twoandfourteen

Well, of course there are... because qualifying for the playoffs added a huge, brand new factor to consider. So for those of us most interested in the QB position, it's a new conversation to be had. That's the beauty of places like this online -- you can go discuss the finer points of run-blocking and breakdown the Jags LB tendencies on film, and I can go and talk about Tyrod Taylor and the fascinating conundrum he presents right now at the most important position in sports.

What were those names again?

I was asking an honest question because I'm having a hard time with the fact that the biggest play by a QB of the drought ending season was really a Bengals highlight. Just out of a sense of pride, It kind of bothers me. So, due specifically to my critical view of Tyrod Taylor -- I wanted to ask the board here to help me out, because maybe there were plays I missed or didn't give the guy enough credit for. You are free to interpret this thread as you see fit.

I agree -- I think everything hinges on the Bills first 2 or 3 possessions on offense. Tyrod needs to come away with at least 10 points for the Bills to be able to stay in the game. If it's a couple of punts or FGs, and Jacksonville gets an early lead -- then it's pretty much game over.

This is the best way to voice your displeasure. Save the $10 and just stop clicking on Rodney's articles.

That's what I was looking for -- some good opinions on what were his big moments in 2017. Thanks

Yes, it was an admirable series of events and he showed great professionalism both in LA & KC. But I'm looking for a highlight or single play.

Why? You don't think that with a full year of NFL offseason, that Peterman (or any 2nd-year QB for that matter) won't be better?

I think I found it. The 22 yard TD pass to Logan Thomas against the Bucs, maybe? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMmGf1jClBk

You clicked on this one and chose to read it. I'm sure there's plenty of film out there for you to really sink your teeth into, coach. Better get cracking though, you only have three days left. Anyway, I wasn't trolling and this wasn't intended to bash Taylor. It was an honest question, because I couldn't really come up with anything -- which is odd for a season that results in a playoff birth for the first time in nearly two decades. Like, if I were in charge of the Bills video yearbook, what would I use to really sum up 2017 for the starting QB? Me either. That's why I was asking, haha.

Tyrod Taylor is the starting QB of the first Bills team to break through to the playoffs in 17 years, and has rightfully earned a special place in Buffalo Sports History because of it. What would you say was his signature play or highlight from 2017? The Dalton to Boyd 49 yard TD pass on 4th & 12 that beat the Ravens is not eligible for consideration, by the way. I'm looking for a Tyrod Taylor heroic moment that really sums up this season.

Finally we agree on something!

Under the Sea, Tyrod is probably in the 13,000-9,000 range. You're crazy if you think Taylor is really better than all 20,000.

What league are you referring to? The Arena League? The National Hockey League? The Premier League? The League of Nations? The Justice League?

I can see that accepting the fact that Tyrod Taylor is not very good at playing QB is difficult for you. So, why don't we defer to an expert? http://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/index.ssf/2017/11/cameron_jordan_on_strategy_against_qb_tyrod_taylor_we_made_him_a_quarterback.html I mean, in his one full season as the starter, even JP Losman was putting up Tyrod's numbers this year. JP had 3051 yards passing and 19 TDs. He had 14 INTs, too. Not saying JP is better than Tyrod. Just pointing out the level of production we are working with here with Taylor, for some perspective.

I appreciate the time you took to write this, and you're probably mostly correct. But it's irrelevant. I think that you think that I'm making arguments that I'm not making. My problem lies with the media and idiots around here and their hyperbolic hysterics about Peterman having the "worst game for a QB in NFL history", and then using it to somehow prop up the Tyrod Taylor and his totally useless passing offense. It's simply not true. I couldn't really care any less about Peterman. If he turns into the next Joe Montana, sweet. If he flames out and is a total bust, oh well that sucks. It's how the narrative is being spun around him to try and make Tyrod look good and McDermott look like the village idiot. The reality is that Taylor was sinking the team with his play and McDermott was 100% justified in making the switch. It was a desperation move, and I give him credit for having the guts to do it. The fact that you don't agree with the comparison really doesn't matter... because only two QBs in the NFL this year threw 5 INTs in a game. So that's the comparison. It's the only comparison for the 2017 season, because the two events actually happened. So, for the purposes of my contention -- that the media and #teamtyrod are pushing a lazy and intellectually void narrative -- Ben vs Peterman in their 5INT Throwdown is actually the perfect example of how they are basically fabricating the whole thing. Peterman sucked against the Chargers. But it wasn't the "worst performance by a QB in NFL history", considering a Hall of Fame guy did the exact same thing just a few weeks prior. Ben's game probably wasn't the "worst performance by a QB in NFL history", either. But it was definitely worse than what Peterman did against the Chargers. That's all I'm saying. I don't really care about what that game means for Peterman and whether or not he's a bust. Only an idiot would write the kid off after one game. Now, if he goes out and throws up on his shoes like that a few more times, then yeah -- probably time to find another line of work. But I think he'll be ok and carve out a nice career for himself as a solid #2/fringe starter.

