MDH

So what does everybody think of the "look at me!!" element of this story that is being ignored? I guess we are so used to it at this point that we hardly notice it. It would be one thing if he simply had the boys return the trophies and that was that. But no, he must let the entire world know where he stands on this issue, take pics of the trophies and post them, all because he thinks he is a special snowflake that deserves attention for his stance on this important issue. To me, this part of society, where everything must be posted on line in an attention grab (which is another way for people to try and feel "special") is much more of an issue with society than a 6 and 8 year old getting some participation award. "Look at me, I had salmon for dinner!" "Look at me, I bought a new car!" "Look at me, I'm a better parent than you!" The 6 and 8 year olds don't get to feel special, but their daddy does.

Reports I've read from camp have him taking off running in 7 on 7s. Making one read and tucking the ball. Those same things were reported in the scrimmage and I saw much the same things last night. That doesn't mean he can't throw the ball, it means that when he isn't comfortable with what he's seeing he goes with his instincts and runs with the football. It has less to do with his ability to make good throws and more to do with his ability to read coverages and make his progressions. He has limited playing experience so I don't expect him to be great at it just yet. Like any inexperienced QB it takes time. Like I said, I'm fine with that. But people need to temper their expectations. These unrealistic expectations are how you end up with people turning on the player when he can't possibly live up to them.

So if he's not going to run it that much the entire game the question remains, how effective will he be? How effective will the offense be at moving the chains? There is a fine line. I love QBs who can scramble yet are still throw first guys. QBs who bring the ball down and look to run immediately are the last guys I want on the field. As I said, I like Tyrod's skill package but he's got to show he can get the job done with more than his legs as his primary weapon. That is still the question about his game. It will likely take some time for him to figure it out and I'm fine with that. But people acting like he'll be able to do what he did last night in the regular season are in for a surprise. We've seen better talents than him fail at doing it in the long term. Sure, he might have a few games where it's effective, but the D always catches up to it. Always.

I'm not just talking about getting hurt, I'm talking about his effectiveness. Those gains will not be there that often in a regular season game where the D game plans. We've seen it time and time again that D's are able to shut these types of QBs down. In order to be continuously effective he has to use the threat of the run to his advantage by throwing the ball and not just taking off. I think with play time he can do it, but as I said, he doesn't appear to be there now.

Just for reference Tyrod was credited with 6 runs in one quarter of work last night. That's on target for 24 rushes in the game. An NFL QB simply can't do that. Six runs in a lot per game for a QB. We need to see him use the threat of the run (i.e. getting out of the pocket) to open things up in the passing game. As effective as his runs were last night that will not work in the regular season. He has to show he can keep his eyes down field and throw the ball accurately. I'm intrigued by his skill set but he has a long ways to go. That being said I'm still on the "anyone but Cassel" bandwagon.

I guess the question is, why wouldn't a Bills fan be "pro EJ?" He's young, he's a good kid, hard worker, has great physical tools and a ceiling that's pretty high. Sure, he hasn't put it all together yet (and my never) but he sounds like a player all Bills fans should be behind. He's the last player that should cause a division between fans.

He said "media and the crazies on the board" and believe that to mean, "people closest to the NFL and the media?" I guess he's right, there are crazies on this board!

I miss the days when everybody thought pre-season didn't matter and all we really hoped for was a game with no injuries.

Did you ever see Alex Smith play in his first 4-5 years in the league? The guy didn't get noticeably better until year 6 or so. Granted, the Bills can't wait that long to start seeing results with EJ but to think a player can't make significant strides 4-5 years into a career is ludicrous. Speaking of Smith, that's another point I could make from my posts up above. Smith was exactly what everybody here hopes Cassel can be in 2012 under Roman: Efficient, not spectacular, and safe. Yet when he went down and Kaep came in they didn't go back to the "safe" guy, they went with the playmaker. I think he'll do the same here eventually, even if Cassel starts the season as the #1. Tyrod or EJ will end up being the QB of this team once they get their feet under them and understand this offense better. If I had to guess I'd say it'll be Tyrod but I'm not counting EJ out.

Im going to say that the lack of enough afordable food (and clean drinking water) is not just a first world problem. Id say its primarily a third world one. Unless I misunderstood what you were saying, which is altogether possible.

