IMO - Bills will bring Fitzpatrick back

[Skooby]

Matt Schaub has a career average of 7.6 yards per attempt. Compare that to Peyton Manning (7.7), Drew Brees (7.5), Tom Brady (7.4), or Aaron Rodgers (8.0). In his prime Schaub was a good quarterback and a solid starter. But he was never at or near the level of Manning, Brees, Brady, or Rodgers. So why is Schaub's yards per attempt stat making him look better than he really is?

The best answer I can come up with is the difference between a run-oriented team and a pass-oriented team. Take the Montana-era 49ers, for example. A typical team from that era would have used running plays for almost all its short yardage plays. But Walsh replaced a lot of running plays with short yardage passing plays. It was an effective strategy which resulted in a lot of wins for the 49ers. But it also reduced Montana's yards per pass attempt below what would have been the case, had he been asked to focus only on intermediate to deep passes. Montana's yards per pass didn't make him look as good as he actually was. But if you're a QB in a run-oriented offense, you can afford to focus mostly on the intermediate to deep passes which are so pivotal to a good yards per attempt stat. The QB for a run-oriented offense--a guy like Schaub--is going to have a yards per attempt stat which overstates how good he really is.

The Taylor/Roman offense was nothing if not run-oriented. Taylor's yards per attempt stat is good partially because he's good at throwing the deep ball. But it's also good because he was not asked to throw many short-to-intermediate passes. Like Matt Schaub, Taylor's yards per attempt stat overstates his actual level of play.

Taylor was in his first season as a starter, so it's pretty hard to use all the great and compare them side by side and say look at this. Tyrod got himself out of trouble a lot and his mobility help save drives that might have otherwise stalled. This doesn't show up on the stat sheet except as yards rushed but he saved our tail many times last season. Taylor was also fairly wise with the ball as to not turn it over much via fumbles lost or INT. EJ got the ball and literally gave away the JAX game, if Tyrod plays in that game we win by 15 or more.

Tyrod is a gamer and he backs the defense up, unless he runs the ball. He also has been working on his touch game this off-season, so your going to see a whole different realm with him soon. I'm serious, this might get real interesting if he can get all the throws right. I wouldn't bet against him if he's healthy.

That all being said, we are going to need to get a backup QB ASAP. Right now, we'd be just as good to not have a QB lining up because there's nobody else on the team. EJ is not NFL material, it was just an all-around flub. He leaves FSU and they win a championship with a rookie QB, there was a team there that make him look decent. EJ was a decent college QB, that's where it all ends. He was lucky to get a first round draft contract, virtually a miracle.

[Arm of Harm]

Taylor was in his first season as a starter, so it's pretty hard to use all the great and compare them side by side and say look at this. Tyrod got himself out of trouble a lot and his mobility help save drives that might have otherwise stalled. This doesn't show up on the stat sheet except as yards rushed but he saved our tail many times last season. Taylor was also fairly wise with the ball as to not turn it over much via fumbles lost or INT. EJ got the ball and literally gave away the JAX game, if Tyrod plays in that game we win by 15 or more.

Tyrod is a gamer and he backs the defense up, unless he runs the ball. He also has been working on his touch game this off-season, so your going to see a whole different realm with him soon. I'm serious, this might get real interesting if he can get all the throws right. I wouldn't bet against him if he's healthy.

That all being said, we are going to need to get a backup QB ASAP. Right now, we'd be just as good to not have a QB lining up because there's nobody else on the team. EJ is not NFL material, it was just an all-around flub. He leaves FSU and they win a championship with a rookie QB, there was a team there that make him look decent. EJ was a decent college QB, that's where it all ends. He was lucky to get a first round draft contract, virtually a miracle.

I agree with what you've written about E.J. Manuel. Manuel was not a better player than Trent Edwards or J.P. Losman. Both Edwards and Losman were unable to hang onto NFL roster spots. I expect the same thing to happen to Manuel.

You also made a good point about Taylor's mobility. There have been a number of times when he used his legs to give the WRs more time to get open. That certainly provided a boost to the offense--a boost which may or may not have showed up on the stat sheet.

I too have read the articles about how Taylor is developing in the offseason. The problem with articles like that is that we've heard all this before, about previous Bills' quarterbacks. Quarterbacks who didn't pan out. I'm not dismissing the reports about Taylor's development, and it's quite possible that this time around the optimistic reports are true. But I personally will take a "wait and see" approach.

