transplantbillsfan

Stats don't mean jack when the bullets start flying? What the hell does that mean? Are you implying that bullets are only flying at certain times during a game? Because teams don't try to knock a QBs head off at all times during a game? Those stats posted were when "the bullets were flying." Wins are a team stat, not a QB stat. If they were a QB stat then Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers would have been cut already.

Yeah... cause that's what I'm saying. Oy Is that an attempt to validate the "anti Tyrod position"? Or is it just a statement of fact? I agree if it's a statement of fact. As far as the validating anything, Beane hasn't really proven anything yet as far as evaluating talent as a GM.

Except that Rogers still has 54 losses in his career. If you add in his 10 comebacks that means that he came back in the fourth quarter in about 16% of the games he could have. In 84% of the games where his team was trailing in the fourth, Rogers did not bring his team back for a victory. Is Taylor's 88% really that much worse than Rodgers's 84%? Another drive-by for Crusher!

Taylor has only 30 NFL starts. 6.7% of those were 4th Quarter comebacks. Aaron Rodgers has come back in the 4th quarter in 7.4% of his career starts. Yeah, but your posts are much more long-winded than mine Plus, my yard stick is longer

WTF??? There's that Alzheimer's kicking in, Thurm. Direct quote from you, not me: "In Young's fifth year he only played three games" What's up with you lately? You're all over the map.

Is this sarcasm?

Boy... if true that's a really interesting wrinkle here... makes me feel a little better about the trade. Maybe McDermott and Beane are just looking for a particular type of team-first player.

First and foremost, we aren't likely going to be bad enough to be in the top 10 in next year's draft unless Beane does more stuff and demonstrates he's actively tanking. If we aren't drafting in the top 10, even with all of our other draft picks, it's not exactly easy to trade up for the best or even the 2nd best prospect in a supposedly strong draft class at QB. I suspect we might get the 3rd or 4th best QB and he'll be a guy who isn't ready to start immediately. Or who shouldn't start immediately. That's the biggest reason. Also, Tyrod Taylor is clearly the best QB on the Bills roster in 2017, so why would you think it'd be so obvious he'd be gone when we have nothing better?

No. If the Browns are so bad they're in the top 3 again it'd be head-scratchingly baffling if the Browns didn't take a QB in the top 3 of this supposedly great class. Of course, it's the Browns

Aren't they basically just trying to go kidnap someone from the army of the undead to provide proof for Cersei? Yeah... I think now that the actual written books are done and the scriptwriters are basically going in their own direction they're struggling a bit with storytelling. Things feel rushed.

I think we have the capital. But teams that don't have a franchise QB and really need one and have the opportunity to draft one are unlikely to give up their opportunity to draft one just for a bunch of draft picks. Remember, the Rams still had hopes for Bradford back in 2012 when the 'Skins came calling. The Titans had Mariota last year when the Rams came calling. The Colts I'm sure refused some absolutely insane offers from other teams in 2012 despite the fact that they already had one of the best QBs in history recovering and coming back to play the next year. The Browns are the Browns... so if they're up there, apparently they don't care much about drafting a QB since they gave their 2nd pick to the Eagles last year. But if we choose to go get one of these Elite guys and aren't one of the worst teams in the league in 2017, it's not going to be easy.

I love that! Drive-by! Awesome! I think that's gotta be the tag line for that poster and others when the throw out those one-liners... "OS with another drive-by!"

It's possible, but not probable. I think it's more likely Taylor is around in 2018 unless he plays badly in 2017. The new QB coming in would then be afforded some time to learn the game. Differing opinions are fine, but I really get sick of the one-liners that accomplish nothing from certain posters.

This. It takes 2 to tango. If there are 2 or 3 Elite QB prospects, why does everyone just assume we could so easily trade up for one? My bet is that one of these 3 "Elite" prospects (Darnold, Rosen, Allen) won't be viewed the same way by the end of the college year and/or/plus like you say maybe Darnold doesn't come out. Then you're left with 1. I still think we draft someone, but we'll have to keep Taylor, too, in all likelihood. That's unless he has a below average or bad season.

No I think the Bills are drafting a QB fairly high (no later than round 2) almost regardless. The question is going to be where and what assets they use to get that QB. If they don't trade up for a QB after a really good season by Taylor, I think that would be a sign of a shift in perspective on Beane's part. But so much of this has to play out. Both for Taylor and all these "great" college QBs. Right now talks are that there are 2 guys who are clearly Elite prospects (Darnold and Rosen) and likely a 3rd (Allen) along with a slew of other guys who might be... a college football season has to happen, too. Some or all of those guys might be worse than expected. What then? Absolutely anything is possible with this new regime.

