Stewart: Bills must live or die with Edwards

[madness]

Stewart: Bills must live or die with Edwards (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-4-359/Stewart--Bills-must-live-or-die-with-Edwards.html) http://assets.espn.go.com/profile/i/trans/icon_report_hi.gif (http://myespn.go.com/profile/violation?ou=afceastadmin&at=7&vid=1227254360288)
November 21, 2008 8:15 AM

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham More than most quarterbacks, Kordell Stewart has endured serious scrutiny.
<TABLE cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=203 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD><TD>http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2008/1121/nfl_a_edwards_200.jpg</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD align=left>AP Photo/David Duprey</TD></TR><TR><TD> </TD><TD align=left>Former QB Kordell Stewart suggests the Bills stick with Trent Edwards, above, despite having thrown eight INTs over the past four games.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"I sure could write the book on it," Stewart said.
Stewart estimates only three of his 11 NFL seasons weren't inflicted by some sort of quarterback controversy. That includes the season he spent with the Chicago Bears (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=chi), playing under Dick Jauron.
Given Stewart's wisdom, I asked the ESPN analyst for insight into what Buffalo Bills (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=buf) quarterback Trent Edwards (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=10536) is going through and how Jauron should deal with it.
Jauron's Bills have lost four straight games and five of their past six. Their postseason hopes are in critical condition. Desperate for a victory, they will visit the abysmal Kansas City Chiefs (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=kan) on Sunday.
But nothing can be taken for granted with Edwards lately. The second-year pro has been dreadful. In Buffalo's four-game slump he has a 52.5 passer rating. He has thrown three touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has lost two fumbles and been sacked nine times.
Even considering Sunday's make-or-break stakes, Stewart categorically recommended Edwards remain Buffalo's quarterback.
"Ride it out and let the man play," Stewart told me from his home in Atlanta. "The last thing you need to have happen to you as quarterback is the feeling you're going to get yanked.
"It has to be a true dying situation before you let that happen because if you do, then what happens next? You're playing musical chairs and you look foolish."
Edwards looked like a Pro Bowler through six games. He guided the Bills to a 5-1 record, the only loss occurring when he suffered a concussion on his third pass attempt against the Arizona Cardinals (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=ari) in Week 5.
"Trent Edwards this season came out like a cannon explosion," Stewart said. "Since he had the concussion against the Cardinals, he hasn't been the same. If you go back and watch the first few games, he was on fire, no turnovers. He was really on point.
"Now, everything's crumbling."
But Stewart sees no upside to letting backup J.P. Losman (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5547) give Buffalo's misfiring offense a try.
"I'm not a big fan of sitting the starter and putting the backup in," Stewart said. "You sat J.P. Losman down for Trent Edwards, so you have to ride Trent Edwards out. You have to let him play.
"You have to ask 'If I make this change, will I really have a chance to succeed with the next guy?' I really don't think they have a chance with J.P. Losman to make the playoffs."

...more... (http://myespn.go.com/blogs/afceast/0-4-359/Stewart--Bills-must-live-or-die-with-Edwards.html)

[gr8slayer]

Buffalo has to stick with Edwards, he's the QB for at least another season and deserves that opportunity. That doesn't mean people shouldn't be critical of his performance.

[madness]

Buffalo has to stick with Edwards, he's the QB for at least another season and deserves that opportunity. That doesn't mean people shouldn't be critical of his performance.

I never thought I'd say this but Stewart is right...


Stewart said the Bills need to "finagle the game plan" to put Edwards in a position where he can find a rhythm without hurting the team.
Stewart noted that opening the game with three possessions that end in a punt would be fine, especially after Edwards threw interceptions on his first, third and sixth passes Monday night against the Cleveland Browns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=cle).
"They need to manage his psyche and put him in positions to not fail," Stewart said. "They need to reprogram his mind. The coaches need to make sure the game is as easy as possible.
"It's one of the most sensitive positions out there. At quarterback, you're on your own. Going to the bench won't help the situation at all."

[gr8slayer]

I never thought I'd say this but Stewart is right...
The Bills number one issue isn't even Edwards' bad play, it's the inability to run the football. Few young QB's at this level are going to be anything without a running game.

[madness]

The Bills number one issue isn't even Edwards' bad play, it's the inability to run the football. Few young QB's at this level are going to be anything without a running game.

Most definitely and Cleveland was a good start. Turk should have seen the benefits last week and push the run game even more this week against a very poor run defense.

Trent is no Peyton Manning but Turk and Trent can learn a lot from how the Colts stopped teams from dropping so many in coverage. People here will ***** but Peyton checking down to Addai was the solution. We need to get Lynch the ball as much as possible this game.

[gr8slayer]

Most definitely and Cleveland was a good start. Turk should have seen the benefits last week and push the run game even more this week against a very poor run defense.

Trent is no Peyton Manning but Turk and Trent can learn a lot from how the Colts stopped teams from dropping so many in coverage. People here will ***** but Peyton checking down to Addai was the solution. We need to get Lynch the ball as much as possible this game.
Did you happen to catch the Cowboys vs. Redskins game last week? If so, didn't it seem like Turk was taking a page out of Garrett's book? I couldn't help but think back to the Cowboys game when I saw Edwards dumping it down to Lynch every few plays much like Romo dumped it down to MBIII. Not saying it's a bad thing, just an observation.

Either way it is imperative that the Buffalo Bills get Lynch involved in the offense, no matter what it takes. He is the most dangerous weapon the offense possesses and is primed to break out and prove that he is one of the better RB's in the league. He is a multi-threat RB who can "do it all" and we saw just a glimpse of what is possible with him last week.

[PECKERWOOD]

We need to keep Edwards in, I'll be cheering for him against New England and San Fran!! Somebody needs to tell the guy to stop caring though, he shouldn't give a damn what we think. He needs to be more arrogant, IMHO. If he listens to the fans and the media, he has NO CHANCE at succeeding.

[mybills]

Remember when Mitchell said the team thrives on negative media?

[acehole]

Die.

[evol4276]

lmao gr8 did u switch teams on us?

[Mitchy moo]

Die.

I hate KS but he is right.

[acehole]

The Bills number one issue isn't even Edwards' bad play, it's the inability to run the football. Few young QB's at this level are going to be anything without a running game.

Cart horse thing.

We have no running game because we have no passing game.