If just one of these three plays this year better than Orton played last year, we're going to the playoffs.
Doc Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 QBs don't have W-L records. One of those losses was a 17-16 loss to the Pats, and he played well in that game, throwing a TD late to put them ahead 16-14. The Pats scored a FG on their final possession to win it.. The other loss was a 30-24 OT loss to Minnesota, in which the Vikings scored on an 87 yard screen pass TD on their first possession in OT.Smith led the Jets to a game tying FG at the end of regulation in that game. Indeed, he played reasonably well in all of the other three games. As for the Miami game, Miami was 8-7 and their coach was staying. How was that a run for the bus game? Even taking out the Miami game - which shouldn't be done in any case because it was NOT a run for the bus game (the Dolphins led 24-14 early in the 3rd and it was 24-24 at the end of the third) - his rating in the previous 3 games was a respectable 86.6. Geno actually started the final 5 games last season. The 1st game of that 5-start stint was against Miami in Jersey and he didn't play well. Miami was still in the hunt at that time, and that's why I called the season-ender a "run for the buses" game because with Miami also out of the playoff race then, Geno looked good, on the road no less. I don't think you can put too much stock in that game. Or at the very least, you can't exclude the other Miami-Jets game. As for the other 3 games, he threw for about 60.7%, 214 yards/game, and 3 TD's to 2 INT's and lost a fumble. Not exactly stellar.
Fadingpain Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I think this SI piece is just a function of the 24/7 "news" world we live in now. These people have to talk about something! Can you imagine their constant need for content? Nothing new here. Of course the Bills have huge problems at the QB position. Any suggestion that we don't is just stupid. Most moves we have made in the off-season are designed to mitigate the QB problem as much as possible through ancillary means.
Doc Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Again, to comment on the QB situation before even OTA's have occurred, much less training camp, much much less pre-season, is incredibly premature. Sure it's a concern. Many teams have QB concerns.
PromoTheRobot Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I guess that teams that improve themselves are in panic mode.
ProcessAccepted Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 MSN has us ranked dead last at QB. No way we are worse off than the Browns. We are going to surprise the heck out of people again this year. http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/men-under-center-ranking-each-nfl-teams-qb-situation-for-2015/ss-BBjMlU2
starrymessenger Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Geno Smith certainly hasn't yet proven that he is going to be the answer for the Jets but he more easily conforms (than EJ) to the model of the young QB who is going to take his lumps while he learns to improve, make better decisions and play with more consistency. Marty asked him to do a lot with limited resources while EJ was pretty much mollycoddled by Marrone and Hackett. On the other hand, had they turned him loose in the same way Smith was I suspect he would have become an even worse turnover machine. I would not be surprised if it turns out Smith should have been the pick at 16. Love the Bills but frankly I don't think they have much of a clue when it comes to QBs. Whaley does a great job scouting LBs and safeties, positions he played in college. QBs not so much.
Fadingpain Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 I guess that teams that improve themselves are in panic mode. The article isn't discussing the team as a whole. It is addressing the QB position specifically. The Bills have indeed improved themselves all over the field, but arguably, not at the QB position.
Projay89 Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Sports media types aren't paid to say boring but accurate things like, "The Bills don't have the best QB situation, lacking a proven signal caller." They're paid to be opinionated, provocative: the Bills are in "panic mode." I'm just hoping one of the three QBs plays better than Orton played last year and this isn't unlikely. Cassell. In 2008 with Pats and again in 2010 with the Chiefs, Cassell proved he can be a capable starter when surrounded by the right players. We may have the right players to make him look good again. EJ. EJ learned a lot riding the pine last year and spent the off season working with a QB guru. Greg Roman and David Lee both have a track record of helping young QBs do better. T. Taylor. Always great at eluding the rush, he's had 4 years as Flacco's understudy to polish his throwing ability. If just one of these three plays this year better than Orton played last year, we're going to the playoffs. Sports media types aren't paid to say boring but accurate things like, "The Bills don't have the best QB situation, lacking a proven signal caller." They're paid to be opinionated, provocative: the Bills are in "panic mode." I'm just hoping one of the three QBs plays better than Orton played last year and this isn't unlikely. Cassell. In 2008 with Pats and again in 2010 with the Chiefs, Cassell proved he can be a capable starter when surrounded by the right players. We may have the right players to make him look good again. EJ. EJ learned a lot riding the pine last year and spent the off season working with a QB guru. Greg Roman and David Lee both have a track record of helping young QBs do better. T. Taylor. Always great at eluding the rush, he's had 4 years as Flacco's understudy to polish his throwing ability. If just one of these three plays this year better than Orton played last year, we're going to the playoffs. truth.
LOVEMESOMEBILLS Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 Ps - in his final 4 games of last season, Geno Smith was 71-109 for 1001 yards, 6 tds, and 2 INTs. His completion pct was 65.1, his ypa was 9.2, and his rating was 105.3. He really improved, basically. Let's not forget that the reason Cassel is on the roster is because the Bills lost out to the Browns for McCown's services. Geno finished his rookie season strong also then looked pretty bad for most of last season till the end of the year. Several articles were written about it. Like this one http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/geno-finishes-season-string-article-1.1561115 Or this one http://www.footballperspective.com/what-do-geno-smiths-final-four-starts-mean-for-2014/ or this http://www.chatsports.com/new-york-jets/a/Link-What-can-we-ascertain-from-Genos-strong-finish-2-9427511 or this https://williamedwardoneill.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/final-examination-time-for-geno-smith/ And this http://nypost.com/2013/12/31/geno-smith-headed-toward-another-jets-qb-competition/ Long winded way of saying he already did this once and it didn't mean a thing
eball Posted May 17, 2015 Posted May 17, 2015 The article isn't discussing the team as a whole. It is addressing the QB position specifically. The Bills have indeed improved themselves all over the field, but arguably, not at the QB position. Arguably, the additions of Cassel and Taylor are an improvement over Orton and Tuel...no?
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