The Big Cat

The easiest way to categorize EJ is "risk-aversed." The same can be said of zero of those other quarterbacks. Admittedly, I can't say that with confidence about early Drew Brees, but there's a reason why his name, and his name alone gets mentioned in the discussion of whether or not a QB can resurrect his career after an abysmal start...it doesn't oft happen. But being risk-aversed is what got him a cold seat on the bench. I'd happily give up two picks a game if it meant chucking the ball down field and giving his receivers a chance.

I also don't understand his system. If it's positive v negative plays, why are scores always so close to zero? To players really have approximately the same number positive plays and negative? I don't understand.

I don't get it.

And Jeremy and I had a little back and forth yesterday on Twitter about some questionable analysis. But at least his reviews SHOW you his reference points in a way that's objective enough for you to make your own opinion.

Try explaining that to radio guys. ;-) But to take it further: these are like rambling 2000 word opportunities to say "here's what I think." Problem is, Buscalia doesn't seem to know football from foosball. So I don't really find value in what he thinks. Kelso really took him down a peg or two on the pregame Sunday and deservedly so.

Thanks, Obama.

Things Orton will do better than EJ: Run the read option. Yep, that's right. Throw intermediate timing routes (on which our offense relies) Get the ball out quickly (Sacks will go down, mark my words) Hit receivers deep on play action. Hit his receivers in stride allowing them to pick up YAC. Please note: I do mean to suggest Orton will do any of these things particularly well. But he will do them better than EJ did. That's why EJ got benched. Orton will be better at EJ at all these things (including, yes, the read option) because (and this is the most important part) EJ was absolutely LOUSY at doing all these things over the past two weeks. We need competency in these five areas to succeed. Listen to the national guys, there is consensus that we have one of the best 21 man rosters in the NFL. We do not need a first-balloter under center to succeed this year. But, so long as we couldn't competently execute the five things above, we were doomed to fail. Orton--at the very least--puts us closer to achieving that very attainable goal: competency. The offense doesn't need to change. If executed properly (and as we've now all seen from the all-22 reviews, that was hardly a tall order) we would have been damn close to 4-0, but assuredly, we would be 3-1. If the offense does change, the one wrinkle we can expect is all the payoff on the setup plays we've run that never got to show their second and third looks. I'm talking about the fake reverse draw screens, etc.

I don't like his reviews and his little grading system. I much prefer Jeremy White's. Just MO.

Fact: if executed properly, the plays that were called would have won us the game. Who cares what wasn't called? To take it a step further: I'm glad Hacketts scheme is a winner without calling bread and butter plays. Save them.

I responded to that question, out loud, in front of my inlaws (who already think the whole Bills thing is a bit silly): "Yes, there are many things he can't do. That's why four other teams have already shown him the door."

This point has already been made, and I have already countered it thusly: If the idea behind the option is to get 5-7 yards, then they should absolutely keep it in. Orton can do that to keep them honest, and by doing so, opens up the other options on the play that EJ never took, namely passing out of it.

RING A DING DING DING DING DING DING DING x2

It was more of an allusion to us not getting a great look at Fitz's deep ball in the absence of a genuine deep target, which he hardly had. I asked to suggest that Orton need not throw a perfect deep ball, given the deep talent that exists on our roster.

I know you managed to list a bunch of things to make your argument, but weak counter points throughout, man.

He technically was.

You're arguing against a strawman. Nobody who's excited for Orton expects him to smoke anyone. They expect him to be good enough, which EJ wasn't, which would have won us the game in Houston, which might have won us the game against San Diego which will probably win us the game against New England.

Except our first round pick wasn't wasted. It was used to draft two players.

Yep. And Orton should be good enough to handle that!

All the more reason that the five-seven yard window I'm talking about will be there!

Orton's deep ball is like Fitz's? Who have been the deep threats Orton has been throwing to?

I actually think the onus is on you to identify QB's not named Braddy/Manning who aren't a "real" threat to run. Like I said, five to seven yards, that's all they need from the QB. See: Washington and Cousins.

I disagree. You don't need the QB to pick up 40 yards on the read option. Five to seven will keep the defense honest enough for the look to be effective throughout. Keep in mind too, it usually contains a pass option...that EJ rarely--if ever--looked to. They'll continue to run it, and probably run it better now that all of its layers will (hopefully) be back in play.

Good catch, and actually helps further make my point. Not only did the inherit his SF contract, they gave him a better one this year. Given that Fitz was cast off because he wasn't worth the money, and given that Smith is only marginally better, I can't imagine the Bills would have pursued this route. What ails Smith is what ails Fitz--they're both great quarterbacks...when every throw is less than 15 yards. For the last 20 regular season games, Smith's shortcomings have been propped up by stellar defensive play (last night) and/or once-in-a-career play from Jamaal Charles (he has since normalized after last year).

He's a less-wild version of Fitz. Throws as many TD's as he does picks. Has never had a receiving corps and a backfield AND a defense like he has in Buffalo right now. All he needs to be is good enough. And I'm confident he will be.

The thing that EJ must learn from watching Orton is making quick, decisive, authoritative throws. People say EJ lacks arm strength. That's not true. What he lacks is the confidence to rock and fire. That's what he has to learn, and I'm confident that with it will come better accuracy too. It's a think-less-throw-more mentality he's got to slip into, and I believe that overthinking throws is causing him to lose some accuracy. Orton is the perfect kind of quarterback for this team. A veteran with 4+ years worth of starts who knows how to find the open guy and hit him. That's really all we need the QB to do. It's not the scheme. Receivers are open all over the field. They just need someone with enough guts to him them. Exactly. It's not a tall order. Orton will be just fine.