If the OC is Bevell I see 2 Things.....

[CaptnCoke11]

6 hours ago, JMF2006 said:

If they give DB the job as OC I think they keep TT as the Vet mentor and draft Mayfield or Lamar Jackson.

 

Ok I lied 3 things....but the draft pick will be one of those 2 and with his history...experience with a mobile QB I think TT stays.

18 million dollar mentor lol.  This whole mentor thing is a waste of time to talk about.  Garbage

 

Taylor is gone

[JMF2006]

2 hours ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

18 million dollar mentor lol.  This whole mentor thing is a waste of time to talk about.  Garbage

 

Taylor is gone

 

 

Vet Mentor  or stop gap what ever you want to call it.

 

If they want to cut him they don`t need to wait until March.

 

Like I said just making an observation.

[Doc Brown]

5 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

It makes me nervous how convinced the fans are that OBD intends to use an early pick on a QB this year.  What is the basis for that assumption?  

Arguably the deepest QB pool since 2004.  An intelligent GM and coach knows their entire job hinges on finding a franchise quarterback even if that means sacrificing upgrades at other positions.  I don't know if they move up, but if they do for a QB they really like then I won't have a problem with the move.

[McBean]

9 hours ago, JMF2006 said:

If they give DB the job as OC I think they keep TT as the Vet mentor and draft Mayfield or Lamar Jackson.

 

Ok I lied 3 things....but the draft pick will be one of those 2 and with his history...experience with a mobile QB I think TT stays.

 

If any of this is true, then to hell with DB. Plus, he's awful.

[John from Riverside]

I dont think bringing in Bevell points to TT staying.....I think it could lead to Mayfield being drafted.

 

I would really like to see a qb under center that throws WR's open.

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

8 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

I hesitate to say this, but by the numbers for Smith over the past seven seasons are really good 

He led the league in passer rating this year and the Chiefs ended up 6th in yards and 5th in points. 

 

Honestly, I'd take him, and I'd be happy to get him.

I'm with you. If we land Smith in a trade we are going back to the playoffs again in 2018. 

[CEN-CAL17]

Will fans quit tying Tyrod to Bevell because of Russell Wilson. It’s annoying.

 

Like Bevell can only run an offense if the QB can run. 

 

There are a lot of athletic QBs in the league... 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

10 hours ago, JMF2006 said:

If they give DB the job as OC I think they keep TT as the Vet mentor and draft Mayfield or Lamar Jackson.

 

Ok I lied 3 things....but the draft pick will be one of those 2 and with his history...experience with a mobile QB I think TT stays.

 

I agree with Bevell I think drafting QB Lamar Jackson makes more sense, Jackson improved quite a bit staying in the pocket this season. He ran alot but those were designed QB runs for him but when he was asked to pass he stayed in the pocket and surveyed the field in the games that I watched, his accuracy also improved.

 

I disagree that Tyrod Taylor will be the QB, I just don't see a scenario where he's still on the roster, he has failed to get the job done now with 2 different regimes, just my opinions but good post.

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

6 hours ago, PolishDave said:

 

I don't see that at all from Bevell.   But that is just my opinion.  I could be totally wrong.

 

 

I have a feeling that the NFL has seen the best play we are ever going to see out of Tyrod and it was in 2015 and 2016.    I think he is capable of much better play, but only if the coaches specifically design the offense around him.   I thought Dennison was the NFL's best chance to do that - and he didn't do it.   So, I say the Bills are better off moving on and going with a more traditional style of quarterback.  And I think that is exactly what they will do.    My guess is they get a QB whose strength is his arm talent and his brain - while also having a very strong work ethic.   Tyrod is only really strong in one of those traits (the work ethic).    IMHO they should and will move on.

So they design a offense around him, doesn't  he still have to pass the football down field at some point. Dennison might have been a bad fit but guys were open and Taylor failed to get the ball to them. If Taylor is still with this team in 2018 I have a few predictions.

