racketmaster

I am coming around on Allen. He really did not have much of a supporting cast (constant pressure, no running game and young wrs). Wyoming is not a great football program and they have actually won 8 games each of the last 2 seasons with Allen as a starter. That might not sound like a lot but Wyoming won only 4-5-4-2 games in the 4 seasons prior to Allen starting. It looks like Allen sometimes tries to do too much and he often has to on an offense lacking talent. There are a lot of big drops from watching his games. Down 21-3 against Iowa, Allen avoids rushes and steps up in pocket throwing a perfect strike 40 yards downfield and his wr bobbles the ball in the endzone before going out of bounds. It was an easy catch and there were a few others. The first TD pass he made in the Central Michigan game was an NFL level throw and had velocity that maybe only Newton and Stafford could match. He regularly shakes off would be tacklers which reminds me of Big Ben. Allen is still raw but he is young and has not been groomed to be a qb since middle school like many other top qbs. Allen's skill set is extremely rare and it perfectly matches Buffalo (Big, strong arm, large hands) and he comes from a small rural area and appears to have an excellent work ethic and attitude. Let him sit for a year and develop while putting in a veteran and maybe we have a top qb in a few years. Full disclosure, I also supported taking EJ Manuel over the rest of the crop of qbs in 2013. He and Glennon were the only two that appeared to have NFL level physical traits and that seems to have been true but that was still not enough to make them good quarterbacks. It obviously, takes more to be a franchise qb than just the physical traits. There are exceptions to the rule but they are outliers for a reason. The odds are not very good for most any of the college qbs becoming a franchise guy, but it becomes much more difficult when a qb has to overcome lack of arm strength, height, weight, hand size, agility, speed etc. Accuracy, anticipation, preparation, mental toughness etc. can overcome some physical limitations but it becomes tougher to do. Allen checks most every physical trait and he appears to be good in the intangibles department. He has work to do with mechanics and accuracy. BUt i do think he is more accurate than the numbers due to his lack of talent at the wr position and poor o-line play. So many times he is running for his life and throwing balls out of bounds or wrs are dropping catchable passes. If he could clean things up and be developed he could be "elite". I don't mind taking a chance on elite skills if the player has the desire to work hard and I think Allen will.

This is probably true. So many teams looking for qbs this year. I believe that Darnold and Allen would fit the profile of the type of quarterback the Bills would trade up into the top 5. Beane appears to value size and we know the organization wants high character individuals. Personally, I also like Mayfield but I just don't see the Bills having any interest in him. I don't think the Bills have interest in Rosen (for lack of intangibles, leadership etc.) and I would agree. Rosen seems a little too soft and arrogant for my taste. And there is a clear separation in NFL talent level between the top 4 (Darnold, Rosen, Mayfield and Allen) and the next group (Jackson, Rudolph, Falk etc.). It would cost a lot to move up but I am fine with Darnold or Allen. I don't think there would be much debate if it were for Darnold but Allen might cause some debate. I am coming around on Allen. He really did not have much of a supporting cast (constant pressure, no running game and young wrs). Wyoming is not a great football program and they have actually won 8 games each of the last 2 seasons with Allen as a starter. That might not sound like a lot but Wyoming won only 4-5-4-2 games in the 4 seasons prior to Allen starting. It looks like Allen sometimes tries to do too much and he often has to on an offense lacking talent. There are a lot of big drops from watching his games. Down 21-3 against Iowa, Allen avoids rushes and steps up in pocket throwing a perfect strike 40 yards downfield and his wr bobbles the ball in the endzone before going out of bounds. It was an easy catch and there were a few others like this. The first TD pass he made in the Central Michigan game was an NFL level throw and had velocity that maybe only Newton and Stafford could match. He regularly shakes off would be tacklers which reminds me of Big Ben. Allen is still raw but he is young and has not been groomed to be a qb since middle school like many other top qbs. Allen's skill set is extremely rare and it perfectly matches Buffalo (Big, strong arm, large hands) and he comes from a small rural area and appears to have an excellent work ethic and attitude. Let him sit for a year and develop while putting in a veteran and maybe we have a top qb in a few years.