I wasnt suggesting that its as simple as chucking up a long ball, im talking aout his abilities in general. His long balls tend to float. Once the wind comes swirling off the lake in November Cassel becomes more of a liabiltiy than he is now. If he countered this with amazing accuracy in his short game the lack of the long ball would be mitigated. Yet, hes not that accurate and has proven throughout his career to make bad decisions with the ball that result in turnovers. Without the long ball your short range accuracy needs to be on par with Brady or Rivers because there are so many guys near the LoS there isnt room for mistakes. This is compounded even further when your O plans to run the ball nearly 50% of the time. You cant run the ball with any consistency with 8-9 guys in the box. You have to make them change formations and personnel. You do that by making plays downfield. As you mentioned Romans offense relies heavily on pre-snap reads. That, to me, is a blessing for a young QB. He doesnt have to be relied on to consistently make difficult reads post snap. Get the guys out of the huddle in time and the young signal caller has an eternity to figure out the read. Granted, again, its not as simple as that as there will always be post snap reads but the reliance of pre-snap reads effectively cuts the field in half which makes the post snap read infinitely easier. Top it off with an offense that utilizes a lot of pre-snap movement and the pre-snap reads become even easier as the D is often forced to show their hand. Nothing that Ive seen out of a Roman offense suggests that a vet signal caller, with limited arm strength, mobilty and a penchent for turnovers is the right choice. His offense is tailor made for a young, strong armed, athletic guy who doesn't need to have the pressure of the entire offense on his shoulders. Sorry for the long post.

If EJ tears it up all you'll hear is how it "was only against the 3rd string D."

My main question is does Cassel have the down field ability to make them back off? A team that wants to run the ball can't have 8-9 guys crowding the LoS. This is what led me to believe it would be Tyrod or EJ. Top it off with the fact that Cassel - despite being a vet - hasn't been known to be a "protector of the ball" during most of his career and I'm not sure what he actually brings to the table as a QB of this offense. If he doesn't make the big play to get the D to back off and doesn't protect the ball how is he helping a run first offense? If EJ really is on the outside looking in of the QB competition it would seem like Tyrod would be the guy best suited to run this offense.

It makes absolutely no sense to cut EJ. Despite what people claim he is not horrible. He's young and inconsistent with major upside if the lightbulb ever goes on. That's not the guy you cut if it doesn't save you cap space. It's not the guy you cut if it only saves you 2.5 million in cap space.

The draft class doesn't matter at all. Who cares how good the other guys are, all the matters is how good the guy you drafted is.

There absolutely is an agenda, but it doesn't do with their dislike of EJ. It has to do with clicks. These guys are all competing for clicks and they've figured out the best way to get them - the QB competition. Nobody has looked outstanding so they can't get clicks with "WOW" type statements, so they go the other way. The guy who they perceive as lagging behind gets smashed and they try to spin humor into it. Suddenly it looks like piling on when all they really want is attention so they can keep their jobs. The ironic thing is that it makes them look bad at their jobs. Of course, the journalists aren't wrong either. People don't generally give much attention to well thought out, balanced journalism. What they give their attention to is someone smack talking someone else. Just take a look at all these threads talking about the media...

Except that the Bills save no cap space by cutting EJ this year.

Stomp on some players so his name gets out there?

Being able to read a D can't be taught? He can't improve at it with experience? Yeah, I respectfully disagree. Reading a D is not in your DNA, it might come easier to some guys than others but that doesn't mean he can't learn to do it and do it at a high level. Accuracy is directly connected to comfort and footwork - both of which can be gained with experience. And it's not a matter of "I'll see." Odds are most QBs don't pan out it doesn't make you a soothsayer to say, "this guy won't be good" as that's generally what happens. I'm not even claiming EJ will be good, I'm just saying give the kid a chance and if he fails then so be it. Not sure why there's so much vitriol towards him.

Why sign him to another contract? He has two years remaining on this one. It's a rookie deal, is relatively cheap and if he pans out you give him another one. If not you say "goodbye and good luck." And he's not bad either. For a young QB he's about where most of them are. The problem is that there have been a few really good QBs in the past several years and everybody wants that and has no patience to wait and see if the light goes on with the kid.

Maybe he will maybe he won't. I'm willing to give him time. If he earns the starting gig, great, if not, so be it, he can learn from the sidelines. Not sure why there is so much crap directed at him other than it's the internet and that's what people do.

Last time I checked young QBs struggle with accuracy until they get comfortable with the system and speed of the game. If you are rushing your throws because you're unsure of what you're seeing it leads to - wait for it - inaccurate throws. All the talk of "you can't improve accuracy" is a bunch of bunk. Most QBs have their completion percentage improve through their first 4-5 years in the league. It's amazing to me how nobody will cut this kid any slack. You'd think he was a douchebag with as much as people pile on a young guy trying to learn the position.

I'd wager that EJ will have a very long NFL career. He's got the tools and is self motivated and works hard. That's not a guy who will wash out of the NFL. It's possible he never develops into a legit starter, but there is always a place in the league for QBs like him. Hell, despite how many here want to paint things he's still in this QB competition and is giving Cassel a run for his money. Cassel being the 10 year vet. But yeah, EJ will wash out of the league...

I wouldn't expect anybody to stand up for him but I would expect the leadership in the locker room to break it up and attempt to de-escalate the situation. Two teammates get into a heated argument and everybody just stands around and watches until one of them is lying on the floor with a broken jaw?

Yeah, I'm with you. An argument, even with a finger in the face, isn't provocation to punch somebody. A finger to the face might provoke a shove, or a "you best get your finger out of my face!", but to straight out deck the guy mid-argument? What world do you guys live in who don't think this is a "sucker punch?" That being said, at the Jets.