Have we all given up on EJ too soon

[Strongman]

They do, but on the field his speed an athleticism don't translate nearly as well. If EJ lived up to his fullest potential, I think his game would look a lot more like Ben Roethlisberger but he's not gonna reach that.

Maybe. Honestly, I'm honestly having a little of a hard time seeing the comparison. I think Roethlisberger plays a more physical game than EJ ever would. I kind of see him as more of an Alex Smith type.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Maybe. Honestly, I'm honestly having a little of a hard time seeing the comparison. I think Roethlisberger plays a more physical game than EJ ever would. I kind of see him as more of an Alex Smith type.

Well what I would hope for is Roethlisberger's ability to extend a play, take a few hits, and drive the ball downfield. I don't ever see EJ as the kind of QB who's going to hit 7-9 short passes per drive and march the length of the field the way Smith does.

[Ingtar33]

This is the Dalton, Alex Smith, Tanneyhill area, none of those guys are going to win the game alone and need to be on a good team and they have noticeable weaknesses and can absolutely lose a game for you

Dalton and Tanneyhill both were better QBs out of the gate then EJ ever looked. Alex Smith is sort of a weird case, because i can't remember the last time a first round pick was given 4 years (all starting) to figure it out. I said after EJ was drafted "alex smith" is probably the absolute max we can expect from EJ". I was optimistic though. EJ needs to get a LOT more accurate before he can even be discussed in the same breath with alex smith. and yes i just wrote that sentence. think about that for a minute. Alex Smith is the very definition of a "game managing" -mediocre quarterback. and i just without hesitation said it's an insult to Alex Smith to even include EJ in the same breath with him. That's how far away he is from being a mediocre starting qb. I think a lot of people are forgetting just how rancid EJ has been these last two seasons.

[WagonCircler]

I think a lot of people are forgetting just how rancid EJ has been these last two seasons.

Now you just insulted one of my favorite bands.

[YardRat]

I don't know, EJ doesn't appear to have anywhere near the pocket presence that Big Ben does...Alex Smith seems to be a closer comparison to me.

[Mr. Pink]

He still looks like Akili Smith to me.

[better days]

Dalton and Tanneyhill both were better QBs out of the gate then EJ ever looked. Alex Smith is sort of a weird case, because i can't remember the last time a first round pick was given 4 years (all starting) to figure it out. I said after EJ was drafted "alex smith" is probably the absolute max we can expect from EJ". I was optimistic though. EJ needs to get a LOT more accurate before he can even be discussed in the same breath with alex smith. and yes i just wrote that sentence. think about that for a minute. Alex Smith is the very definition of a "game managing" -mediocre quarterback. and i just without hesitation said it's an insult to Alex Smith to even include EJ in the same breath with him. That's how far away he is from being a mediocre starting qb. I think a lot of people are forgetting just how rancid EJ has been these last two seasons.

You mean in the entire FOURTEEN games EJ has played?

LESS than ONE entire season.

16 TDs passing 3 TDs rushing 12 INTs is NOT rancid.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I don't know, EJ doesn't appear to have anywhere near the pocket presence that Big Ben does...Alex Smith seems to be a closer comparison to me.

In what way is he like Alex Smith? Of all the comparisons, that one seems the most bizarre. Smith makes his living on short, safe throws and he hits them with regularity. To the point where it's become a huge weakness, as the guy hasn't thrown a TD to a wide receiver since the 2014 playoffs. Kansas City's offense goes because they have arguably the best dual-threat halfback in football.

Now if you look at EJ, his biggest strengths are his athleticism - he is big, strong, fast, and has a howitzer arm. His biggest weaknesses are his poor ability to read defense and his inconsistent accuracy. Why would you project a guy with those traits into someone like Smith, who will just throw 5 yard outs and slants all day and call it a game plan? He's not going to play like Smith and I think it would be an even bigger mistake to make him try.

I think the offense needs to be tailored to his downfield throws, because IMO he'll either sink or swim on that.

[Ingtar33]

You mean in the entire FOURTEEN games EJ has played?

LESS than ONE entire season.

16 TDs passing 3 TDs rushing 12 INTs is NOT rancid.

the only reason the int numbers aren't higher is because he doesn't throw the ball to covered players, AND he's typically so inacurate it's often not just out of the reach of the WR but the DB. Int numbers aren't everything.

[Meathead]

akili, alex, all those guys look the same to me. you know, the smiths

[djjimkelly]

The bad news is that he has to learn a whole new playbook.

guarenteed all players in the bills future have some form of romans offense already especially EJ and tuel the qbs

[WagonCircler]

akili, alex, all those guys look the same to me. you know, the smiths

Two insults to favorite bands of mine in one page of one thread.