Yeah, I know. One game might be significant, but I think 2 is necessary for Taylor. So you're saying that would make it so that we should keep Taylor without actively trying to replace him?

I don't know, the Tyrod Taylor question is an even bigger question now. I'm still relatively optimistic about this season. I think our defense is going to improve a good amount from last year. I think our run game is going to be right around the same maybe with a little drop off considering how historic it was last season. And I think that our WR corps is just better as a whole this year. We'll see what happens with injuries, but if McDermott is what I think he is, I actually think this team is poised to make the playoffs as is. Maybe they even win a game or two. (Yes, that's largely the homer in me talking and I realize that.) So we make the playoffs, win a couple games, and Taylor has played pretty well. Now the team has to make a decision, not just on the draft but also on keeping Taylor next year considering the money he'll get next year. And if we keep him next year, is that a sign of another years worth of auditioning? Or is he gone after that year no matter what? I think that answer comes in the form of what we do in the draft. Seems pretty clear we're drafting a QB in the first round at least at this moment. (I say at this moment, because we have a whole college football season ahead of us and does everyone remember what happened with Matt Barkley from one year to the next?) so we draft a QB in the first round but not until later in the first round is he the heir apparent? We can all agree on the this: if Taylor doesn't improve seriously on his 2016 season, this team will unload at Arsenal to draft a QB high. I think many are hoping that's what actually happens. I'd prefer Taylor just improve because, well, a bird in the bush...

This Umm... we have an NFL WR corps this year. We didn't last year and we were still in the playoff hunt in the 2nd to last game of the season despite crap at WR and a bad D. I expect our D to seriously improve. If most everyone stays healthy I see 10 wins.

Personally, I actually love the moves. I hate the timing. And Matthews getting injured in the first 15 minutes of his first practice suckes, too

Seems pretty clear it always was with Beane right now since hindsight is 20/20. I think this year is going to be pretty interesting because the "rooting for TT to fail" thing is going to be real with the sign on the door that unless Taylor has a stellar year, we're going to do everything in our power to trade up to get the best QB we can possibly get in a (supposedly) strong QB class. I think for once it might even almost sorta be reasonable for those who are rooting against Taylor. I don't agree with it and can't possibly root for a bad season. But I'll say that I understand why those people might root against him. It'll just be interesting if (and yes, that's a big if) Taylor has a stellar season and the team makes the playoffs and wins a game or two. What will the conversations be like next offseason?

I had no clue who Zay Jones was before I heard his name called. That's how little I follow college ball. Then I heard we got great value with him. Your post makes me a little more intrigued. What was the knock on him? His production was at a small school?

I know. I was expecting to read the last page or 2 here and find our message board medical experts talking about exactly how long we can expect Matthews to be out and how fully he'll recover

Sooo... are there excuses now? Honestly, excuses don't matter much at this point, the Tyrod Taylor question is no longer really a question. The best he can hope for seems to be starting this season, seeing his replacement drafted in the 2018 draft, and starting the 2018 season while his replacement learns the game a bit. Barring making the playoffs and actually winning a couple of those games, it seems obvious Beane wants to replace Taylor.

I think it's an especially interesting interview considering how seemingly unprompted a lot of these responses are (you'd always prefer a transcript) and the fact that he played with a QB many have/are touting as "one of the next, great QBs." http://buffalonews.com/2017/08/12/jordan-matthews-eager-play-tyrod-taylor-keep-representing-2014-wr-draft-class/ Matthews leaves on-the-job trainee Carson Wentz in Philly and will catch passes from Tyrod Taylor. "Tyrod's a great asset to the Bills," Matthews said. "To be able to play with him is going to be awesome because I already know what kind of person he is." Matthews two years ago participated in offseason workouts with Taylor, running back LeSean McCoy and left guard Richie Incognito in Arizona. Matthews also has experience training in Florida with Bills receiver Anquan Boldin. "Tyrod works hard," Matthews said. "He was always the first guy in the building whenever we were training in Arizona. "He definitely has a savvy about him, and he understands people. He's not one of those guys who was modeled to be a quarterback but has no people skills. He knows how to lead a locker room. He knows how to talk to the receivers, the rest of the offense and get everybody pulling in the same direction." Matthews, a 2014 second-round draft choice, went through four starting quarterbacks in Philly: Nick Foles, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford and Wentz. The Eagles went 24-24 in those three seasons, never reaching the playoffs. Taylor will be Matthews' first quarterback who is a dangerous runner, a trait Matthews praised. "And I also think he has a chip on his shoulder," Matthews said. "When you go through history, the best quarterbacks always have a chip on their shoulders. "I'm excited to see what he's going to do."

Geez... I love this. Such a great story!