Could JP be the next great Bills QB?

Mickey · August 30, 2006

Time will tell of course, but for the first time since Jim Kelly we have a QB with both the necessary athletic ability (my apologies to D. Flutie and A. van Pelt) and the swagger (apologies to T. Collins and deer-in-the-headlights R. Johnson) to make it big.

The one unknown is game-composure. I don't think you can predict if and when a QB will reach that comfort level with the game such that he can begin to play effortlessly--i.e., enter the so-called "zone." Right now, JP is struggling mightily for all of his gains. My hope is that a patient GM and coaching staff, a decent O line, and a good offensive scheme (all of which seem to be possible this year) will enable JP to reach this Manning, Palmer, Brady level.

Until then, I don't think we could ask for more: a young QB with all the tools and a bit of seasoning entering his 3rd year.

I think that that at the end of the season we will have a budding star on our hands.

Am I unreasonably optimistic?

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All talk and hope, which basically has been the situation since Kelly retired. "Great" is a pretty hefty characterization for a guy with JP's numbers and who only just became the starter. Lets see how he plays when the real games start.

Peter · August 30, 2006

For those of you that are in absolute love with JP, I would recommend that you stop the hyperbole for two reasons.

First, he has not done much of anything in the NFL yet.

Second, for JP's stake, you are setting an impossible standard for the guy.

Let's find out if he has the ability to not lose any games and, with any luck, help win a few games along the way.

After that, we can start debating whether he is the second coming of Brett Favre.

Tasker · August 31, 2006

I would like to see drives that chew up the clock.

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Yes please. I hope we follow the line of reasoning that San Diego is doing with Rivers. Run the damn ball. JP throws a great deep ball to keep the defense honest, and can do a lot more. But I think that if we get the ball to Willis as often as possible JP will be better able to succeed, and our team will do better as a whole.

I'm a very big JP fan, so I'm not going to touch the main question of this thread about how good he can be, but it is important to be patient and let JP play 16 games. We've decided (rightly so) that he is our best option for this year, and there is nothing that can be gained by changing our mind before the off season.

It is worth noting that we are going to get mistakes out of him, but that happens with quarterbacks. Over their careers Favre has averaged 18 INTs, Brady 13, and Manning 14. Favre and Brady have both averaged 4 lost fumbles. So lets realize that if JP throws a pick a game and loses the ball every couple games, he isn't a failure. What he needs to do is not let those turnovers get out of hand, and get his completion percentage up around 60%. I think he can do that and help the Bills be successful in 2006.

Captain Hindsight · August 31, 2006

They say that preseason games are not important, but I feel much more confident in JP heading into this season than last season based on what I saw in the preseason games this year versus the preseason games last year. The kid definitely has a gun -- and the athletic abillty to make some great plays.

I hate to say it, but I really am glad that the expectations are so low heading into the season. Everyone is expecting us to finish 4-12 or 5-11. That will take pressure off JP, as the season is now being billed as his developmental season, rather than as one in which everything else seems to be in place provided that JP doesn't screw it up. That's what the caches were saying last year if you remember. Of course, there many reasons beyond JP for why we stunk so bad last season.

JP is a big-play QB. That means that we will see him make some great plays that should help us win some games -- but he is also going to make some serious mistakes that will single-handedly cause us to lose games. I expect tons of excitement in that regard... both good and bad. I'm glad to see that the coaching staff is mindful of this already. Let's give the kid 16 starts with what looks so far to be a decent offensive coaching staff. If he is God awful -- and not showing signs of improvement down the stretch, then we'll know he's not the answer. But I just can't help but think that we may have the next Brett Favre on our hands, if the stars and moon align the right way.

Bottom line: the onus is on all of us (fans and media alike) to be patient and not call for his benching early in the season. With two tough road games against NE and Miami to start the year, the chances are pretty good that he will struggle early on. It will be interesting to see how he rides the storm without a self-serving QB-killer like Moulds waiting in the wings.

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I completly agree with you on this one. All QBs struggle at times and losman will be now exception. But at least this year we have a coach that wont listen to the media. With the media predicting us having the # 1 pick, JP has no pressure, he can just go out there and play football. From what ive seen in the preseason Jp is more than ready to lead us to a respectable 6 7 8 win season with alot of big plays. i cant wait for the NE game. im calling an upset right now. Any takers???

stuckincincy · August 31, 2006

Yes please. I hope we follow the line of reasoning that San Diego is doing with Rivers. Run the damn ball. JP throws a great deep ball to keep the defense honest, and can do a lot more. But I think that if we get the ball to Willis as often as possible JP will be better able to succeed, and our team will do better as a whole.

I'm a very big JP fan, so I'm not going to touch the main question of this thread about how good he can be, but it is important to be patient and let JP play 16 games. We've decided (rightly so) that he is our best option for this year, and there is nothing that can be gained by changing our mind before the off season.

It is worth noting that we are going to get mistakes out of him, but that happens with quarterbacks. Over their careers Favre has averaged 18 INTs, Brady 13, and Manning 14. Favre and Brady have both averaged 4 lost fumbles. So lets realize that if JP throws a pick a game and loses the ball every couple games, he isn't a failure. What he needs to do is not let those turnovers get out of hand, and get his completion percentage up around 60%. I think he can do that and help the Bills be successful in 2006.

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Yep. If a club's scoring tends to be because of a couple of big plays, and in between, they don't gobble up their fair share of the game clock - they risk having a dog-tired defense and then take it in the neck in the 4th quarter.

I hope they continue to involve RB's in the pass attack. If you're half-way decent at it, it can mean that the defense has to watch for it, which can also mean one less screaming meemie zeroing in on your QB.

PromoTheRobot · August 31, 2006

I'll tell you this...Losman will be one of the most popular Bills ever if he can put it together. He must be the only Bills player in ages to actually live in the city full-time. That means a lot to people.