 

1. He will break Cutlers record of 5 OC's.

2.  If McD goes with Taylor as QB in 2018 now he is attached to him.

3.  In comes OC #5 and McD has no choice but back Taylor.

4. In 2020 everyone is fired and the Bills look for a new HC.

5. We don't see the playoffs for 10 years

6. Taylor is released in 2020 and is a back up on the team he is on.

7. Terry Pegula cheats on Kim and Kim gets awarded the Bills.

8. I meet Kim on a Disney cruise and sparks fly, I become new part owner of the Bills.

Edited January 13, 2018 by Call_Of_Ktulu

[harv shitz]

I don't care what they do, who they hire, I want nothing to do with Taylor returning to this team!

 

The single strength he may have is the ability to run, which he rarely does anymore.

 

And some of you think he would be a good mentor for a young quarterback? You can't be serious? You want him teaching all of his bad habits (hold ball too long, don't go through progressions, don't throw down middle, check down 99% of the time, refuse to throw a guy open) to a new guy?

 

He has no  business coming back to this team. His stats speak for themselves, and I know, I know, he doesn't turn it over. BFD. He doesn't do anything else with it, either. 

[PolishDave]

54 minutes ago, BuffaloBillsGospel said:

 

I agree with Bevell I think drafting QB Lamar Jackson makes more sense, Jackson improved quite a bit staying in the pocket this season. He ran alot but those were designed QB runs for him but when he was asked to pass he stayed in the pocket and surveyed the field in the games that I watched, his accuracy also improved.

 

I disagree that Tyrod Taylor will be the QB, I just don't see a scenario where he's still on the roster, he has failed to get the job done now with 2 different regimes, just my opinions but good post.

 

I don't think fans are going to be very happy at all if the Bills draft Lamar Jackson, especially if they draft him in round 1.     I haven't watched the guy a lot.   I have watched more of his highlight clips than I have seen of his other play.    In those highlight clips a couple of things are glaringly evident:

 

1) He makes more big plays with his legs than with his arm

2) A large percentage of the big plays he makes with his arm are not throws where you would say "Wow, what a throw!"   A lot of the big plays are him throwing the ball "kind of up for grabs" and the receiver makes a better play than the defender does.     It doesn't look like he is dropping lots of them "in the bread basket" so to speak.

 

Based on those two things, I think the guy is not NFL starter caliber.    Unless of course an NFL team wants to run the QB on designed runs an awful lot.    I don't think even Bevell really wants to do that.

 

If Jackson were a slightly better passer who made the vast majority of his big plays with his arm, I would be more optimistic about him.   I hope the Bills pass on him regardless of who the OC ends up being.

[Sweats]

11 hours ago, JMF2006 said:

If they give DB the job as OC I think they keep TT as the Vet mentor and draft Mayfield or Lamar Jackson.

 

Ok I lied 3 things....but the draft pick will be one of those 2 and with his history...experience with a mobile QB I think TT stays.

 

 

 

 

Booooooooo

[BADOLBILZ]

9 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

I hesitate to say this, but by the numbers for Smith over the past seven seasons are really good -- elite, in fact. Since 2011, his teams have gone 69-31-1 with him at the helm. He is not the reason they lost to TN either. He played well in that game and was REALLY let down by the backup TE and the kicker, who pretty much cost them the game on offense.

 

He led the league in passer rating this year and the Chiefs ended up 6th in yards and 5th in points. 

 

Honestly, I'd take him, and I'd be happy to get him.

 

 

The two big issues with Smith were not being able to throw the deep ball............and just being the opposite of clutch.

 

He proved he can throw the deep ball this year...........but he also proved that his lack of ability to perform in the clutch is a real thing.

 

I can't agree that he wasn't at fault for losing that game to TN.........he wasn't the only reason but at that point where you are feeling pressure as a fan he seems to mirror that........he can put up 200 yards in the first half and then come out and just miss an easy throw or become blind to receivers running open...........he clearly has some kind of mental block under pressure that does not exist the rest of the time.    

