dave mcbride

Tell that to Alex Smith (sacked 5 times), Eli Manning (sacked 5 times), and Tom Brady (sacked 3 times). People have known this strategy since literally EARLY 2015. There are stories about it too. It's easier said than done, and it can be counterschemed.

This board is not Buffalo. There are no women on it! I can tell you that every woman I know who is a Bills fan loves Tyrod, partly for his style and partly because he's not a boring player. (Women make up 40 percent of the NFL audience too, btw.)

Well, you can if the offense is designed around that style of play and exploits it. Taylor definitely played well enough to get the team to the playoffs in 2015 and 2016. The defense was a disaster, however. But that's not the sort of scheme the Bills run now, for better or worse. I hope and expect that they marshal their resources and draft a blue chip qb in 2018 who can operate well in this scheme.

As I said elsewhere, he played objectively well in the three games prior to the NO game. His line and his receivers utterly failed him in the Jets game. Teams have figured him out, but they've also figured out most qbs in the league not named Brady/Rogers/Brees. Most qbs have a couple of real stinkers every season.

The thing is, it didn't kill Taylor. He plays like that all the time and is extremely durable. The only time he got injured was on a dirty play in TN, and he finished the game.

I think because they probably know that the season is on the line for the Bills, and if Peterman starts out poorly, then they may feel the need to make a change. To repeat, the Bills season is on the line this Sunday.

Why do you think this? Taylor's escapability is a real asset, and quick release throwers haven't prevented the Chargers D from racking up the sacks. I really hope he does well, but he is going to be under siege.

You guys are wilfully misreading my posts. I have no idea how Peterman will do. He may be great. But I want to get to the playoffs, and I think it's better to play the percentages. I realize you disagree.

See my revised note above, which I fixed while you were responding. I just went and watched that every play video. I was talking about the final possession, when it was 47-3. If that's not prevent, then we speak different languages. 4 guys rushed every play, and the rest occupied zones. Re "diminishing" Peterman's performance, please, man. Give me more credit than that. I have no preconceived notion of how good he is or whether he is the answer. I try to be reasonably objective, and I personally think that Taylor gives them a better chance to get to 9-7 and a playoff entry (which, to repeat, I regard as essentially a SB victory at this point). Prior to the bad Saints game (in which nearly everyone was bad), the team was 2-1 post-bye and he had a 102.9 rating with only one turnover (fumble) alongside 6 TDs. Maybe Peterman matches this, but I'm not betting on it. I do understand why they're doing this - they don't want Taylor because he's not a fit. That's logical. But I think it's not very plausible to argue that Peterman gives them a better shot at getting to the playoffs. He's a marginally drafted rookie with no experience at all, and he's being fed to the dogs (in the form of Bosa and Ingram) this week. It's a tough challenge. I'd prefer to go with the guy who has experience and a winning record.

Well, the season is on the line, flat out, so I wouldn't be thrilled. They will be annihilated by KC with whoever they start.

Um, they beat a healthy and very talented Cowboys team ...

I think that injury argument is -- frankly -- BS and essentially sophistry. I don't buy it for a second. But I agree with you that it is minutiae. How was that not a prevent D, btw? They played soft zone the whole way down the field and had two deep safeties on the final possession (not the first one). Or so it looked to me.

How is the "trying-to-avoid-injury-in-a-laugh-worthy-blowout defense" dangerous to players? Please explain.

They all do. They don't want to get fired. Anyone who has followed the Bills over the years knows what happens when the city and media turn on you. Christ, Mike Mularkey fled the town! Marrone up and quit. The alleged straw that broke the camel's back re: Donohoe's employment was fan-related! Buffalo is a pretty hostile environment compared to other cities - it's a combination of passion and constant losing. Making the playoffs and then getting rid of the qb doesn't set them up well if they struggle next season. Don't get me wrong - I am sure they have their issues with Taylor and want to see what they have in Peterman. I also think that their interest in the latter stems from the realization of how bad the defense actually is. They need to address that.

I was one of those who was really unimpressed by him last season. I was wrong! That said, the entire offense had a massive upgrade, with Whitworth being the most important one. He has dominated.

Maybe for a team like the Steelers, but not for a team like Buffalo, which has not made the playoffs in nearly two decades. There would be a PR problem if they jettisoned him after a playoff season, especially if they get worse next year. That's a recipe for a third-year firing if they don't get it together. The Saints D was in the injury prevention defense. It was 47-3, for chrissake.

He did it a mere four weeks ago against Tampa! Look, he's not great, but no one ever said he was. I hope Peterman turns out to be great, but if the Bills get blown out by SD (who have the best DE pair in the league right now) with the season on the line, questions are going to be asked. Taylor takes a lot of sacks, but he gets out of sure sacks more than any other qb in the league.

I disagree, largely because I personally think that Taylor is going to be a better player than Peterman will be for the remainder of this season. Call me crazy, but I am not sold on a marginal pick who has not played a meaningful NFL down in his life coming into the the final part of a season to save the day. I know Peterman has his fans, and that's fine. But I'm trying to be reasonably objective here, and it is the case that Taylor has led the team to wins more often than losses despite mostly bad defenses throughout his career here. He is not great, but he is certainly more qualified at this point. Btw, this whole "teams have figured him out in the last few games" is a joke. Post-bye, in the three games prior to the Saints game, he played OBJECTIVELY well. Here are the numbers: 69 completions in 100 attempts (69 percent) for 718 yards (7.18 ypa); 4 TDs/0 INTs; 2 rushing TDs, and one total turnover (fumble v. the Jets). His rating in those three games? 102.9. Are the numbers everything? No, but they're more indicative than a lot what of the commentators on the board think they mean. This narrative of teams figuring him out has to stop. Yes, he had a horrible game against NO. But you know what? Every qb in the league not named Brees, Rodgers, or Brady does. Did anyone watch Dak Prescott on Sunday? Mariota last night? Roethlisberger when he threw five picks vs. Jax? I honestly think that some on this board don't watch other teams with any regularity.

No offense, Dog, but I think this is crazy. If they were to make the playoffs, subsequently jettison Taylor, and settle into 6-10 next year, the optics (as they say) would be horrible. They are aware of this. Don't ever discount managers' sense of pr and how it relates to perceptions of forward progress or the lack thereof.

All cool, and thanks.

I wasn't impressed either, but the steelers d is great and he had to play them in pitt on a short week. That's a tough challenge for anyone.

I get your take on 26, but i am going to press you: you issued a matter of fact question, and it sounds to me like you decided beforehand that anyone who answered in a way contrary to your own views was worthy of snark. That's just not cool. There are a a ton of nfl fans on this board, and with regard to the rams there are a lot of fans of wade phillips plus a bunch of people interested in the performances of woods, watkins, and goff (because the rams traded a ton to move up and get him, and the bills may be in the same position to do so next year).

Why would you be snarky to me when all I do is provide a matter of fact response to a simple question? What is your issue? Why so angry? Why lash out?

I disagree. I think this makes a ton of sense and is a rational move by the Bills given that they've decided to dump Taylor. Watch the Florio clip for more info on this. btw, Vic has been a lot more right than wrong the past two years despite what critics at the time said.

Regardless, it's a very good take by Simms. Bear in mind that I regard getting to the playoffs this year at 9-7 as the equivalent of back to back super bowls. This is a really good discussion that will satisfy all sides in this debate. Florio takes the side of the Taylor skeptics and is quite articulate; Simms criticizes the organization from an informed perspective.