Hot Buffalo Wings Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) So, I re-watched the Bills Texans game last night because I wanted to re-evaluate my opinions of EJ Manuel earlier this season. A couple things I noticed watching that game without the overwhelming emotions that come with watching the games live are: The OL played AWFUL and it showed. We could not establish a running game. EJ was under pressure all game and I really think the play calling was bland. EJ's pick 6 to JJ Watt is more credit to Watt being a freak than anything. Andrew Luck did the same EXACT thing the week after, however, Watt bobbled it a little too much to get a clean pick to run with it. When CJ Spiller uses his first instinct to cut up field it usually works well/ok for us. Too many times we see him trying to bounce it out just oooone more time for that BIG play and it results in a loss of yards. That is lack of discipline. Fitzy played one of his better games against us. He used that magic we all know he is capable of using once in a while. Our defense dominated except for Corey Graham who gave up a late first half TD (the only TD our defense allowed) to Hopkins to make it 10-7 going into halftime. It looked like Graham fell asleep on that play. I guess what I am trying to conclude here is that I think it's surprising how many people have already chalked EJ up as a bust. I see a lot of potential. His biggest problem right now is accuracy/timing. I'm no QB coach but I have to think that is something that can be improved over time (correct me if I'm wrong). I don't feel any desire to throw EJ back into this mess anytime soon. I think Marrone has made the right decision and EJ will benefit from taking a back seat. It is VERY difficult to find a franchise QB in this league, just look at 80% of the teams in the NFL. I billieve that we just might have something in EJ. We need a BIG upgrade @ OL (free agency or draft or both?) We need a desperate upgrade @ OC... We could use a stud CB... I'm ok with Marrone and Whaley sticking around. Not a fan of the revolving door. Can't wait for Kiko to be playing again. Also, if you haven't noticed. EJ loves Buffalo. As Always, Go Bills. Edited November 20, 2014 by Hot Buffalo Wings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I didn't see the game, but heard there were several big dropped passes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 We need a BIG upgrade @ OL (free agency or draft or both?) We need a desperate upgrade @ OC... We could use a stud CB... I'm ok with Marrone and Whaley sticking around. Not a fan of the revolving door. Can't wait for Kiko to be playing again. As Always, Go Bills. I agree with all of this. I also want to add that if PI was called on the last int by Manuel as it should have he may very well have a different narrative to his season. I said as much then but it boggles my mind that blown call by the refs (on "their point of emphasis" no less) effectively ended his season. It also doesn't surprise me that Fitz played well. I caught his pregame speech and the emotion was raw. He said something along the lines of "I know I don't say much but this game means a lot to me, it means a lot to me" and I'll bet it did. He was written off here and Nix trashed him (not on purpose) publicly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maury Ballstein Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Free Ej ! Fire maroon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I didn't see the game, but heard there were several big dropped passes. Early in the game, the Bills WRs had the drops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I agree with all of this. I also want to add that if PI was called on the last int by Manuel as it should have he may very well have a different narrative to his season. I said as much then but it boggles my mind that blown call by the refs (on "their point of emphasis" no less) effectively ended his season. It also doesn't surprise me that Fitz played well. I caught his pregame speech and the emotion was raw. He said something along the lines of "I know I don't say much but this game means a lot to me, it means a lot to me" and I'll bet it did. He was written off here and Nix trashed him (not on purpose) publicly. no way that call ended our season but im surprised that it wasnt called. i get that down the stretch you often let them play a little extra, but if i recall it was pretty blatant and did clearly effect the route. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Early in the game, the Bills WRs had the drops. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) no way that call ended our season but im surprised that it wasnt called. i get that down the stretch you often let them play a little extra, but if i recall it was pretty blatant and did clearly effect the route. No not our season (I still think the Bills have a shot ). Manuels season was ended by that play. Edited November 19, 2014 by section122 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireChan Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) I can't believe some are chalking EJ up as a bust, I mean the only issue he has as the guy who needs to pass the football is his ability to pass the football. Edited November 19, 2014 by FireChan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hot Buffalo Wings Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 I agree with all of this. I also want to add that if PI was called on the last int by Manuel as it should have he may very well have a different narrative to his season. I said as much then but it boggles my mind that blown call by the refs (on "their point of emphasis" no less) effectively ended his season. It also doesn't surprise me that Fitz played well. I caught his pregame speech and the emotion was raw. He said something along the lines of "I know I don't say much but this game means a lot to me, it means a lot to me" and I'll bet it did. He was written off here and Nix trashed him (not on purpose) publicly. I agree, that was PI on Robert Woods. I think EJ is very capable of running the 2 minute drill. With that being said, I also think it was a blessing in disguise. EJ needs to learn from the bench like other great QBs have in the past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 No not our season (I still think the Bills have a shot ). Manuels season was ended by that play. ahhh - i gotcha. yea, i mean, that might have been his last legit shot too. Which would in its own way be a shame. the guys longest run as a starter was 5 games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 ahhh - i gotcha. yea, i mean, that might have been his last legit shot too. Which would in its own way be a shame. the guys longest run as a starter was 5 games. If Whaley stays, it won't be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 I can't believe some are chalking EJ up as a bust, I meant the only issue he has as the guy who needs to pass the football is his ability to pass the football. Imagine that you showed up.... I