 

People who think the size of the moment affects all QB's the way it does Smith are just wrong.  Maybe he and Andy Reid just self-fulfill their own worst fears in the playoffs........I don't know but it's a real thing.

 

But the Bills aren't going to be able to be too choosy wrt a veteran QB..........and you are right that other than that flaw he is most of everything you want in a QB.........and the only reason he would even be available is because of that history of choking in the playoffs............and perhaps he can re-start that clutch narrative with a change of scenery?   

[KollegeStudnet]

We really need a QB. Having a QB that can stretch the field, plus have Shady in the backfield could be huge. Still think they wait a bit before they select an OC. Wouldn’t be surprised if they go a surprising route. There is a trend forming that NFL teams could go after college OC’s. Wouldn’t be surprised a bit that they head that direction. 

Edited January 13, 2018 by KollegeStudnet

[Green Lightning]

8 hours ago, Agent 91 said:

So you haven't watched a bills game this year? What anticipation? What accuracy. I dont want Tyrod anywhere near the new guy.  He doesn't read defenses well, he doesn't have touch, what exactly os ot that people want him to teach the new guy. A mentor role is an insane concept for a 29 year old QB. A QB mentor is USUALLY  someone who had a long career and is on their way out. There is ZERO reason to leep Tyrod. he is familiar with notjing. Not the OC nor scheme. You only keep Tyrod if you want a QB competition because you genuinely dontlnow what he can do yet

I was referring to Alex Smith.

[Fadingpain]

13 hours ago, Buffalo Boy said:

Then I change my vote in the poll from Bevell to Chud!!!

The foul stench of TT’s lack of quarterbacking acumen must be gone?

The synapses are very slow to fire with Tyrod, no doubt.

You can hear the rusty gears squeaking in his head from home, coming right through the TV speakers, as he surveys the field wondering: "What in the world should I do now?"

 

By the time he thinks he has an answer, he is either getting sacked, throwing a 3 yard pass to Shady, or taking off running.

 

 

[3rdand12]

9 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

 

Some of that is on Wilson, who became addicted to freelancing.  Much of that is on the offensive line, which struggled so badly in pass protection that it dramatically limited the types of plays they could run, and forced Wilson to abandon the playcall time and time again.

and O line is our main issue.

 per Me.

[Agent 91]

3 hours ago, Green Lightning said:

I was referring to Alex Smith.

Oh sorry my friend. Much respect 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

17 hours ago, JMF2006 said:

If they give DB the job as OC I think they keep TT as the Vet mentor and draft Mayfield or Lamar Jackson.

 

Ok I lied 3 things....but the draft pick will be one of those 2 and with his history...experience with a mobile QB I think TT stays.

How is a non pocket passer going to mentor a rookie in pocket presence?

 

 

[BuffaloBillsGospel]

6 hours ago, PolishDave said:

 

I don't think fans are going to be very happy at all if the Bills draft Lamar Jackson, especially if they draft him in round 1.     I haven't watched the guy a lot.   I have watched more of his highlight clips than I have seen of his other play.    In those highlight clips a couple of things are glaringly evident:

 

1) He makes more big plays with his legs than with his arm

He made just as many big plays with his arm as he did with his legs, the OC at Louisville has designed run plays for Jackson, this season he has stood in the pocket nicely on throwing plays and scanned the field through his progressions better than he has in the past.

 

2) A large percentage of the big plays he makes with his arm are not throws where you would say "Wow, what a throw!"   A lot of the big plays are him throwing the ball "kind of up for grabs" and the receiver makes a better play than the defender does.     It doesn't look like he is dropping lots of them "in the bread basket" so to speak.