We should also keep in mind Greg Roman's ability to hide his QBs' weaknesses. Take Kaepernick for example. In his second year in the NFL, he averaged an astonishing 8.3 yards per attempt. Since then it's been all downhill. Below are his YPA stats:

2011 (rookie): 7.0
2012 (2nd year): 8.3
2013: 7.7
2014: 7.0
2015: 6.6 (for comparison, Losman's career average is 6.6)

You can see that Kaepernick has done worse without Roman's presence. Part of that is because there were throws that Roman didn't ask Kaepernick to make. Roman took some heat from the 49ers fan base for that. Some of them seemed to think Roman's understanding of offense was too basic to include those throws. After Roman's departure, the new OC asked Kaepernick to make those throws. At which point it became obvious he couldn't make them, and equally obvious that Roman had been hiding one of his QB's weaknesses. That's something to bear in mind when we consider all the throws Taylor isn't being asked to make.

The 2015 version of Taylor was a good fit for a team with a strong running game. If your running game is going well, you don't need your QB to carry you. But you do need a few big plays here and there, with escapability being a nice bonus. Taylor delivered that. Taylor was a good fit for the 2015 Bills, because we had a strong running game this past season. If the reports about his improvement are correct, and if he takes a substantial step up in 2016, then maybe he'll be able to carry a team--the way you'd expect from a franchise QB. If that happens, Whaley will probably wish he'd done a slightly better job of managing the salary cap. But his taking that step up is far from given, reports or no reports.

[Skooby]

I agree with what you've written about E.J. Manuel. Manuel was not a better player than Trent Edwards or J.P. Losman. Both Edwards and Losman were unable to hang onto NFL roster spots. I expect the same thing to happen to Manuel.

You also made a good point about Taylor's mobility. There have been a number of times when he used his legs to give the WRs more time to get open. That certainly provided a boost to the offense--a boost which may or may not have showed up on the stat sheet.

I too have read the articles about how Taylor is developing in the offseason. The problem with articles like that is that we've heard all this before, about previous Bills' quarterbacks. Quarterbacks who didn't pan out. I'm not dismissing the reports about Taylor's development, and it's quite possible that this time around the optimistic reports are true. But I personally will take a "wait and see" approach.

We should also keep in mind Greg Roman's ability to hide his QBs' weaknesses. Take Kaepernick for example. In his second year in the NFL, he averaged an astonishing 8.3 yards per attempt. Since then it's been all downhill. Below are his YPA stats:

2011 (rookie): 7.0
2012 (2nd year): 8.3
2013: 7.7
2014: 7.0
2015: 6.6 (for comparison, Losman's career average is 6.6)

You can see that Kaepernick has done worse without Roman's presence. Part of that is because there were throws that Roman didn't ask Kaepernick to make. Roman took some heat from the 49ers fan base for that. Some of them seemed to think Roman's understanding of offense was too basic to include those throws. After Roman's departure, the new OC asked Kaepernick to make those throws. At which point it became obvious he couldn't make them, and equally obvious that Roman had been hiding one of his QB's weaknesses. That's something to bear in mind when we consider all the throws Taylor isn't being asked to make.

The 2015 version of Taylor was a good fit for a team with a strong running game. If your running game is going well, you don't need your QB to carry you. But you do need a few big plays here and there, with escapability being a nice bonus. Taylor delivered that. Taylor was a good fit for the 2015 Bills, because we had a strong running game this past season. If the reports about his improvement are correct, and if he takes a substantial step up in 2016, then maybe he'll be able to carry a team--the way you'd expect from a franchise QB. If that happens, Whaley will probably wish he'd done a slightly better job of managing the salary cap. But his taking that step up is far from given, reports or no reports.

Excellent write up. Just a note that Colin didn't get 4 years behind a starter and had a great running game as well when he hit the scene, when that went away so did his stats (and they had film how to stop him as well).

[Mace]

Excellent write up. Just a note that Colin didn't get 4 years behind a starter and had a great running game as well when he hit the scene, when that went away so did his stats (and they had film how to stop him as well).

Also might want to note Harbaugh was running the passing game. Roman does running game. Always did, and always didn't do passing game, even when in college. Harbaugh.

