Trent Edwards ! (1 Viewer)

[Carter_Can_Fly]

Can someone please explain to me in lamens terms why Trent Edwards "has it" and J.P. Losman "does not have it."

All I keep hearing and reading is "you just get that feeling" that Edwards has it and Losman does not. What is this so called feeling you are talking about?

I have seen both play and although Losman was not perfect and has his faults I think he has shown to be just as good if not better than Edwards in his young career. Also, are Losman's faults not able to be corrected with coaching and better personal around him?

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Can someone please explain to me in lamens terms why Trent Edwards "has it" and J.P. Losman "does not have it." All I keep hearing and reading is "you just get that feeling" that Edwards has it and Losman does not. What is this so called feeling you are talking about?

Sure. Losman throws a beautiful deep ball. He's got a cannon for an arm, excellent size, and wheels that allow him to scramble out of trouble. He makes at least one or two highlight reel plays every game. Unfortunately, he also fails to notice wide open receivers, utterly fails to read defenses, takes unnecessary sacks, commits silly turnovers, and can generally be counted on to commit a backbreaking mistake whenever the game is on his shoulders. I've seen every single game that Losman has ever played as a pro, and I'm completely convinced that he doesn't "get" the quarterback position mentally. I doubt he ever will. Up until the Miami game, Edwards was basically the opposite of that. His arm isn't that great, and he's not going to wow you with his blistering aerial attack, but he was reading defenses, finding the open guy, and taking care of the football. That's what we're talking about. Edwards seemed to understand the game, whereas Losman doesn't. Obviously Edwards' play has dropped off dramatically over the past few weeks, and the strengths I mentioned aren't evident in his play anymore, but that's what we mean by "it."

Also, are Losman's faults not able to be corrected with coaching and better personal around him?

Our entire team was crippled by Steve Fairchild last year, but Edwards was about as good as Losman under the same coaching staff last year as a rookie (Losman was a four-year veteran by that point). Also, I don't really think Edwards has a significantly better supporting cast than Losman had. They both have Lee Evans in common, they both have an offensive line that can't run-block, and neither has an NFL-caliber TE or WR2. The only real difference is Lynch vs. McGahee, but that doesn't matter much when your RB is hit behind the line of scrimmage on every running play.

 

[OC Zed]

I wanted JP Losman to succeed more than anything, but I readily acknowledge he is NOT the answer.

With that being said, Edwards was abysmal tonight. I cannot recall watching an NFL quarterback, particularly a starting quarterback, play with less confidence than Edwards did tonight after the first quarter.

It sure looked liked Edwards had open receivers downfield last night but was hesitant to throw the ball more than 10 yards. I guess opening up with 3 picks in the 1st quarter really shook him up.

He was terrible last night, but he's been playing with a lot less confidence ever since the Miami game. It's like all the sudden he's completely scared every time he drops back. Good quarterbacks are capable of shrugging off bad plays, but Edwards obviously isn't there.

It was poignant to see the constant shots of Jim Kelly on the sidelines last night. One of the things that I will always remember about Kelly was his unbreakable confidence, particularly after throwing a boneheaded interception. He just would not let a bad play phase him. As much as that would drive me nuts about Kelly, I sorely missed that quality in Edwards last night.

 

[B-Deep]

I think the correct answer is C) none of the above

 

[hostile]

Am I the only one who thinks Turk Schonert's play calling is getting worse by the week?...

Watching last night, that's what struck me the most as being the more immediate issue, rather than Edwards.

 

[munchkin]

You may be able to make some comparisons between Matt Cassell's and Trent Edward's development. Edwards came into the year with a little bit more on field playing experience than Cassell but Cassell had more experience in the Pats system. Both player were held fairly tightly by the coaching staff in terms of what they were given from the play-book. Edwards had the reigns loosened as he progressed (without Peters) against lesser teams. Earlier in the year Jackson and Lynch were producing pretty well and Parrish and Reed were healthy. Edwards seemed fluid and in command. Injuries have hit this team on both sides of the ball. The D is giving up more points and the O is less threatening (while being put under more pressure to score). It is hard to succeed when there is a lot going wrong around you.

The Pats have been fortunate in that other than Miami and San Diego they were able to stay close enough that the Offense didn't have to put up a lot of points. Cassell has a better more experienced team around him. The coaching staff has given him more of the field as he has progressed but a lot of his yards have come from his receivers' YAC's.

Granted, Edwards turnovers haven't helped his cause at all. He clearly needs to get better. He can't do it on his own.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Am I the only one who thinks Turk Schonert's play calling is getting worse by the week?...

When the line can't block and the quarterback is turning the ball over constantly, it's hard for the offensive coordinator to look good. Edit: There was an article posted at TBD last week that really emphasized how much we've neglected our offensive line. Since 1996, the Bills have only drafted one offensive lineman in the first two rounds of the draft. And to add insult to injury, that pick was Mike Williams. The fact of the matter is that when your line can't run block and allows 4-man rushes to consistently get pressure, Ted Marchibroda wouldn't be able to dial up plays that work.

