MarlinTheMagician

I agree with this post. And I think we should see how he does on this A, B, C list before we chuck him over the side. If he leads this Bills team to the playoffs (big if), how do you move on from him lightly? It has been 18 years now, and this was supposed to be a hopeless, tanking, evaluative year where we had no wideouts. I never bought that, but I did think we would be 7-9 or 8-8. Still might be, but if TT gets them in the dance he can't, IMHO, be dumped lightly. If he looks bad from hear to the end and finishes 6-10, we know what we have to do. But for a QB to emerge as a quality starter in his 3rd year (as a starter), is not really slow development and TT's last 6 games or so are pretty promising.

So you didn't believe me? Why would l lie to you guys - check out the links posted above and say you're sorry.

Neither in sync nor momentum is a made up thing for observers. Played a lot of QB over the years. The guys you played with a lot - you knew how to read them better than others. Granted, not NFL route runners by a long shot. And anyone who ever has played any sport at a decent level has felt momentum shifts. I still remember playing OG in youth football (way to skinny to have ever been a guard), and at times when we got rolling we could not be stopped by a d-line that had been stuffing us earlier. Or in ice hockey, when a line is cooking together and the other team can't get the puck out of the zone. On and on. It is illogical to think Tyrod and Zay will not develop more chemistry over time. Loving me some Jmatt too!

And for the fan above who asked for a link on "fans were upset he was cut" - having a hard time re-finding it. But this makes a similar point - that he was having a strong camp this year. I will look a little more for the fan thing too. I believe he had two sacks in the Saints game referenced below, not sure what the "impressive debut" game was. >> Eric Lee keeps trending upward during Training Camp after an impressive preseason debut. The inside linebacker was again active in the front seven against the Saints, but special teams will likely be where he’ll need to show out to make this team http://houston.cbslocal.com/2016/08/18/nfl-texans-camp-confidential-818-joint-practice-nick-martin-deandre-hopkins/

40 Time came from an old USF press release - has a headline that does not mention Lee, but is something like "NFL Scouts Show Interest in Several USF Seniors. I will look for that too. I think the 4.72 was his combine workout. When I saw the 4.56 on his pro day I was like "holy crud." Here is a link to the pro day results. Check out the bench too. http://bigcountypreps.com/181/2016-usf-pro-day-numbers/ Here is another that talks about it a little bit. He is a "D" end, he says, but worked out as a linebacker to show versatility. Texans tried to force him as a OLB in their 3-4. Not his natural position or the one he is most comfortable in. http://www.usforacle.com/news/view.php/1018514/NFL-hopefuls-make-first-impressions-at-p

I am thankful to the posters in this thread that have said "hey, thanks OP for digging this out." I am a diehard Bills fan and have been since age 4. It is the 50th anniversary month of my first game vs. Raiders in 1967 at the Rockpile. Live in NYC area now, but going 10.29 to see the Raiders and celebrate that 50th anniversary in honor of my now-deceased Dad who took me to the game. I love coming on this site and reading about our Bills, but sometimes all the negativity sucks the joy out of it. I am an optimist, and it wears on me. So thanks to all of you, when I saw my post had a bunch of replies I expected to see "just a scrub" and "so we are dumpster diving." You all brightened my day. P.S. Found Texans fan stuff on one of their sites that is like this one. I will try to re-find and post if I can.

We all agree so I don't think this will be lost on McDermott/Dennison. Thus my prediction - they find a way to get him going a little.

Objectively: facts do suggest TT is elite in three areas (i) running the ball, (ii) leadership and work ethic, and (ii) not turning it over. Given these three clear, strong positives can't he still be considered a "quality QB" if a couple of his other passing categories are not quite as great as other "quality" NFL QBs? I for one think so - TT is not a conventional QB and is difficult to measure by conventional standards. But he has stabilized the position for us. I think part of the reason the fan base is so divided on him is the fact that he is not conventional -- exciting to some, an erratic "halfback at QB" to others. I am looking forward to seeing how he does the rest of this year and will root for him and reserve judgment until it is over.

Agreed. The good thing about him is his head seems screwed on right such that he will just keep grinding through the hard times and be that much better when they end!