You people and I are going to Clash.

[Strongman]

In what way is he like Alex Smith? Of all the comparisons, that one seems the most bizarre. Smith makes his living on short, safe throws and he hits them with regularity. To the point where it's become a huge weakness, as the guy hasn't thrown a TD to a wide receiver since the 2014 playoffs. Kansas City's offense goes because they have arguably the best dual-threat halfback in football.

Now if you look at EJ, his biggest strengths are his athleticism - he is big, strong, fast, and has a howitzer arm. His biggest weaknesses are his poor ability to read defense and his inconsistent accuracy. Why would you project a guy with those traits into someone like Smith, who will just throw 5 yard outs and slants all day and call it a game plan? He's not going to play like Smith and I think it would be an even bigger mistake to make him try.

I think the offense needs to be tailored to his downfield throws, because IMO he'll either sink or swim on that.

Physically, you make a good point. I was thinking more of EJ's mental makeup. Like Smith, EJ seems very adverse to taking risks with the ball. Big Ben has zero problem with taking risk (on and off the field).

[swiper]

Physically, you make a good point. I was thinking more of EJ's mental makeup. Like Smith, EJ seems very adverse to taking risks with the ball. Big Ben has zero problem with taking risk (on and off the field).

Uh. In case you haven't opened your eyes while you watch football (which is what it seems), Roethlisberger is thicker and stronger than either Smith or Manuel. Manuel is a fragile strawman.

[Strongman]

Uh. In case you haven't opened your eyes while you watch football (which is what it seems), Roethlisberger is thicker and stronger than either Smith or Manuel. Manuel is a fragile strawman.

EJ Manuel: 6'6 and 247 lbs frame vs. Ben Roethlisberger: 6'5 and 241 lbs.

That looks pretty similar to me:

And maybe if you could read, you would have noticed I compared Smith's and EJ's mental makeup and not physical abilities.

[YardRat]

In what way is he like Alex Smith? Of all the comparisons, that one seems the most bizarre. Smith makes his living on short, safe throws and he hits them with regularity. To the point where it's become a huge weakness, as the guy hasn't thrown a TD to a wide receiver since the 2014 playoffs. Kansas City's offense goes because they have arguably the best dual-threat halfback in football.

Now if you look at EJ, his biggest strengths are his athleticism - he is big, strong, fast, and has a howitzer arm. His biggest weaknesses are his poor ability to read defense and his inconsistent accuracy. Why would you project a guy with those traits into someone like Smith, who will just throw 5 yard outs and slants all day and call it a game plan? He's not going to play like Smith and I think it would be an even bigger mistake to make him try.

I think the offense needs to be tailored to his downfield throws, because IMO he'll either sink or swim on that.

I think the way Roman used Smith in SF, and KC uses him now, is the better formula for EJ to build from. Short passes, quick reads, throw in the occasional run. EJ needs to start somewhere, and if he can't succeed in a Smith-style offense his howitzer arm is a non-issue unless he improves drastically on his accuracy and awareness in the pocket, not to mention reading defenses. IMO considering those weaknesses, if you tailor the gameplan for his downfield throws you might as well tie an anchor to him and watch him sink. Cut him now, because it's extremely unlikely he's going to crash out of the gate this season and all of sudden be light years better than he has in the past.

[swiper]

EJ Manuel: 6'6 and 247 lbs frame vs. Ben Roethlisberger: 6'5 and 241 lbs.

That looks pretty similar to me:

And maybe if you could read, you would have noticed I compared Smith's and EJ's mental makeup and not physical abilities.

Manuel looks thin and frail. And who cares about his mental makeup when he has no QB instincts whatsoever.

[swiper]

Manuel looks thin and frail. And who cares about his mental makeup when he has no QB instincts whatsoever.

And not sure where you get 6' 6" and 247.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/...5803/ej-manuel

http://www.nfl.com/player/ejmanuel/2539228/profile

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players...2655/ej-manuel

[Strongman]

And not sure where you get 6' 6" and 247.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/stats/...5803/ej-manuel

http://www.nfl.com/player/ejmanuel/2539228/profile

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players...2655/ej-manuel

Got it from here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EJ_Manuel

Other sites have him listed at 6'5 and 237

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...2013&genpos=qb

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings...2013&genpos=qb

Either way, 6'4 and 237 is not that different than Roethlisberger the raper.

[better days]

the only reason the int numbers aren't higher is because he doesn't throw the ball to covered players, AND he's typically so inacurate it's often not just out of the reach of the WR but the DB. Int numbers aren't everything.

19 TD's in 14 games is something.

I don't think Trent Edwards ever had 19 TDs in a 16 game season.

And YES ONLY 12 INTS is also something.

NOT RANCID.