I have no clue how you came to this assessment if you haven't "watched much of him" there are a dozen highlight videos and full games of his you can stream where Jackson will hit players in stride with ease, he has a big time arm. He has struggled with accuracy at times but this season he has really seemed to change his game. I'll be the first to tell you I'm not a fan of running QB's for many reasons but Lamar Jackson much like Watson last season (Who I repeatedly stated on this board I wanted Buffalo to take) makes big plays with both his arm and his feet, to me he's a faster Deshaun Watson with a stronger arm, not quite as accurate yet but has a very high ceiling.

 

Based on those two things, I think the guy is not NFL starter caliber.    Unless of course an NFL team wants to run the QB on designed runs an awful lot.    I don't think even Bevell really wants to do that.

 

If Jackson were a slightly better passer who made the vast majority of his big plays with his arm, I would be more optimistic about him.   I hope the Bills pass on him regardless of who the OC ends up being.

 

 

I bolded my opinions of Lamar Jackson, I've watched him frequently the past 2 years. 

[PolishDave]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillsGospel said:

 

 

I bolded my opinions of Lamar Jackson, I've watched him frequently the past 2 years. 

 

Let me shorten it for ya...

 

If his highlight reels.....the ones posted on Youtube by his Superfans ..... are supposed to be his best of his best...

 

Well then,   his best isn't good enough.

 

He is college good.  Not NFL good.

 

Plays he made are plays that college ATHLETES make.   They are not plays that NFL quarterbacks make....  At least not in this era.

 

Dude is college all star all the way... He is a less talented version of that Texas QB that played for a bunch of teams for a while before busting out of NFL...

 

Vince Young.   That's him.   But Lamar Jackson is nowhere near as good as even Vince Young was.  Not close.   Well, that is just my opinion.

 

Dude ain't never gonna be a winner in the NFL.  He is less talented than Tyrod was in college.   No thanks.  I'm calling him a bust before he is even drafted.   I would bet money on it.

 

As a season ticket holder, if the Bills draft him and start him I puke.   I would still support him.   But I would have to get a lot drunker before the games.   And my Polish liver is already screaming, screaming for vengeance.

Edited January 14, 2018 by PolishDave

[BillsFan4]

Brandon Beane was on WGR earlier this week, after his year end presser. 

 

He said that whoever they get at QB will have nothing to do with him fitting any specific OC's system. 

 

Beane said if you acquire a specific QB because he fits the OC's system then what do you do if/when that OC leaves? 

 

He said they will try to get a guy that has all the tools/traits/intangibles (etc) they're looking for and feel makes a successful franchise QB.

 

Then they will expect their offensive coordinator to design a system that best fits that QB. 

 

 

 

So, I don't think that they will draft Jackson or Mayfield just because they hired Darrell Bevell. If they draft either of those QBs, I think it'll be because they think that he'll be a franchise guy. 

 

don't think they will necessarily keep Tyrod for Bevell either.

 

The only way I see them keeping Tyrod is if they are not able to find anyone they feel would be an upgrade over him. Or if they feel he is the best they can do for a veteran bridge QB for next year.

After listening to Beane, I'd be surprised if he was here next year, though (again unless they can't find an upgrade or better veteran bridge). Beane gave me the impression that they would be going hard after a QB. 

[BillsFan4]

15 hours ago, xRUSHx said:

I just do not see them going for Smith. I agree they could end up not drafting a QB early in the draft because they have done the same fail for a long time so to think they will accualy pull the trigger on one would be a big step in the right direction for OBD and sadly I just do not have confidence they will do it. See it then I will believe it until then same old Bills IMO.

I have no idea what the exact plan is at QB or who they will go after, but after listening to Brandon Beane on WGR I am pretty damn confident that they will be addressing the QB position meaningfully, one way or another.  

 

He says this is a QB league and until you have that guy you can build around you are constantly searching. He said finding a frahcise QB is a GM's number 1 job and the Bills are "still in the process of trying to accomplish that".  (aka, it's not Tyrod)

He went on to say that he has already seen "every QB that matters" in this draft - every QB that could potentially go in the first round. Then went in depth into how deep they dig into these QBs and all the things they look at. I was impressed listening to him. 