agree, that was PI on Robert Woods. I think EJ is very capable of running the 2 minute drill. With that being said, I also think it was a blessing in disguise. EJ needs to learn from the bench like other great QBs have in the past. I don't know. I have no idea if he would be better served learning hands on or hands off. I personally learn by doing so sitting wouldn't be beneficial to me. Who knows for EJ. I also stand by my idea that not a single win of Orton's couldn't have been won by Manuel. He won 2 games by leading the team to 17 points and a third by being gifted 6 turnovers. The Bills are winning in spite of him and that could definitely be done imo by Manuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Security Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 This was a blown game, a big time blown game, the same typ of blown win the Bills should have had with Tuel at QB against KC last year, and against KC this year with Orton. This was on the road though. Not sure EJ completely deserved to be benched. We can now tell how horrid this staff is at calling plays no matter who is at QB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 ahhh - i gotcha. yea, i mean, that might have been his last legit shot too. Which would in its own way be a shame. the guys longest run as a starter was 5 games. I really hope it isn't. I mean I am holding onto some memories but he runs the 2 minute drill incredibly well, and I just keep flashing back to that NE game last year. He played great as a rookie making his first start with little tc and had the team in position to win. Then he followed that up with the Carolina drive and I became optimistic that he could succeed. Add in the fact that he is so ridiculously easy to root for (says and does all the right things) and I would love to see him succeed. This is a tough situation for him to be in though as the fans have zero patience for anything after 14 years. Growing pains are looked at disapprovingly. Look at Tannehil in Miami. He struggled greatly in his first 2 seasons and is now showing signs of being a productive qb. Bills fans would have tried to run him out of town long before the middle of his 3rd season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) I don't know. I have no idea if he would be better served learning hands on or hands off. I personally learn by doing so sitting wouldn't be beneficial to me. Who knows for EJ. I also stand by my idea that not a single win of Orton's couldn't have been won by Manuel. He won 2 games by leading the team to 17 points and a third by being gifted 6 turnovers. The Bills are winning in spite of him and that could definitely be done imo by Manuel. in fact we have probably accomplished that several times. ill admit i was anti-benching him that early. but as you say, i dont know the guy, or the inner workings of the team - so its all speculation. I just think that if we are going to take him in the first, and push the chips in for him with Sammy (still valuable even if ej flops but...) you give him more than 5 games to work through stuff. especially given the choppy season last year was. KO gave me some hope, but eventually you have to think hes probably going to play like KO. and he has evened out to that. Edited November 19, 2014 by NoSaint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not at the table Karlos Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Early in the game, the Bills WRs had the drops. they definitely did. Ejs passes weren't the best on a couple but if you can get a hand on it you can catch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
section122 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 in fact we have probably accomplished that several times. ill admit i was anti-benching him that early. but as you say, i dont know the guy, or the inner workings of the team - so its all speculation. I just think that if we are going to take him in the first, and push the chips in for him with Sammy (still valuable even if ej flops but...) you give him more than 5 games to work through stuff. especially given the choppy season last year was. My feelings exactly. It also pushes the time table for knowing what we have with him back which is my biggest gripe about the move. If he stunk bad this year ala Geno we would know that and could make plans for next year. As it stands now we don't know what we have and won't find out which may push the drought longer. We know what Orton is and I am on record as saying that I don't think he is very good. As for the inner workings I agree, there may have been some locker room issues brewing that we as fans aren't privy to that may have forced Marrone's hand. Listening to the quotes after the benching that may be it. Speaking of the quotes..... It seems that many of the wrs were happy that the move was made. You know who never did come out and say he liked the move was Mike Williams. It seems he was a receiver with a good rapport with EJ. The whole throw it up in the clouds thing and I think he may have been unhappy with the move. I also think that may have something to do with his inactive status which started after the switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Speaking of the quotes..... It seems that many of the wrs were happy that the move was made. You know who never did come out and say he liked the move was Mike Williams. It seems he was a receiver with a good rapport with EJ. The whole throw it up in the clouds thing and I think he may have been unhappy with the move. I also think that may have something to do with his inactive status which started after the switch. Good observation. Caveman has virtually disappeared from the offense since the QB switch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 It also pushes the time table for knowing what we have with him back which is my biggest gripe about the move. If he stunk bad this year ala Geno we would know that and could make plans for next year. As it stands now we don't know what we have and won't find out which may push the drought longer. ..... It seems that many of the wrs were happy that the move was made. You know who never did come out and say he liked the move was Mike Williams. It seems he was a receiver with a good rapport with EJ. The whole throw it up in the clouds thing and I think he may have been unhappy with the move. I also think that may have something to do with his inactive status which started after the switch. if i was doing a longer post the first section certainly was part of my feeling. i thought it was early to declare him dead, and if we arent declaring that it would be nice to get some more time to figure out what we have. but i suppose the coaches are still working with him behind closed doors. i think you and i are very much the same on how we approached the situation here. with regards to the quotes/locker room/MW -- i dont know what to make of a lot of the personnel stuff this season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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