depth at quarterback

[Pete]

I watched all his games, Pete.

 

Some points:

 

- Benson was signed 9/30, and first saw action in game 5. Started slow but heated up.

 

- Their WR bench was injured throughout the season, and Ocho Dinko was doing his pouting, short-arm, missed route thing.

 

- OL starters, LT Jones and Adam Whitworth missed the last 6 games, as did their top back-up, Scott Kooistra. C Eric Guiacec was hurt all year long.

 

- For those that take stock in SOS, CIN played in the top three.

 

Fitzpatrick certainly was taken to school early on. He did run and scoot out of trouble, but did that well - very quick decisions, and got positive yards.

 

Were any successes he had, because other teams didn't have the "book" on him? Could be.

 

I didn't see any real red flags about abilities to make the throws, or lack of decent arm strength. He was decisive, learned as he played, and clearly assumed a QBs' leadership role.

 

Who knows how he will fare with BUF? But I've no doubt that if CIN's budgeting for positions allowed, they would have been happy to have re-signed him.

great points! And Fitzpatrick's best game was the tie against the Eagles

[Kelly the Dog]

I watched all his games, Pete.

 

Some points:

 

- Benson was signed 9/30, and first saw action in game 5. Started slow but heated up.

 

- Their WR bench was injured throughout the season, and Ocho Dinko was doing his pouting, short-arm, missed route thing.

 

- OL starters, LT Jones and Adam Whitworth missed the last 6 games, as did their top back-up, Scott Kooistra. C Eric Guiacec was hurt all year long.

 

- For those that take stock in SOS, CIN played in the top three.

 

Fitzpatrick certainly was taken to school early on. He did run and scoot out of trouble, but did that well - very quick decisions, and got positive yards.

 

Were any successes he had, because other teams didn't have the "book" on him? Could be.

 

I didn't see any real red flags about abilities to make the throws, or lack of decent arm strength. He was decisive, learned as he played, and clearly assumed a QBs' leadership role.

 

Who knows how he will fare with BUF? But I've no doubt that if CIN's budgeting for positions allowed, they would have been happy to have re-signed him.

I watched a bit too because of fantasy players but surely not as much as you. But he never really got the ball down the field regardless of the WRs. He didnt show a strong arm whatsoever, and it's adequate at best. He didnt look nearly as lost as he was earlier in the season but that didnt mean he looked in command either. Again, almost always his success was with his legs rather than his arm, but he showed a nice knack for eluding rushers and scrambling for first downs. But he didn't make many if any serious throws more than 15-20 yards downfield. He took a lot of hits and he dropped the ball quite a bit when I was watching. He's okay, but that's just it, I don't want my back-up okay.

[stuckincincy]

I watched a bit too because of fantasy players but surely not as much as you. But he never really got the ball down the field regardless of the WRs. He didnt show a strong arm whatsoever, and it's adequate at best. He didnt look nearly as lost as he was earlier in the season but that didnt mean he looked in command either. Again, almost always his success was with his legs rather than his arm, but he showed a nice knack for eluding rushers and scrambling for first downs. But he didn't make many if any serious throws more than 15-20 yards downfield. He took a lot of hits and he dropped the ball quite a bit when I was watching. He's okay, but that's just it, I don't want my back-up okay.

 

Should one deduce then, that the Bills FO were saps of the first water, to pay what they did?

[Speedy G]

4-12 is alright? The Bengals season was OVER when Palmer went down. If Trent goes down for ANY LENGTH of time, The Bills season will be OVER. I expect Fitzpatrick to give the Bills the same he gave the Bengals last season...............................NOTHING.

 

That being said, I was worried when the signed Fitz , but the experience he gained last year was valuable, did he even see the field before that?, if you drafted someone in rounds 5-7, they have zero experience!, at least Fitz has seen what nfl defenses throw at you, and can probably even help Trent from that aspect....

[stuckincincy]

That being said, I was worried when the signed Fitz , but the experience he gained last year was valuable, did he even see the field before that?, if you drafted someone in rounds 5-7, they have zero experience!, at least Fitz has seen what nfl defenses throw at you, and can probably even help Trent from that aspect....

 

 

3 starts with STL in 2005.

 

http://www.nfl.com/players/ryanfitzpatrick...le?id=FIT792915

 

IIRC, CIN gave STL a 4th to get him.

Edited May 3, 2009 by stuckincincy

[shrader]

Welcome to the quarterback situation for just about every team in the league. Who wouldn't be screwed if their starter goes down or even worse, their backup too?

[Johnny Hammersticks]

If you're concerned about Fitzpatrick's ability to step in, I can understand that. But how would that be remedied with a late-round "groomable" prospect? Wouldn't you prefer someone with four year's experience this season?

 

 

I'd rather pick a kid with some potential that we can work with, and cut another QB that we already know stinks (i.e., Gibran Hamdan, Matt Baker)!! It's pessimistic to say so, but we need to look beyond this season and the unfortunately possibility that Trent isn't the guy that's gonna get us to the playoffs. I'm a BIG TE fan and i will support him, but I am also a realist.

[stuckincincy]

I'd rather pick a kid with some potential that we can work with, and cut another QB that we already know stinks (i.e., Gibran Hamdan, Matt Baker)!! It's pessimistic to say so, but we need to look beyond this season and the unfortunately possibility that Trent isn't the guy that's gonna get us to the playoffs. I'm a BIG TE fan and i will support him, but I am also a realist.

