Prickly Pete

Matt Cassel is the guy for people who clip coupons, drive the speed limit, and make their bed every day. The hand wringers who are just going to be happy with the idea of making the playoffs. To me, that approach would be wasting a defense that will probably be in it's prime THIS season. I am less concerned with consistency, than Points Per Possession. I know that might put more pressure on our defense, but better on them than on the offense (because the defense is the strength of the team). If one guy gets 7 points out of 3 possessions, while the other guy gets 2 field goals out of those 3 possessions, I prefer the first guy. Cassel may be more consistent, but if he is only getting field goals, and can't get the ball downfield during the last 5 minutes of a game, there will be lots of games that slip away. The defense that holds down the opponents for most of the game, wears down, has to play Prevent-style for the last drive against a good QB, and the game slips away. 10-9, 14-10 type losses. This has haunted the Bills for an eternity. I can't sit through another Kelly Holcomb style offense. EJM has probably been at his best in 2-minute situations. I also think the running game will be better with EJM than Cassel, because EJM can actually get the ball downfield.

It doesn't matter if it's 3rd stringers, what I'm looking for is accurate throws downfield. EJM put the ball where it needed to be. He had a good game. From the start with this new coaching staff, he has been treated like a dead man walking. It's a real crappy hole to work your way out of. He is getting better, and I hope he gets more opportunities.

Quotes like that make it seem like you had your mind made up before he got to his first training camp. I'm no great EJM supporter, but there isn't much else to work with. I have to trust that the coaches are making the right choice, but just from the footage that I have seen, I like EJM best, and I certainly didn't see the other guys doing anything markedly better.

At least 2 different QB's will start games this season, if not due to suckitude, then due to injury. I hope it's Tyrod and EJM. Matt Cassel will kill this team...he is Kelly Holcomb. If he tries to throw the ball 10 yards downfield over the middle, it's just gonna hang there and get picked. If he is the starter, I expect at least 3 Pick 6's by db's/lb's sitting on a pass to the flat. I don't want to watch that kind of football.

And what makes you think Tyrod can? And I guess Cassel can.... I mean, just checkdown and you will always get a grade of "C" from the coach.

Perhaps, but then the same could be said about the other 2 guys. We are choosing the lesser evil here. And Doug Flutie was a weenie.

If EJM doesn't get the start for the next preseason game I want to hear something that tells me he really wants the job. I wanna hear that he kneed Robert Woods in the nuts, and told him to quit whining. That he barged into Ryan's office, and said " **** you, I can lead this team, and can prove it". Hear that he told Matt Cassel that he sucks during practice, or called Tyrod a p**** and they had to be separated. Anything that would make me believe he has some kind of chip on his shoulder, or something that he has to back up. Even if it's ridiculously overcompetitive, childish and delusional. Something that tells me he isn't just passively letting his career slip away.

They will only be as good as the QB allows them to be.

Yeah, but that is one of the things that makes the board fun. Most people here with any kind of strong opinions, are going to be way off sometimes. I remembered this thread, and thought moshermw deserved some recognition, he was tuned in to the zeitgeist of OBD.

This thread is gold.

He's trolling.

I love the idea, but if anything the league is more likely to eliminate kickoffs and just have them start at the 20. They want fewer returns because of injury risks. I think the only reason they keep them is because onside kicks are crucial to comebacks, and are an exciting part of the game.

This is how I feel too, but I have a feeling that Ryan & Roman think they are clever enough to do just that (and they might be). It's definitely not what I want to watch. EJM's arm is pretty damn good, and I believe he can do at least as well as Cassel, but nothing about what Ryan is saying makes me think he prefers EJM. I have to think that Ryan has spoken to some of the players to get a feel for who they prefer, as well. I'm not sure that the players are fired up to play for EJM. We shall soon see.

I agree, I was only half joking. I think EJM would be more successful if he showed some fire, and got across that he can lead a team

At the next practice, EJ should punch IK Enemkpali in the face.

Nope. I feel exactly as I stated above. I expect lots of success with Rex Ryan, and will enjoy it plenty, but I think he has some major flaws, and don't like the kind of guys he brings in. When they win, I will give him all the credit I think he deserves. I am much more worried about the lack of a quality QB, than anything Rex Ryan does, or doesn't do. He has nothing to work with right now, and it's not his fault. As far as my assertions about him being conservative... Geno forced on him...http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/12/4/7335427/the-toxic-downfall-of-rex-ryans-jets "Conservative to a fault"....http://www.footballperspective.com/rex-ryan-fired/ I didn't have to search very hard to find these same assessments from other people.

I'm not "anti-Rex". I am happy that he is the coach, because he is a huge improvement over the last guys. But I also know he has some flaws, and I don't believe he is up at the highest level of head coaches.

We shall see. There is no other reason to start Cassel. Geno was forced on him, and Sanchez is more along the lines that I expect... "play not to lose" on offense.

THat's one of the problems with Rex Ryan. He won't want to put "his defense" in bad spots, so he will want the safest guy at QB. To me, a great defense should allow you to take more risks on offense, but that won't be the way Rex will want it.

To me , it's all about the Red Zone. None of these guys is going to excel at long drives, or throwing deep. If the defense is anything like it was last year, there will be lots of short fields for the offense to work with. I much prefer Tyrod and EJM. Watching Cassel eating up the clock, getting 3 field goals out of 12 possesions, and them losing 10-9 is my worst nightmare.

It was bad. The lack of replays was ridiculous.

Cassel will make us long for Fitzpatrick.

Nope. I think he is an excellent defensive coach. I said he creates a trashy environment around the team. I'm pretty sure we all know the list of players already. And apparently I'm way less obsessed with that aspect of Rex Ryan than you are, Greggy.

No. 2 good kickers, in case one gets injured. That way they won't have to pick up a cast off.... I was half serious, but I guess I should have laid it all out. There it is, man. Understand it now? It's like having a good back up quarterback, see? Just message me, if you need more explanation.

They haven't won yet. Same QB troubles, more volatile guys. Better players, but sometimes guys that are better are also less likely to take responsibility when things go wrong (because frankly, it's not their fault...and they know it). *Is Woods going to mope less because it's a bad Tyrod/Cassel pass?