 

He he gave me a whole lot of hope man. It really sounds like QB is at the top of their list to me. 

 

Here, when you get a chance listen to these Beane interviews. I think it may make you feel a little better. I know it did for me - (Id suggest listening to the top link first. It's a lot talk about QBs). 

 

http://www.wgr550.com/media/audio-channel/01-10-bills-general-manager-brandon-beane-howard-and-jeremy

 

http://www.buffalobills.com/video/audio/Brandon-Beane-We-think-this-helps-the-Buffalo-Bills-/86e9f397-8c2c-4c95-85d1-a8359ad5150b

[GoBills808]

17 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

I hesitate to say this, but by the numbers for Smith over the past seven seasons are really good -- elite, in fact. Since 2011, his teams have gone 69-31-1 with him at the helm. He is not the reason they lost to TN either. He played well in that game and was REALLY let down by the backup TE and the kicker, who pretty much cost them the game on offense.

 

He led the league in passer rating this year and the Chiefs ended up 6th in yards and 5th in points. 

 

Honestly, I'd take him, and I'd be happy to get him.

I think Smith would be a mistake. For starters I don't think that record is attributable to him...now I say the same for every QB because I don't believe QB wins is a real statistic, but its doubly true for Smith. You referenced his numbers since 2011 and called them 'elite'...here's what I see when I look at Alex Smith:

 

In 2011 he plays QB for the Niners who have the 4th ranked defense in the league and the 8th ranked rushing game. Their pass game? 29th. They go 13-3 and Smith's ANY/A is good for 15th. That's not elite to me, that's Tyrod Taylor territory.

 

In 2012, same story. The Niners, with the 3rd ranked defense in the league and the 4th ranked rush game, go 11-4-1. Smith leads the 23rd ranked pass attack with an ANY/A rank of 10th. Again, low volume efficiency...definitely not seeing 'elite' but an improvement.

 

2013 he goes to the Chiefs and puts up the 24th ranked pass game, to complement their 24th ranked defense and 10th ranked offense while somehow the team goes 11-5.  Smith's ANY/A was 17th so it's hard to make the case it was due to him...I credit Reid's first year as HC myself. Not elite in the slightest IMO.

 

Onto 2014, where the Chiefs go 9-7 behind the 7th ranked defense and the 10th ranked rushing offense. Smith's passing offense? 29th, again. His ANY/A? 17th, again. Seeing the trend?

 

2015...Chiefs looking solid at 11-5, and it would be hard not to with the 7th ranked defense and 6th ranked rushing attack. However...30th in passing? Smith's ANY/A a respectable 12th, so the efficiency is certainly there, but again: he's not carrying these teams. He's not responsible for their record. He's definitely not what I'd call 'elite'.

 

2016 is where things start to get interesting IMO. The Chiefs go 12-4 with the 24th ranked defense, the 19th ranked passing attack, and the 15th ranked rushing offense. That looks pretty outlandish on the face of it...could a sneaky-efficient Smith have been the reason? His 15th ranked ANY/A suggests not...then you realize they lead the entire league in turnovers AND turnover differential (coincidentally sharing best T/O diff w/ the Raiders, who also went 12-4 and not-so-surprisingly fell off the next season due to the nature of an oblong inflated pigskin) and their record makes sense. Good team? Sure, although not as good as their record suggested. Elite quarterbacking from Smith. Far from it IMO.

 

Finally 2017: where they (and Smith, make no mistake) start out RED HOT and taper off a bit as season goes on to finish at 10-6 but still...their defense was 28th-in-the-league bad. Smith's passing offense, for the first time in this timeframe, outproduces the run game to finish at 7th and 9th respectively. He finishes good for 3rd in the leage in ANY/A: absolutely an elite season. No question.

