Buffalo Bills Quarterback Quandary: The Case for E.J. Manuel
- Veronica R. Chiesi Brown
- Aug 21, 2015
- 3 min read
Two more preseason games remain for the Buffalo Bills and I am still pulling for E.J. Manuel. Call me sentimental, say it is rooting for the underdog but I still think, even after all the hype surrounding Tyrod Taylor, E.J. is the best choice.
The Cleveland game Thursday night left a lot to be desired for Bills fans. Besides more injuries, the game was slow moving and didn’t feature a lot of scoring until the end. Yes, Tyrod Taylor was impressive seemingly running for his life more than once. He finished with 41 yards rushing and was 7 for 10 for 65 yards. The stats are not bad but there is something glaring in there that I can’t get past. He runs and runs a lot. Granted, you want a mobile quarterback BUT not one who runs first and throws second. We have a strong core of running backs (when they are healthy) and a great core of wide receivers (again when they are healthy). They are also part of the offense. The running backs are called running backs because their job is to run. It makes me nervous Tyrod’s first inclination is to run because that also is just asking for injury. You could say that Tyrod runs because the offensive line doesn’t protect him. You can say Tyrod runs a lot because there are holes. All of this could be true but I still think the mentality of running first passing second can only last so long. There was a reason the Buffalo Bills got Lesean McCoy. He is the runner, not Tyrod. All that being said, I don’t dislike Tyrod, I think he could lead the team but he isn’t the best choice.
Then there is Matt Cassel. He is the “safe choice”. He is a veteran and has been around the block but that doesn’t mean he is the best choice. We didn’t see him in the Cleveland game because Rex wanted to give the younger guys a chance. It didn’t help Cassel’s case in my mind but realistically you could argue that means Rex made his choice and his choice is Cassel. Cassel does have the experience but if you can’t consistently deliver, experience doesn’t matter. This could be Cassel’s last chance so he needs to stand out and I don’t think he has above Tyrod and E.J.
E.J. Manuel didn’t have a lot going in his favor headed into training camp. He was already seen as a long shot as soon as the Buffalo Bills signed Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. He had a rough year getting benched at the beginning of last season in favor of veteran Kyle Orton (clearly not the best choice). It seems by most accounts he has had a rough training camp but still has had some bright spots. In the last two preseason games, E.J. not Tyrod or Matt Cassel threw the big touchdown (for the win Thursday). Many will comment it was against a second or third string defense and that is why. I disagree. He showed poise and patience in the pocket and made good decisions. It doesn’t matter who is on defense if your offensive is sharp. If your offensive is that good, it shouldn’t matter who the defense is. E.J. can pass. He can run and he is tall. He can throw over the line. He can see over the line. That goes a long way too.
Despite all I have said, I know that there probably is a better chance that I will be starting quarterback than E.J. Manuel. It is a shame but I am sure it is true. Tyrod talk is heating up around the league and that is all anyone is paying attention to. What would be great is if the Buffalo Bills coaching staff would see this opportunity to pull off the most surprising unexpected move and name E.J. as the starter. I doubt it. Rex Ryan likes flash. Tyrod has it. I just hope I am wrong about the choice prediction and right about who deserves the job.
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