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Why Can’t Tyrod Taylor Quarterback The Buffalo Bills

By Erik Lambert

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Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyrod Taylor (2) before a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Normally the question surrounding a starting job is prefaced by arguing why a player can win it.  Rarely though there are some cases where it becomes necessary to flip the script and ask why can’t a player win the job.  That is the situation facing the Buffalo Bills regarding recent free agent pickup Tyrod Taylor.

Think about this for a second.  Taylor is 25-years old but has been in the league four seasons as a backup.  Coming out of Virginia Tech the scouts saw him as a superb athlete with all the physical tools including a solid arm, accuracy and leadership intangibles.  The only real issue was him being 6’1″ and not well-schooled in the needed fundamentals of a pro-style system.

Smart money says the latter of those two problems should be solved.  Taylor was a 6th round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2011 and has spent his career as a backup to Joe Flacco.  He has seen all there is to see when it comes to playing the quarterback position like a pro at the highest level.  Though the physical skills are different, he shares a lot in common with Aaron Rodgers, who also rode the bench during his early years.

Really the only thing Taylor lacks at this point is an opportunity, and the Bills seem ready to give it to him.  Matt Cassel has had his chances and looks like the ideal backup while E.J. Manuel was always more of an athlete than he was a quarterback.

So is Tyrod Taylor for real?  Based on his skills and background coming from a proven organization like Baltimore, it’s hard to argue against him seriously being the man in Buffalo on opening day.

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