 

...but out of that timeframe I can only really point to one season (this last one) where he definitively was elite and deserving of the lion's share of credit for his team's success. 1/7. To me, that's an outlier, and I think the stats bear that out. He's played on many good/borderline great TEAMS, but he's never been a great QB before this year and I doubt he will produce another season anywhere near as productive going forward. I've said this in the past, but he's Tyrod Taylor polished. Only thrown for 25 TDs once (this year). Usually in the top 5 for QB rushing yards. Doesn't throw a lot of picks and has a high passer rating...sound familiar? If as a Bills fan you're done with Taylor ball, as I am, you really really do not want Alex Smith.

[Spiderweb]

22 hours ago, Buffalo Barbarian said:

 

Yes but no jackson, tired of athletes instead of QBs.

 

 

We already have a Jackson. Agreed we need to move away from them at QB.

[JMF2006]

15 hours ago, John from Hemet said:

I dont think bringing in Bevell points to TT staying.....I think it could lead to Mayfield being drafted.

 

I would really like to see a qb under center that throws WR's open.

 

 Denver drafts 5th overall,there is no way Mayfield makes it past them.

14 hours ago, 1ZAYDAY1 said:

Will fans quit tying Tyrod to Bevell because of Russell Wilson. It’s annoying.

 

Like Bevell can only run an offense if the QB can run. 

 

There are a lot of athletic QBs in the league... 

 

 Favre was a scrambler when he was younger.

13 hours ago, harv shitz said:

I don't care what they do, who they hire, I want nothing to do with Taylor returning to this team!

 

The single strength he may have is the ability to run, which he rarely does anymore.

 

And some of you think he would be a good mentor for a young quarterback? You can't be serious? You want him teaching all of his bad habits (hold ball too long, don't go through progressions, don't throw down middle, check down 99% of the time, refuse to throw a guy open) to a new guy?

 

He has no  business coming back to this team. His stats speak for themselves, and I know, I know, he doesn't turn it over. BFD. He doesn't do anything else with it, either. 

 

If your referring to me as wanting to keep TT as a mentor you have it all wrong and need to reread what  I said.

 

I could be all wrong on this but I think this could happen if DB is OC.

[JMF2006]

7 hours ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

How is a non pocket passer going to mentor a rookie in pocket presence?

 

 

 

I could be all wrong on this Shady just making an observation.

 

I don`t really want DB as OC his record and stats as OC are very poor.

[BigBuff423]

12 hours ago, 3rdand12 said:

and O line is our main issue.

 per Me.

 

There are some interesting stats out there about the Bills Offensive line and most of it probably isn’t what you’d expect. 

 

PFF graded out the Bills line about average but another analysis group, and I’m sorry I can’t recall who it was as I saw it on Twitter, took out the Tyrod effect - holding the ball too long, moving out of a clean pocket, etc. - and the “grade” on the line improved significantly, statistically speaking.

 

Food for thought...I would still like a different Offensive Line Coach but thought it was interesting to hear objective entities have a more positive perspective on it than we do, as fans.

[dave mcbride]

17 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

The two big issues with Smith were not being able to throw the deep ball............and just being the opposite of clutch.

 

He proved he can throw the deep ball this year...........but he also proved that his lack of ability to perform in the clutch is a real thing.

 

I can't agree that he wasn't at fault for losing that game to TN.........he wasn't the only reason but at that point where you are feeling pressure as a fan he seems to mirror that........he can put up 200 yards in the first half and then come out and just miss an easy throw or become blind to receivers running open...........he clearly has some kind of mental block under pressure that does not exist the rest of the time.    

 

People who think the size of the moment affects all QB's the way it does Smith are just wrong.  Maybe he and Andy Reid just self-fulfill their own worst fears in the playoffs........I don't know but it's a real thing.

 

But the Bills aren't going to be able to be too choosy wrt a veteran QB..........and you are right that other than that flaw he is most of everything you want in a QB.........and the only reason he would even be available is because of that history of choking in the playoffs............and perhaps he can re-start that clutch narrative with a change of scenery?   

