Buffalo Bills: Tyrod Taylor will be a factor at QB

A cautious optimism surrounds the Buffalo Bills following an offseason that has seen them add LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin and the larger-than-life Rex Ryan to captain their ship. One of the most talented defensive lines will return to a division that will temporarily be without Tom Brady, and the door appears to be cracked open for a playoff push. The most critical question remaining is at quarterback, where Tyrod Taylor is sure to factor in.

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The 6’1, 217 pound Taylor is a premium athlete that spent his first four NFL seasons backing up Joe Flacco for the Baltimore Ravens. Appearing sparingly in just 14 career games, Taylor’s regular season statistics represent a very small sample size that leaves him as a relative unknown for a fifth-year veteran.

At Virginia Tech, Taylor impressed scouts with his plus arm strength and electrifying mobility, shown by his 4.51-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Inconsistency with his footwork, erratic accuracy and questions about his ability to progress though reads dropped Taylor to round six, but don’t forget this important detail: Tyrod Taylor was brought in by the Rex Ryan regime.

This differentiates the third-string Taylor from 2013 first round pick E.J. Manuel, who will also compete with Matt Cassel for the starting role. Manuel’s decision-making process and release have been made of molasses through his first two seasons, and as a carry-over from the past coaching staff, Manuel will need to impress Rex Ryan and the Bills’ management to keep his roster spot, let alone start.

I continue to circle back to Tyrod Taylor factoring in to this competition not only due to his unique abilities, but due to the underwhelming nature of his competition. Assumed starter Matt Cassel came to the Bills this past offseason in a swapping of late draft picks after being replaced by Teddy Bridgewater in Minnesota, but has done little to establish himself as a starting quarterback since his shining moments in New England.

In 60 games (56 starts) between 2009 and 2014, the years since Cassell left the Patriots, he owns a 22-33-0 record. His 57.8 completion percentage and 77.6 quarterback rating shouldn’t inspire any hope, while his 6.5 yards per attempt is paltry. In 2014, only Blake Bortles and Derek Carr posted lower yards per attempts.

This situation is not new for Rex Ryan, but his recent experiences with the Jets could bode well for Taylor’s chances. Ryan has proven that he is comfortable with rolling out a lower-level starter, such as Mark Sanchez or Geno Smith, to compliment a dominant defense. His first season in Buffalo should create a blank slate and if Tyrod Taylor can become Rex’s “guy”, his chances will only improve.

The offensive pieces are certainly in place for one of these quarterbacks to step up and excel. LeSean McCoy and Fred Jackson should supply a fine running game while Charles Clay, Percy Harvin and Sammy Watkins is plenty to fear. A weak offensive line will challenge Buffalo, but that is a scenario where Taylor’s mobility may again separate him. Despite his underdog role on Buffalo’s current roster, Tyrod Taylor will enter training camp with a legitimate shot to break the quarterback competition open.

Next: Ronald Darby will shine for Bills in 2015

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