The quarterback is such a critical position that I don't think McDermott wanted to commit to a young qb without having his GM in place. He would have had to trust Whaley to make the right qb choice and I don't believe that McDermott had that faith in Whaley (that's pretty clear as he was fired after the draft). I think McDermott wanted to get all their ducks in order (GM and new scouting staff) to allow them to make the critical decision their jobs will all be tied to instead of letting a lame duck staff make that decision.

Mayfield. He won't make it out of top 10. I just hope Rudolph is there when Bills are picking at 21.

I wish Rudolph had a little more in the arm strength department but he looks to have enough to make it at the NFL level. Maybe it something he can be improve upon as a pro. Rudolph appears to be a perfect fit for Beane/McDermott as far as character and personality. Jackson concerns me for a few reasons (1) type of offense he played in at Louisville (2) Slender build and not ideal height and (3) Completion % should be higher in that offense and (4) an executive like Polian is saying Jackson should move to wr. Like many college qbs, Jackson will have some learning to do at the next level so the Petrino offense is not a huge knock. His build concerns me. Tyrod is very athletic yet NFL defenses still are able to track him down. Jackson is quicker but LBs and DBs will find him and he will take shots (how will the slender frame hold up?). Height always concerns me unless a shorter qb shows uncanny ability to manipulate the pocket and passing lanes. Mayfield appears to have this ability, have not seen the same from Jackson. Completion % should be higher in that offense so accuracy is a concern and it is difficult to improve upon at the next level. Polian's opinion is not gospel, but he was an excellent NFL executive for a long time so his opinion should not be ignored either. If he thinks Jackson is better off as a wr, that is a strong opinion and sends up a red flag for me. Essentially, Jackson reminds me of a faster Taylor but probably not built to take too many big shots at NFL level. Rudolph shows more ability to make anticipatory throws. He has a pretty good release and can stand tall and strong in the pocket. I wish he had more mobility and a bit more velocity on his sideline passes but if he did he would be a top 5 qb in draft. I like his intangibles and I bet the Bills do too.

Thanks for posting. Great read. Report was that Denver specifically requested to coach Mayfield at Senior Bowl. I like Mayfield a alot and feel as good about him as Darnold and Rosen. But he does not get past Denver. But I'd rather have Denver get him than the Jets.

If the Bills really want Smith, they will likely have to trade something for him. I don’t have much interest in him other than as a 1 year bridge. To me, I don’t want to give up assets for a temporary qb. But if he were released, I would have some interest in Smith as a bridge qb.

Wait for KC to release him, then sign him to a bridge deal.

Richardson or Gabriel. Should not cost a ton (especially for Gabriel) and we really could use some downfield speed.

Beane and McDermott should have their heads examined if they are giving up multiple picks to acquire a bridge qb like Smith. Especially if they are picks in the first 4 rounds. Alex Smith is a bridge qb, nothing more. San Francisco thought that and Kansas City thought it as well. That’s why both teams moved on from him, so they could try and get to the next level. Am I missing something here. Don’t the Bills already have something similar to that in Taylor. I get it, Smith is a better short game passer but Taylor has a better long ball. Both don’t turn ball over and both tend to play very conservative. Why give up picks when this team has so many holes. It’s crazy to me when the team would still be in the same position (looking for a franchise qb but with less picks). At this point, I like the idea of keeping Taylor for another year as the bridge. Keep Peterman as well and let them compete for their positions. Then identify best qb not named Darnold or Rosen (Cleveland and NYG are not trading out). It would cost too much capital to move up into top 2. Personally, I like Rudolph right now. It would be great to draft him at 21 or 22 but they may need to move up over the Jets and Ravens. So keep Taylor and Peterman and draft Rudolph. If Rudolph is ready in training camp the Bills trade Taylor to a qb needy team (injuries often happen like Tannehill). If he is not ready, start the winner of Taylor/Peterman until Rudolph is ready.

Very intrigued by Rudolph. Has great size and throws a nice deep ball. Seems very mature and competitive. I’ll bet that Beane and McDermott really like this kids attitude.