Defenses have realized that the best way to beat Tyrod Taylor is to make him play quarterback.

Clearly. Focus less on the players and more on the "worst half for a QB ever" part. It's not fair and factually incorrect to completely write off Peterman and proclaim that he played the "worst half ever for a QB" when there was a much more accomplished player who did the exact same thing only weeks before. You need to look at this from a much broader standpoint. Player A is brand new and is expected to make rookie mistakes. It happens in all jobs across all walks of life. Still bad and unfortunate, but it happens. Player B is one of the best over to perform that job. He has a very bad performance, making similar "rookie mistakes" to Player A. The point is that Roethlisberger's 2nd half against the Jags was worse than Peterman's 1st half against the Chargers, because he (Ben) is a far more accomplished and talented player. It's worse when someone that good plays that bad, than when someone brand new with debatable skill plays poorly while learning on the job. Do you see what I'm saying here?

So to be clear here -- you are arguing that 5th round rookie QB, Nathan Peterman in his first NFL start has less of a margin of error than 14 year veteran, future HOF QB, Ben Roethlisberger does? You are making the case that people should be MORE critical of the rookie in his first start and LESS critical of the future HOFer in his 190th start. Because if Peterman's start was the "worst in NFL history", then what was Roethlisberger's? Because they both threw 5 INTs in a single game. Roethlisberger had two run back for TDs in the span of three minutes. Oh, and he was at home. I don't know. If you ask me, an all-time great should be held to a higher standard and the rookie should be given a little slack. Oh, and as for your Colts game comment -- the kid got the job done while he was in the game. That's all anyone could have wanted and expected from him. He gets bonus points for doing it under ridiculous circumstances, too. Same thing goes for Joe Webb in that one, too. Those two backups kept things together well enough and made enough plays at the position while dealing with something never-before-seen, and came out with a win. A win that, by the way, helped to put them in place to play this weekend. So get lost with the "well, it was a bad pass defense".... who cares? It was an epic blizzard! Everything went out the window that day and it came down to who was able to do their job in the conditions. Peterman and Webb get full credit for pulling that one off.

Done. Where do we sign?

Absolutely. If he's terrible, then you move on. If he's even remotely good, you can flip him down the line. He currently presents the possibility of a higher ceiling in the passing game than Tyrod Taylor. Of course, that isn't exactly a very tough standard to beat. The dumbest thing they could do is to continue to run with the QB who has consistently sat in the basement of the league in passing and was deathly allergic to scoring points this year.

Or what? He might scramble for several 6 or 8 yard gains? Great, him running is a slow and inefficient way to move the ball downfield. If I'm a DC, I welcome Tyrod to run. It's no where near as dangerous as a QB who can effectively attack through the air. Publicly of course, I'd have to say how important it is to watch out for Taylor scrambling, blah, blah, blah. But I know that him scrambling means he's given up on the pass, a much more efficient and effective way to move the ball, and that is a-ok with me. So in private, I'm like "RUN, TYROD, RUN!"

I pretty much say this. Maybe not 100% his fault, but the overwhelming majority is. His limitations as a passer affects every other aspect of the offense. OC can't use a full play book and is forced into an ultra-conservative game plan because falling behind by two scores at any point is practically an automatic loss. You just don't have the ability to score quickly enough to come back. Forget the two-minute offense. The running game suffers, defense is forced to spend more time on the field, etc, etc, etc. Literally anyone after this season is over.

100% on him. Even a rookie has to know better than this.