All good points but: SF vs NO in the playoffs in the 2011 season.

9 hours ago, GoBills808 said:

I think Smith would be a mistake. For starters I don't think that record is attributable to him...now I say the same for every QB because I don't believe QB wins is a real statistic, but its doubly true for Smith. You referenced his numbers since 2011 and called them 'elite'...here's what I see when I look at Alex Smith:

 

In 2011 he plays QB for the Niners who have the 4th ranked defense in the league and the 8th ranked rushing game. Their pass game? 29th. They go 13-3 and Smith's ANY/A is good for 15th. That's not elite to me, that's Tyrod Taylor territory.

 

In 2012, same story. The Niners, with the 3rd ranked defense in the league and the 4th ranked rush game, go 11-4-1. Smith leads the 23rd ranked pass attack with an ANY/A rank of 10th. Again, low volume efficiency...definitely not seeing 'elite' but an improvement.

 

2013 he goes to the Chiefs and puts up the 24th ranked pass game, to complement their 24th ranked defense and 10th ranked offense while somehow the team goes 11-5.  Smith's ANY/A was 17th so it's hard to make the case it was due to him...I credit Reid's first year as HC myself. Not elite in the slightest IMO.

 

Onto 2014, where the Chiefs go 9-7 behind the 7th ranked defense and the 10th ranked rushing offense. Smith's passing offense? 29th, again. His ANY/A? 17th, again. Seeing the trend?

 

2015...Chiefs looking solid at 11-5, and it would be hard not to with the 7th ranked defense and 6th ranked rushing attack. However...30th in passing? Smith's ANY/A a respectable 12th, so the efficiency is certainly there, but again: he's not carrying these teams. He's not responsible for their record. He's definitely not what I'd call 'elite'.

 

2016 is where things start to get interesting IMO. The Chiefs go 12-4 with the 24th ranked defense, the 19th ranked passing attack, and the 15th ranked rushing offense. That looks pretty outlandish on the face of it...could a sneaky-efficient Smith have been the reason? His 15th ranked ANY/A suggests not...then you realize they lead the entire league in turnovers AND turnover differential (coincidentally sharing best T/O diff w/ the Raiders, who also went 12-4 and not-so-surprisingly fell off the next season due to the nature of an oblong inflated pigskin) and their record makes sense. Good team? Sure, although not as good as their record suggested. Elite quarterbacking from Smith. Far from it IMO.

 

Finally 2017: where they (and Smith, make no mistake) start out RED HOT and taper off a bit as season goes on to finish at 10-6 but still...their defense was 28th-in-the-league bad. Smith's passing offense, for the first time in this timeframe, outproduces the run game to finish at 7th and 9th respectively. He finishes good for 3rd in the leage in ANY/A: absolutely an elite season. No question.

 

...but out of that timeframe I can only really point to one season (this last one) where he definitively was elite and deserving of the lion's share of credit for his team's success. 1/7. To me, that's an outlier, and I think the stats bear that out. He's played on many good/borderline great TEAMS, but he's never been a great QB before this year and I doubt he will produce another season anywhere near as productive going forward. I've said this in the past, but he's Tyrod Taylor polished. Only thrown for 25 TDs once (this year). Usually in the top 5 for QB rushing yards. Doesn't throw a lot of picks and has a high passer rating...sound familiar? If as a Bills fan you're done with Taylor ball, as I am, you really really do not want Alex Smith.

Excellent stuff, thanks. My one rejoinder is that I think we're seeing an era of elite qb play happening or guys in their mid-30s. He really has gotten better over his whole career. 

[Green Lightning]

22 hours ago, Agent 91 said:

Oh sorry my friend. Much respect 

NP. If someone had written that about TT I would have written what you did in a heartbeat!

22 hours ago, ShadyBillsFan said:

How is a non pocket passer going to mentor a rookie in pocket presence?

 

 

 

? He'd do it on the run! 

[JMF2006]

I am so glad it isn`t Bevell