If smith was available for a 6th or 7th, I would consider it. He is a bridge qb and nothing more. I don’t want to give up any serious assets for that. If Bills did get him, fans will be complaining how conservative he is and how he rarely throws the ball downfield. Also, be careful of comparing this year’s stats to Tyrod. Smith had Hill, Kelce and Hunt. Young talent and exposive players. Tyrod had McCoy.

I believe he is solid if a team uses his skill set and schemes around what he does well. Tyrod proved to be a solid qb in 2015 and 2016. Taking away his deep threats and not using zone read runs are part of the reason his performance diminished this year. That's fine, the Bills are looking to move on from him and go to a more traditional qb. I don't have a problem with it but this offense could put up points with Tyrod in 2015 and 2016. Most teams play to their qbs strengths and try to minimize their weaknesses. Offensively, I don't think we did that very well this year. So, we were left with mostly ineffective qb play in 2017. But if you put Alex Smith in Bruce Arians systems, he would struggle and not be the same qb as if he were in Andy Reid's system. This goes for most qbs and players. So long story short, Tyrod can be an average qb if a team utilizes him correctly.

This in an area I actually think we have improved upon this year. The team (especially defensively and Special teams) seems very prepared and aware of game situations. When situations arise, we actually look like they have practiced them or been prepared for them. We are not the most talented team so we don't always execute, but players seem to be aware and prepared rather than confused like under the previous regime. I have been a Tyrod supported (believe he is solid) but he still lacks in the situational awareness department. Our 2 minute offense seems a little faster than in previous years but it is still too slow by NFL standards. I put a lot of the blame on Tyrod for this deficiency. How often does he use voice inflection to get opposing defenders to jump in important spots, how often is he aware to take a shot when a defender is caught off sides at the snap, being aware of the need to stick ball in tight spots when the offense has to stay on the field in critical 3rd and 4th down situations, and getting the team up to the line quickly when there is a questionable play. There are more examples but you get the point. The best quarterbacks have these situations nailed down. Maybe it is experience but I just have not seen enough improvement from Tyrod in those area to give me much confidence he will get any better. Coaching matters too but the players on the field need to react quickly in those hurry up situations and the QB needs to get his teammates moving before being reminded by coaches.

OP is right. The roster was stripped down from many of its most talented players. I have no issue with that as the Bills are headed in a different direction and have saved cap space. McDermott did an excellent job of having his team prepared to play each week. He also brought in and kept a bunch of veteran players to change the culture and having players be accountable to their teammates. Many of the veterans are aging and are on the decline as far as talent goes. They will need to be replaced. Offensively, this team needs some playmakers. We need a Kamara type RB to go with McCoy and a speed threat (Cook/Hill type) at wr. This team lacked explosive plays because it has no explosive players. McCoy is shifty but he is not running away from defenders for long runs and the best deep threat this team has is Thompson and he has been a journeyman for other organizations. We just need to hit in free agency on some offensive players like we did with Poyer and Hyde this past year. Then, we will need to have another solid draft. We may not get to become a true contender until 2019. Just keep adding and getting better as the HC likes to say.

I doubt Beane is going to be consulting with a soon to be 30 year old RB on what direction the team should be taking. McCoy is a nice player but he is an RB and not a dominant force. At this point in his career, he needs help in the form of a quality backup. Bills were at their best running the football when we had a legitimate 1-2 punch in Williams or Gillislee to go along with McCoy.

Bills are good at kicker. All other positions need upgrades to starters or quality backups. Beane has a lot of work to do to add to the talent base. Culture change was year one, now we need to bring in some better and younger players that will also fit into the culture.

Playing on one leg, he is not a threat right now

Came down to a few calls and plays not made. Had a chance at a few interceptions but did not make those plays either

It would be nice to have some type of a playmaker on the outside. When Thompson is your outside threat, your team is playing at a disadvantage

There are some things to like about NP and I am not ready to write him off just yet. I am a fan of Taylor and don't want to just hand the job to NP, but if he earns it next year then good for him. Plenty of rookie qbs struggle and he had last than ideal circumstances to start first game. He looked more comfortable in the snow game but it is hard to tell much from that game because of the conditions. One thing the SD game showed was that Taylor does cover up for some of the pass blocking deficiencies. He keeps defenses to more disciplined rushes and is more equipped to make defenders miss when they do get thru the line. But another year in the system and NP might take another step. If nothing else, he is a solid NFL backup.

