Circling Some Wagons

Bills Wagon

The game yesterday was sloppy, but a win is still a win. It doesn't matter how you get it as long as you do. I understand that everyone is yelling at Joe Gibbs for his mistake in calling consecutive timeouts on our game winning attempts, but it's not as though Lindell was definitely going to miss. He made the first one just after the timeout, so why would one be left to assume that he wasn't going to make it again? I realize 34 is closer than 51, but he's on a streak of 17 straight field goals made. He's been clutch when we've needed him.

I'm not going to dive too deep into the Edwards/Losman debate as I really don't have the energy to defend myself once again. Without Marshawn Lynch and a solid running game there are few quarterbacks in this league that can confidently win. Fred Jackson is a good back-up, but he isn't an equal trade. Edwards is not a deep ball threat, and don't use that throw at the end to Josh Reed as justification that he can. If you look at the replay you can clearly see a Bills player (I believe it was Royal) on his knees preparing to make the catch, but not realizing that there was a 'Skins defender diving over the top of him to make a play. I don't believe that the throw was meant for Reed, but, again, a win is a win. Edwards didn't look great and his passes didn't look sharp all that often. We failed to get into the endzone and really didn't click as a unit. So where is the upgrade that is supposedly happening with Edwards?

Here's another angle to view it from. Lee Evans and Losman are very close. Evans has come to the defense of Losman when the topic of starting quarterback is raised. That has to bother Edwards and it shows in the stats. Don't believe me? Here are some numbers to chew on:

Losman to Evans: 25 receptions for 415 yards and 2 TDs

Edwards to Evans: 20 receptions for 274 yards and 0 TDs

The numbers don't lie. Losman's deep ball threat is what Evans thrives upon for success. His biggest games came in wins. If Edwards is the starter I don't see Evans wanting to stick around. His game will go unused as Edwards is more of a dink and dunk passer. Here are some more numbers to feed the debate:

With only a 1.6% difference in completion percentage (Edwards is higher) Losman has 150 more passing yards, a 4-1 edge in touchdown passes, a 4 point higher rating, one more INT, and a better longest completion of 85 yards as compared to Edwards' 54 yarder. Additionally, Edwards' longest passes come on short routes than turn into long gains. Losman's come on true deep balls that are thrown 50 or 60+ yards in the air.

I'm not just defending Losman for the sake of defending Losman. I am defending him because a deep ball threat opens the game up for much more offensively. When a deep threat receiver is on a team the running game does exorbitantly better. Shorter routes open up and the tight end can be utilized in a more positive way. The other team is forced into playing off of receivers because of the fear of getting burned on a fade route. An offense is more explosive when there is that possibility of going deep. It adds another dimension and allows a team to get creative (ie, the Lynch passing TD, the Parrish rushing TD).

Continuity on a team can never be established when there is always change. Since the retirement of Jim Kelly (let's take a moment to appreciate him) we have not had a QB last more than a couple of season as the undisputed starter. Care to take a trip down memory lane?...

We've seen the likes of: Todd Collins, Billy Jo Hobert, Alex Van Pelt, Rob Johnson, Doug Flutie, Drew Bledsoe, Kelly Holcomb, Craig Nall, Trent Edwards, and JP Losman.

Jim Kelly only retired a little more than 10 years ago! Did we really go through 10 different starters in that time? That averages out to about a quarterback a year!

After Thurman Thomas left for Miami we went through the process of trying to find another running back. That led to: Antowain Smith, Sammy Morris, Travis Henry, Willis McGahee, Anthony Thomas, and Marshawn Lynch becoming starters (just to name a handful).

We have also had 4 different head coaches since the retirement of Marv Levy! Wade Phillips, Gregg Williams, Mike Mularkey, and Dick Jauron have each taken their spin on the coaching carousel. That averages out to a change every 2.5 years!

You want to know why it has been so long since the Bills have been in the playoffs? Look no further than continuity and the promise of stability.

Say what you want, but not every long term starting quarterback comes into the league and dominates from the first play, first game, or first season. Things take time. Give up on a quarterback, a coach, or any other intricate position on a regular basis and you will not have success. I can guarantee that.



Long Live Sports,

DG2