I have a sneaky feeling Zay Jones is going to get past the yips today - predicting a breakout game. Falcons focus on Clay and Matthews after tape shows TT's in-sync with them. Zay gets his chances and comes through. Julio's back is hurt. Against all odds, Zay has a better day than Julio and is the superior Jones wideout in Bills stunning upset of home favorite Falcons. Qualtificaiton: The kind of breakout I mean is 3-5 catches and 50 to 80 yards. Not saying he is going for 150 or anything, just that he becomes a contributor. Wishful thinking perhaps, seems like a really fine young man.

Thanks. If Lee is another Yarbrough perhaps we have a decent DE rotation behind Hughes and Shaq. I thought DE was a real weak spot going into camp. If Lee could be decent and join Davis and Yarbrough it would be another example of McBeane doing a nice job patching up a bare spot with little money and no picks used. Let's hope! Go Bills!

Did as deep a dive as I could on DE Eric Lee who we just promoted from practice squad. May not be just a guy. He was a 225 lb freshman at USF. Now a 6'3" 260lb defensive end. By comparison, Hughes is 6'2" 256 (also similar to our emerging Eddie Yarbrough - who btw had at least 3 great plays vs Denver -- who is 6'3" 259). Lee is a "quick twitch" athlete with very long limbs. He is unbelievably fast for a DE - ran a 4.56 at his USF pro day. He looks the part. Had a bunch of sacks in preseason for Texans, but was caught in a numbers game there. Texans fans not happy he was cut. He is also a classic McDermott "high character" guy - team captain, academic honors. Maybe we have something. Limited highlights on him look good. Scouting report out of college said his game is upfield, but he lacks power. That was 20 lbs ago. Two years of being around NFL clubs may have allowed him to address the power point. He looks very powerful now. Was extensively tutored by Mike Vrabel at Texans, who were trying to make him an OLB.

The stats clearly prove Tyrod is elite.

Elite. Have come to hate that word.

Pitt game was a low point. Embarrassing. Will be surprised if this group is so uninspired.

I am a relentless optimist and called the Denver win on this board. Can't call the Falcons win this week. But I can sure hope! I think we have a chance, but a minority chance. Like 35-40%?

Agree with all. Young man is struggling. Yips, confidence, adjustment - call it wall you will. He needs some positive mojo. But once he gets squared away I think his floor is to be a solid NFL receiver and his ceiling is to be a very, very good one. Let's give the rook a break and let him work through it. One of the reasons I have some optimism for the offense is that Matthews and TT likely are just finding their timing and getting to know each other. Zay is contributing Zip. Both those receivers should improve steadily over the course of the season as they play together in the offense with TT and the others.

Thanks above for Antoine Winfield's name in posts above. Couldn't make the necessary withdrawal from my memory bank. But yeah, him, and White and Gaines - three best hitting and tackling corners I can recall in a Bills uniform going back to and including Robert James. They have a ways to go to match Winfield's lifetime achievement, but Gaines and White hit like he hit.

We have a team folks. That can compete with most. Tyrod is the undisputed leader of the offense for that team. We should stop carping about what might be in the future and give him our unconditional support in the present. For the foreseeable future he is our QB. And his work ethic and commitment have earned our support so long as he has the job.

Hightower will make a difference. And I don't trust Beli not to fix it. But they look a bit vulnerable. I think our D scheme is good for Brady. Keep it in front of you and smack the crap out of the receivers.

What the Panthers are from here on out is irrelevant. That day, in their home opener, their D played lights out. I will take number 2 seed.

I agree. If we are competitive, and I expect us to be, team deserves some respect. One thing I fear is we are dangerously thin. A few injuries could kill us pretty easily I fear.

If we can split Altanta and Raiders we are in fine shape, IMHO. Pats are shaky right now, but hooded one will probably right the ship somehow. That D looked bad against Texans though. And bad against Chefs. Did not see any of their Ain'ts game. And Miami - I have no respect for them. We should have beat them twice last year, and we were a joke in many ways. Lose to the Jets by 20? I know it wasn't actually 20, but they scored in garbage time. We COULD (not saying will) win the division.

Well right now he is 2-1 for a team half the posters on the forum predicted would have 4 wins or less. Unleashed.

I don't expect a W here, but Atlanta's D is going to seem pretty nice to be up against after Carolina on the road and Denver. We need to be able to run the ball, and I believe we will do so.