Watching last night, that's what struck me the most as being the more immediate issue, rather than Edwards.

From what I read, Evans was open pretty much all night, and that's all Schonert can really do. He can't force Edwards to find him and get him the ball. It's not like Schonert was calling plays that were designed to have Edwards stand in the pocket for five seconds before dumping the ball off to Lynch.

 

[hostile]

Am I the only one who thinks Turk Schonert's play calling is getting worse by the week?...

When the line can't block and the quarterback is turning the ball over constantly, it's hard for the offensive coordinator to look good. Edit: There was an article posted at TBD last week that really emphasized how much we've neglected our offensive line. Since 1996, the Bills have only drafted one offensive lineman in the first two rounds of the draft. And to add insult to injury, that pick was Mike Williams. The fact of the matter is that when your line can't run block and allows 4-man rushes to consistently get pressure, Ted Marchibroda wouldn't be able to dial up plays that work.

Watching last night, that's what struck me the most as being the more immediate issue, rather than Edwards.

From what I read, Evans was open pretty much all night, and that's all Schonert can really do. He can't force Edwards to find him and get him the ball. It's not like Schonert was calling plays that were designed to have Edwards stand in the pocket for five seconds before dumping the ball off to Lynch.

Points taken.To me though, if I'm calling plays for a 2nd yr QB, who is still learning the ropes, who is coming off a concussion and is losing confidence, I'm looking to call plays which build his confidence, to give him more options than dumps to the flat like some underneath drag routes, quick out-routes, or mid-posts. Lots of dink and dunk, move the chains, let Lynch pound the crap out of the front 3 or 4 occasionally, then try a few mid to long shots or play-action. I watched the game on TV, but obviously, it doesnt give you the picture of the entire field, so I wish I could offer up something more informed.

I agree that Edwards was taking way too much time in the pocket. He looked to me like he has lost some confidence.

When he lasered that strike to Royal though, in the dying seconds of the 4th, I don't understand why they didnt keep attacking. It was if they tried to play ultra-conservatively, and hope Lindell could pull out the long FG.

On one series, I think it was the first time Jackson was in the game, Schonert ran the *same play* three times in a row. Jackson had two gains on the first two, then was belted behind the LoS on the third play. Crap like that I dont get.

 

[OC Zed]

Am I the only one who thinks Turk Schonert's play calling is getting worse by the week?...

Watching last night, that's what struck me the most as being the more immediate issue, rather than Edwards.

I actually thought the playcalling was better against Cleveland, although still suspect at key moments. Buffalorumbings did an excellent analysis on Schonert's earlier playcalling woes essentially chronicling how 90% of our runs were from under center and 90% of our passes were from the shotgun. At least against Cleveland we mixed this ratio up a little bit... we ran successfully from the shotgun and Edwards was able to complete some three and five-step drops. There were even some (poorly-executed) play-action passes called which is the first we have seen since maybe Jacksonville. With that being said, there were still a number of awful playcalls by Schonert on Monday. I knew that opening up the game in the shotgun was an awful way to start and that was before the interception actually occurred. Similarly, I have no idea why he decided to go with the shotgun/empty backfield formation on third-and-1 which (not surprisingly) led to Edwards' third interception. And as you touched in your follow-up post, it was absolutely the wrong move to play for a 47-yard field goal attempt when they still had one minute to gain more yards for a higher percentage kick.

I put the blame for the Cleveland loss on Edwards' shoulders, but I think Schonert's inept gameplans and playcalling put Edwards in this downward spiral in the first place.

 

[OC Zed]

Is there any doubt at this point that Edwards is the best quarterback in Buffalo now?

In the long run, today's loss to the Dolphins will be good for the Bills knowing that they can close the door on the Losman era with a clean conscience.

 

[Riffraff]

Per Roto:Trent Edwards (groin) returned to practice on Wednesday and is "ready to make his first start in three weeks," according to the AP.The Bills have also demoted J.P. Losman to third string, behind Edwards and NFL Europe veteran Gibran Hamdan. Edwards is slated to start against Denver's pitiful pass defense, but he's only worth a look as a QB2. He figures to be rusty and the temperature will be in the 20s for Sunday's game. Edwards can't hurt Lee Evans' production.

Losman's return to the line-up was downright ugly. He's played his last down as a Bill.

 

[munchkin]

Per Roto:Trent Edwards (groin) returned to practice on Wednesday and is "ready to make his first start in three weeks," according to the AP.The Bills have also demoted J.P. Losman to third string, behind Edwards and NFL Europe veteran Gibran Hamdan. Edwards is slated to start against Denver's pitiful pass defense, but he's only worth a look as a QB2. He figures to be rusty and the temperature will be in the 20s for Sunday's game. Edwards can't hurt Lee Evans' production.

Losman's return to the line-up was downright ugly. He's played his last down as a Bill.

Will they really put Hamdan in if Edwards gets hurt and they have a chance to win the game? That fumble for a TD was ugly last week but Losman didn't make the call. Have they moved the cheerleader's choreographer up to head coach? I am sure she would have had the insight to call a run on that play.