I have no problem drafting another QB and continuing to groom Peterman for either a backup role or potential starter down the road. But, I also do not just want to kick Taylor to the curb without a solid answer. If used properly, Taylor can be and has been an effective starter. *He is several games above .500 in his career with the Bills (and don't even try and argue that this was all defense and special teams or coaching) *Rarely turns over the ball (I know this is boring but turnovers are huge and not turning over the ball keeps teams in games) *Running threat (teams must game plan for Taylor's running ability - disciplined pass rushes help our offensive line, spies and less straight man coverage help wrs, when running zone read it helps our rbs as Taylor must be accounted for etc.) *Ability to throw deep ball (we don't have any true deep threats this year (Thompson is best we have) but Taylor has shown in the past that he can deliver a good deep ball *Can wear down defenses when they have to chase Taylor around all game (taking longer to deliver the ball and scrambling around in the pocket can be an advantage to hit big scramble drill plays as well as wearing down defenses. *Calm and rarely gets flustered. Demeanor calms teammates and helps with avoiding turnovers. *Good teammate and respected leader. Mature and works hard. We also know he has limitations. *Lack of height causes some deflections and lack of vision for 3 step drops in the pocket *Limited anticipation. Taylor does not throw with the same anticipation that good pocket passers throw with. *Situational awareness. Taylor sometimes lacks this (not throwing the ball away to avoid needless sacks, has improved in 2 minute situations but still too slow in getting plays off, knowing when to be more aggressive and take chances in situations that call for it) *Being more patient when rolling out. Sometimes it would be better to float backwards a bit to buy more time rather than hastily run toward sidelines causing himself to run out of room too soon (see how Wilson manipulates defensive pass rushers when out of pocket) All in all, Taylor ends up being an above average qb. He has good games and bad games (just like every other above average qb). But there are only a few qbs in the league (one being in our division) that cause the Bills to be at a significant disadvantage when playing them). He will not ever be the 300 yard passer type that throws for 2-3 tds and 1-2 picks. It's just not his game. He is probably more Kaepernick than Wilson as a passer. But he is an overall better qb than Kaepernick. So this week, he is the better overall qb (against Bortles). But Bortles has the better overall team. Can Bortles get hot, sure he can and maybe he will. He will face a limited pass rush and has a great defense to bail him out and set him up for good field position. Plus he has a stable of good rbs to rely on and is facing a team that has trouble stopping the run. But going into this week, who would swap Taylor for Bortles? Put Bortles on the Bills and Taylor on the Jags this week and it is most likely a blowout for the Jags. Long story short, just don't throw away a solid qb without a solid answer.

The Bills are 3-2 in games where McCoy has not played. Now most of those games were in 2015 where we had Gillislee and K. Williams, but all is not lost if McCoy does not play. Murphy would have to be the primary back and Tolbert would have to play his best football (similar to last week in Miami). Obviously, McCoy would be a huge loss and the offense might have to change things up a little bit (maybe zone reads, empty backfields etc.) Taylor will have to play his best football regardless.

I believe most Bills fans opinions of Tyrod are a little skewed. The national media tends to look a Taylor as a decent qb where as in Buffalo most have been looking to replace him since his first year. Because we are in the same division as Tom Brady, our vision of what a qb needs to be is skewed from most other teams. We look at Brady and see him so often. And we are looking for a qb that can compete with Brady so we can beat our nemesis. In reality, the standard of quarterbacking is impossible for Tyrod to reach. He plays next to the greatest qb in NFL history and he is overmatched as most every other qb would be. If Matt Ryan were in New England instead of Brady I think we might look at Tyrod differently. Tyrod would be a more acceptable level of quarterback because he would still give the Bills a chance to win their division. But being outclassed by Brady every time they play makes Tyrod look worse than he really is.

It is awesome that Taylor gets this team into the playoffs. He has been much maligned and he deserved a better fate in Bills history. Go Bills!!