purple haze Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I am honestly trying to be objective. It feels like you guys are seeing what you want to see instead of what is really happening out there. How does EJ inspire any confidence in you at all after that performance. Honestly? I don't get it. One good drive once in a while is not good enough for me. I want a QB that can move the chains and help you win the field position battle. EJ certainly didn't do that tonight. Maybe I am crazy. It seems you guys think so. I just don't see it at all. I find my faith in him as a quarterback is worse after tonight certainly not better. I have no idea what you're looking at. It seems you have just made up your mind. You have to keep in context what we were watching tonight. The pressure, the dropped passes. EJ made several big boy throws in that game inspite of pressure and the drops. He has the best arm of the three hands down. EJ has always flashed talent. He has not been consistent. He's worth developing. EJ has led the Bills in the final moments of games of several occassions. He has also had some tire fire games. But tonight? I thought he was lights out considering the context of the talent around him. I think Kupper is a plant for whoever the weekly opponent is. It would be news if he didn't mess up. Edited August 21, 2015 by purple haze
MyDogLuvsPB Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Yes, true, all on the line, and Manuel came through. No longer is he in the 'vicinity' with his throws, no longer do players have to stop and come back to get the ball, but he hit his receivers in stride, with the ball almost always in excellent position. What can he do with the starters in there? (The Bills starters and the others team's as well. ) We need to see. Start him next week, let him have a half and see how he does. He has outplayed Taylor and Cassel in 'actual' games, so give him a shot. He is a very different quarterback now, yes still developing, but he looks like he is ready to take the next step and become a solid NFL starter. He looked good consistently tonight, doing things he only did well sporadically in the past. I don't know why Bills Nation thouht EJ woud make the Pro Bowl as a rookie. QB's and WR's take time to adjust to the pro game. I agree with the GM tho. year 3 is when you should be showing marked improvment in your performance. It's funny if people think EJ is so bad, then why isn't Simms getting any reps in these preseason games?
26TrapDraw Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 I agree with the OP. I understand practice and training camp time, but you got to put him on the field and give him a chance. The blocking, receivers, everything is just different when you are out there against 3rd stringers. If Tyrod is the man, so be it. But it just doesn't feel like EJ is getting a fair shake at this point. He was our first round pick and only played a little over one season. Besides, if it is Tyrod, then I think EJ should be the back-up as 5 mil is too much to pay a back-up. Lol yeah get rid of Cassel so we can give that money to Marcel since he's crying.
Big Blitz Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 If EJ is going to lose this competition then let him go down vs the Steelers 1s in Pittsburgh. If TT is the man he should have no problem vs the Steelers 2s and 3s. Still have no desire to see Cassel until the final Preseason game.
T master Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I think his play if only in this last game warrants at least 1 quarter with the ones ! Maybe some of his offseason stuff has helped him & they will never fully know unless live bullets are flying ! God knows Marrone didn't give him a fair shake !! Good coaching is 70% of the battle, that's why our O line sucked after Joe D left ! Same folks , different teacher, totally different results !! Give the kid a couple of series with the ones, if he looks terrible then scrap him for good !! Edited August 21, 2015 by T master
Dan Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 With the game and his Bills career on the line. IMO that was my biggest takeaway from this game. EJ deserves the next preseason game start based how he finished this game. Taylor looked pretty good, but EJ looked like what an NFL winning starting QB looks like. I don't care what the haters say, this has officially become a great and competitive QB competition. Watching the game, that's what I said to my sister. 4th and 4, needs a touchdown, one pass for the game and most likely his career in Buffalo. No worries, EJ. That's about as high pressured as it gets in preseason and all he did was zip the ball into tight coverage twice and win the game. Pretty impressive.
BuffaloBillsMagic1 Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 To be fair they should start and play EJ first half next game and then let Cassell and Taylor play a qtr each.
Buffalo Barbarian Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 How can EJ be evaluated fairly when he is always playing with the second and third team offense ? He should be given a fair chance to win the job. Every coach has there own guys and unless EJ was dominating (and he's not) TT and Cassel were/are going to be the guys. I think he should get some time but all that would do is take time away from the eventual starter. The coaches haven't at all. keep telling yourself that
Prickly Pete Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) If EJM doesn't get the start for the next preseason game I want to hear something that tells me he really wants the job. I wanna hear that he kneed Robert Woods in the nuts, and told him to quit whining. That he barged into Ryan's office, and said " **** you, I can lead this team, and can prove it". Hear that he told Matt Cassel that he sucks during practice, or called Tyrod a p**** and they had to be separated. Anything that would make me believe he has some kind of chip on his shoulder, or something that he has to back up. Even if it's ridiculously overcompetitive, childish and delusional. Something that tells me he isn't just passively letting his career slip away. Edited August 21, 2015 by HoF Watkins
Doug Flutie Band Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 The coaches see EJ every single day. There's also plenty of game film on him. He can't play, they all realize that. He's had plenty of chances and he JUST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. Throw him on the junkpile with Losman, Edwards, and Fitzpatrick.