[Skooby]

So Bills have interest in a Vet backup QB as mentioned by me a while ago, EJ gets cut and they keep CJ. EJ gone fellas, it's going to happen one way or the other. He's not starting again, Rex can't afford the losses.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JasonCole...17919366148096

[Yasgur's Farm]

So Bills have interest in a Vet backup QB as mentioned by me a while ago, EJ gets cut and they keep CJ. EJ gone fellas, it's going to happen one way or the other. He's not starting again, Rex can't afford the losses.

https://mobile.twitter.com/JasonCole...17919366148096

Ironic that you make a gonna be statement in a failed gonna be thread... Bills have already said not interested BTW.

[Skooby]

Ironic that you make a gonna be statement in a failed gonna be thread... Bills have already said not interested BTW.

They are going to get a Veteran back-up, EJ is gone. EJ is the only failure.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Whatever you say Skooby... All of your proclamations have proven to be gospel after all.

[justasportsfan]

Skoobs, you need to give this " my sources" news thing up. Youre making Pat Moran look legit

[Skooby]

Skoobs, you need to give this " my sources" news thing up. Youre making Pat Moran look legit

A Vet QB will be in Buffalo to back up TT, expect someone to get cut during camp and Bills will bring them in and up to speed as the season progresses. EJ is not considered anything but a JO who's roster spot is more valuable.

Bush (another Veteran) will be in Buffalo today, pending physical will be a Buffalo Bills player. So all the non-believers can Go F-yourselves.

[BertSquirtgum]

They are going to get a Veteran back-up, EJ is gone. EJ is the only failure.

You are so full of **** and so are your threads.

[Skooby]

You are so full of **** and so are your threads.

You betcha, watch out for the tornadoes in your Trailor Park.

[justasportsfan]

A Vet QB will be in Buffalo to back up TT, expect someone to get cut during camp and Bills will bring them in and up to speed as the season progresses. EJ is not considered anything but a JO who's roster spot is more valuable.

Bush (another Veteran) will be in Buffalo today, pending physical will be a Buffalo Bills player. So all the non-believers can Go F-yourselves.

I don't have a problem with you stating that Bush will eventually sign, but breaking the news that he ALREADY signed when you said he did is not accurately close.

[Mr. Pink]

EJ isn't going anywhere this year.

He'll be gone next year...TT might be too.

[Skooby]

I don't have a problem with you stating that Bush will eventually sign, but breaking the news that he ALREADY signed when you said he did is not accurately close.

You hear anything about negotiations anymore ?? They agreed and Bush said he was going to sign but needed a few personal days to get his affairs in order, you can't really fault a guy that has to dedicate that much of his life for needing a break. I told you that he planned to sign and they agreed to everything (physical should just be a formality).

So stop being a D***.

[BertSquirtgum]

You betcha, watch out for the tornadoes in your Trailor Park.

Tornadoes in new York? Nah son

[Joe Fo Sho]

You hear anything about negotiations anymore ?? They agreed and Bush said he was going to sign but needed a few personal days to get his affairs in order, you can't really fault a guy that has to dedicate that much of his life for needing a break. I told you that he planned to sign and they agreed to everything (physical should just be a formality).

So stop being a D***.

No you didn't. You said that he has signed. People have every right to fault you for the phrasing you used in your thread.

You'll hear about it soon, I got a text from a friend who said they worked out some small points and he's signed. Welcome to Buffalo Reggie !!!

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho...sh-just-signed

[Skooby]

Skoobs, you need to give this " my sources" news thing up. Youre making Pat Moran look legit

http://bleacherreport.com/reggie-bush

[Skooby]

No you didn't. You said that he has signed. People have every right to fault you for the phrasing you used in your thread.



http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/sho...sh-just-signed

I told you he signed less a physical which got delayed until today, he had some things to handle. He wasn't going to fail the physical, Reggie is freaking ripped right now and I'm telling you this is going to better than most think here. They agreed to everything last week, not a detail changed. Until the physical is done, you can't sign one way or the other. Sorry to get so technical but everyone here figures people just show up and don't realize the devil's in the details. The details were over less a physical and he's signing to be a Buffalo Bills player, I welcomed him and some of you guys are like why isn't it announced.

Details... Physical.... Contract signed and complete. Read it below how it works:

La Can tweet:
Reeggie Bush expected to arrive in Buffalo this morning and sign with Bills pending results of a physical

[Joe Fo Sho]

I told you he signed less a physical which got delayed until today, he had some things to handle.

That's still not what you said originally. You should go back and look at your original post.

You also said this 5 days ago:

It should be announced today.