Gauging opinions on Losman

[RuntheDamnBall]

The way I see it there are four ways of looking at the Losman situation, as I've detailed in your choices here. Very few seem to fall into the top and bottom categories, but I sense some haters out there who think the kid's got no shot whatsoever. I've gone on the record on it and I disagree. I'd put myself in category #2 -- JP's given us plenty of cause to worry, but I am willing to attribute a large part of his failures last year to circumstance. A clean slate, level competition and a chance to really win the job this year should give him the chance to bear down and rise when faced with adversity.

 

Just wanted to gauge opinions here.

 

Edit: PS, sorry for starting another JP thread.

[Dan Gross]

First off, Losman is, dare I say it, a victim of last year's coaching staff. He was named the starter without earning the job, which is something that even he was uncomfortable with it. As a result, I'm sure his teammates, who have all had to fight to earn their starting spot, did not fully buy in to a QB who was inserted into the mix. That certainly didn't help Losman last year as he tried to keep his starting role. It would also account for any rumoured "team doesn't like him" messages...

 

As to where things are now, it's kind of silly to think that the Bills would be ready to shuffle him off without even seeing him make one throw live, just based on tape. They just started the offseason conditioning program last week, so it seems far too early for the coaching staff to have assessed his current capabilities. Does that mean that Marv and company are not "testing the trade waters?" Absolutely not. You have a 3 way competition at QB (as Marv and Dick pretty much had said all along...Dick saying no one will be handed the starting job at any position, that it has to be earned, and Marv saying they'd be picking up a 2nd tier Free agent QB to give us 3 (non-NFL Europe) QB's), which means that there are 2 out of 3 outcomes that result in Losman not getting the starting job. Now this doesn't mean that Losman only has a 33% chance of getting the job, but if he can't beat out two other candidates in a practice scenario, then he's not going to cut it as a #1 QB for this offense during the season. If one of those two situations happen (Nall or Holcomb get the starting nod), you need to be ready for plan B. Plan B cannot (or at least shouldn't) include keeping Losman as a number 2 so you have to determine what your other options are. A trade is the best overall option because you get something for him. So where people are complaining that Levy won't get anything for Moulds because it's already clear the Bills will release Moulds, he's taking the opposite tack of looking for trade partners first in case he needs to dump Losman. This rumored "trade scenario" is not about Losman losing the team's confidence before he even steps out on the practice field, it's not about dumping a "TD guy," it's talking hypothetically with other teams to guage interest in anticipation of a possible outcome. This scenario would be completely consistent with everything we've heard from the coaching staff and front office, and I haven't seen them do anything that's inconsistent with what they've said they were going to do.

[RuntheDamnBall]

First off, Losman is, dare I say it, a victim of last year's coaching staff...

646678[/snapback]

I see what you're doing and it's amazing.

[VABills]

3rd option for me.

[MDH]

3rd option for me.

646686[/snapback]

 

If you only think he has the skills to play in the CFL why would you want to give him a chance to prove you wrong when you feel there is 0% chance of that happening? It seems like you'd want him out of here ASAP. If I felt that way about him I wouldn't want him on the team.

[VABills]

If you only think he has the skills to play in the CFL why would you want to give him a chance to prove you wrong when you feel there is 0% chance of that happening?  It seems like you'd want him out of here ASAP.  If I felt that way about him I wouldn't want him on the team.

646692[/snapback]

Because I am not an NFL coach, and therefore don't know everything. If he does work out, then I will gladly eat crow. If fact I would love to eat crow.

 

I am a Bills fan first.

[stinky finger]

I'll have a #3......supersized, please.

[grape ape]

I'll have a #3......supersized, please.

646722[/snapback]

still voting

[bills_fan]

First off, Losman is, dare I say it, a victim of last year's coaching staff. He was named the starter without earning the job, which is something that even he was uncomfortable with it. As a result, I'm sure his teammates, who have all had to fight to earn their starting spot, did not fully buy in to a QB who was inserted into the mix. That certainly didn't help Losman last year as he tried to keep his starting role. It would also account for any rumoured "team doesn't like him" messages...

 

As to where things are now, it's kind of silly to think that the Bills would be ready to shuffle him off without even seeing him make one throw live, just based on tape. They just started the offseason conditioning program last week, so it seems far too early for the coaching staff to have assessed his current capabilities. Does that mean that Marv and company are not "testing the trade waters?" Absolutely not. You have a 3 way competition at QB (as Marv and Dick pretty much had said all along...Dick saying no one will be handed the starting job at any position, that it has to be earned, and Marv saying they'd be picking up a 2nd tier Free agent QB to give us 3 (non-NFL Europe) QB's), which means that there are 2 out of 3 outcomes that result in Losman not getting the starting job. Now this doesn't mean that Losman only has a 33% chance of getting the job, but if he can't beat out two other candidates in a practice scenario, then he's not going to cut it as a #1 QB for this offense during the season. If one of those two situations happen (Nall or Holcomb get the starting nod), you need to be ready for plan B. Plan B cannot (or at least shouldn't) include keeping Losman as a number 2 so you have to determine what your other options are. A trade is the best overall option because you get something for him. So where people are complaining that Levy won't get anything for Moulds because it's already clear the Bills will release Moulds, he's taking the opposite tack of looking for trade partners first in case he needs to dump Losman. This rumored "trade scenario" is not about Losman losing the team's confidence before he even steps out on the practice field, it's not about dumping a "TD guy," it's talking hypothetically with other teams to guage interest in anticipation of a possible outcome. This scenario would be completely consistent with everything we've heard from the coaching staff and front office, and I haven't seen them do anything that's inconsistent with what they've said they were going to do.