Prickly Pete Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) The coaches see EJ every single day. There's also plenty of game film on him. He can't play, they all realize that. He's had plenty of chances and he JUST ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH. Throw him on the junkpile with Losman, Edwards, and Fitzpatrick. Perhaps, but then the same could be said about the other 2 guys. We are choosing the lesser evil here. And Doug Flutie was a weenie. Edited August 21, 2015 by HoF Watkins
ThurmasThoman Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 EJ deserves more time with the first unit He has stayed the course, was here first, has commitment to the team, has worked hard, Cassell is temporary, backup. TT is good, EJ is good. Start RJ the next couple of games. These injuries are killing us, we need 3 QBs. Rex, the wonder boy, is doing EJ a great disservice, if he doesn't have the chance to be the NO 1 QB. oh rly?
Solomon Grundy Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 I'm starting to think that many of the "Taylor gang" see glimpses of Doug Flutie in him and that is the gist of the hype. If Rex is truly doing a rotation then this should be EJs week to start. What happens if Rex announces that EJ starts next week, how would the "Taylor gang" react?
ThurmasThoman Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I get that it's a quarterback competition, but the Bills are trying to find the QB that can win a Super Bowl, not find a man to tar and feather on the way out of town. EJ looked good last night, and Taylor looked good last night. It is not a zero sum game. Sometimes teams have TWO good quarterbacks, and later use one of them to reap draft picks, ala New England, or groom the heir apparent over time, ala Greg Roman with Kap in SF while Smith was the starter. To my mind, both men have proven capable starters this preseason--in fact, EJ has the best stats of the 3, and that's playing with the third unit. I get that this is like politics, or gambling for that matter, and people want to see their horse win the race. But please, enough with the hyperbole that the loser of this battle "can't hack it" in the league and should be cut immediately. It's short sighted and mean spirited. EJ and TT are both men of deep faith who do right by their friends, family, and community. They go out, play good football, and do right by the Bills. Just enjoy the show, support the winner, and cheer like hell when the "loser" takes the field, because it was Frank Reich who led the greatest comeback in Bills history, which at the end of the day, might have been the most "successful" moment of those Super Bills teams' era. GO BILLS! Edited August 21, 2015 by JohnnyGold
ALF Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 I would want to see EJ play 1st half against Steelers . It's still hard to judge any QBs with the so many WRs and RBs out.
Solomon Grundy Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 EJ Manuel is starting to remind me of Steve McNair more and more
PastaJoe Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 I don't think EJ has the ability to handle the complex defenses that he would see in the regular season, as opposed to the vanilla in the preseason.
26CornerBlitz Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 (edited) I don't think EJ has the ability to handle the complex defenses that he would see in the regular season, as opposed to the vanilla in the preseason. Easy enough to throw that out there with no sound reasoning. Upon what do you base this assertion? I remember him having one of his best games as a pro against the Rex Ryan defense and the NYJ in his rookie year. Edited August 21, 2015 by 26CornerBlitz
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 My theory as to why they played EJ was, they aren't to happy with Cassel, he's safe, won't make mistakes, but that's about it. Taylor will be the starter, so they played EJ last night to see if he's a good enough #2, if so they dump Cassels $4.5 mil contract, then use that money to make Darius happy again. Did EJ make the Bills' think they could dump Cassel, not so sure about that. EJ had some good plays, but still pelnty of EJ of old plays too. But does he give you as much as Cassel gives you, maybe?? Then why did the play him the entire second half? The media isn't making the decision in any case.
sjjr Posted August 21, 2015 Posted August 21, 2015 Tyrod Taylor showed everything that a winning starting QB in the NFL needs to last night. His poise and decision on 3rd down in particular was impressive and that will be crucial to the Bills being successful this season. It's less about EJ and more about how good Tyrod Taylor is now. EJ didn't look bad last night and showed character but still made some mistakes in key moments that more times than not he'll pay for. He does deserve some game time with the 1st team and should stay on the roster as a 2nd or 3rd string. If Taylor struggles during the season either EJ or Cassell have to be ready.
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