 

 

I've no opinion about Hamden (I see few Bills games), but you are right - always take looks at different quarterbacks. The odds are low, but now and then, you strike gold.

[Fewell733]

what qbs would you have taken in the late rounds? are they any better than the guys we brought in as Undrafted FA's and try-out guys? If we took one of them in the 7th round would this change your opinion?

[muddy waters]

Former Clemson QB Cullen Harper was invited for a tryout. He is likely as good a prospect as any late round pick. Curious to see how he does. Here's a link to an article about him:

 

http://www.goupstate.com/article/20090428/NEWS/904289971

[stuckincincy]

what qbs would you have taken in the late rounds? are they any better than the guys we brought in as Undrafted FA's and try-out guys? If we took one of them in the 7th round would this change your opinion?

 

Are you asking me?

[Fewell733]

Are you asking me?

 

no, just asking generally towards those that were dissapointed that we didn't draft a qb late to be a 3rd stringer.

[MattM]

I watched a bit too because of fantasy players but surely not as much as you. But he never really got the ball down the field regardless of the WRs. He didnt show a strong arm whatsoever, and it's adequate at best. He didnt look nearly as lost as he was earlier in the season but that didnt mean he looked in command either. Again, almost always his success was with his legs rather than his arm, but he showed a nice knack for eluding rushers and scrambling for first downs. But he didn't make many if any serious throws more than 15-20 yards downfield. He took a lot of hits and he dropped the ball quite a bit when I was watching. He's okay, but that's just it, I don't want my back-up okay.

 

Sounds a lot like Matt Cassel to me--I don't think he can hit the broad side of a barn more than 20 yards from what I saw last year, yet he's being touted as the second coming of Favre......

[stuckincincy]

Sounds a lot like Matt Cassel to me--I don't think he can hit the broad side of a barn more than 20 yards from what I saw last year, yet he's being touted as the second coming of Favre......

 

???

 

Fitzpatrick or Cassel? I can't think of anybody who is touting Fitzpatrick as the 2nd coming of anybody.

 

Please clarify.

[bladiebla]

I honestly think that Hamdan did very well last year in his pre-season game; he was bitten a couple of times of crucial downs by fumbles by that RB and some nasty drops by I believe it was Jenkins. They like him as third for running the scout team and prepping with TE, I got the feeling from talking to him earlier this year that he feels that is where he thinks he'll endup again. But then again the Bills were shopping for a veterean QB as backup then, we'll see what happens if he manages to outplay Fitz.

[Kelly the Dog]

Should one deduce then, that the Bills FO were saps of the first water, to pay what they did?

 

Well, yes.

 

But I think they consciously made a decision on what kind of quarterback they wanted. And I think they ultimately decided that they wanted a guy with a back-up's mentality rather than a starter's mentality, and Fitzpatrick fit that better than other guys. They didnt want a guy to try to wrestle Trent's job away or think he should be the starter, and they didn't want Trent looking over his shoulder. They want to finally see whether they got their QB of the present and future this year. I don't think they paid too much for him, although it was probably more than other teams would have paid.

[folz]

I honestly think that Hamdan did very well last year in his pre-season game; he was bitten a couple of times of crucial downs by fumbles by that RB and some nasty drops by I believe it was Jenkins. They like him as third for running the scout team and prepping with TE, I got the feeling from talking to him earlier this year that he feels that is where he thinks he'll endup again. But then again the Bills were shopping for a veterean QB as backup then, we'll see what happens if he manages to outplay Fitz.

 

I still don't understand why they didn't give Hamdan a try/start during the last couple of games last year when

Trent was out, our season was over, and JP was stinking things up. Maybe it was to be fair to JP and give him a

chance to shine for other teams (knowing we weren't going to keep him). But it seems like getting Hamdan some

game experience would have been a good thing for the team (and we fans might have a better take on him).

 

That being said I feel pretty good about Fitzpatrick...lots of game experience and ok with his back-up role.

[stuckincincy]

Well, yes.

 

But I think they consciously made a decision on what kind of quarterback they wanted. And I think they ultimately decided that they wanted a guy with a back-up's mentality rather than a starter's mentality, and Fitzpatrick fit that better than other guys. They didnt want a guy to try to wrestle Trent's job away or think he should be the starter, and they didn't want Trent looking over his shoulder. They want to finally see whether they got their QB of the present and future this year. I don't think they paid too much for him, although it was probably more than other teams would have paid.

 

If Fitzpatrick beats out Edwards, or goes in and shows to be a better quarterback, I expect you to report back.

 

 

With eloquent humility, nary a straw man, and hat in hand.

 

 

After all, it would be for the greater good. Fair enough?

 

[Kelly the Dog]

If Fitzpatrick beats out Edwards, or goes in and shows to be a better quarterback, I expect you to report back.

 

 

With eloquent humility, nary a straw man, and hat in hand.

 

 

After all, it would be for the greater good. Fair enough?

 

It ain't gonna happen because they aren't likely willing to let it happen, but fair enough. I do, however, expect Fitzpatrick to have the chance to start about four games this season, at least. I think there is a slightly better chance of Hamden beating out Fitz than Fitz beating out Trent, although neither is very likely.

[Lurker]

Deju vu all over again...