Is Tyrod Taylor moving closer to earning Bills’ starting quarterback role?
Don’t discount the importance of Tyrod Taylor’s performance for the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night against the Cleveland Browns.
Taylor’s statistics in one half’s worth of work were modest, and he led the Bills to only three points, but his effort must be put in perspective. The Bills were down their top five running backs and top three wide receivers as Taylor earned the second preseason start.
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Taylor completed seven of 10 passes for 65 yards — yeoman’s work, considering to whom he was throwing — and, like in the opener, was effective scrambling with four rushes for 41 yards, including a 21-yard scamper. On the Bills’ opening series, Taylor took a sack in the red zone but had converted three third downs up to that point. The sack made the field-goal chance longer, and Dan Carpenter missed from 46 yards out.
On his next series, Taylor converted a pretty third-and-6 pass to Deonte Thompson on a flag route for 22 yards — the best connection of the night. But the Bills couldn’t convert a third-and-15 later in the drive, as Taylor missed Thompson deep.
The Bills had good field position following a Browns interception on Taylor’s final possesion of the game, and two nice QB scrambles — including the 21-yarder — got them back in the red zone. Carpenter made his try, this time from 36 yards.
That was it: three offensive series, but a strong performance, all things considered. Without running backs LeSean McCoy, Fred Jackson, Bryce Brown and Karlos Williams, plus wide receivers Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin and Robert Woods (and with No. 4 WR Chris Hogan leaving during the game), Taylor’s performance has to be considered pretty strong.
Matt Cassel got his crack at starting the preseason opener last week and played well, not missing on a pass (his one incompletion was a drop in eight throws). He was given Thursday off not as an indication he has fallen behind Taylor or EJ Manuel but because Cassel is a known quantity; there is zero mystery with him, and that’s both good and bad.
Rex Ryan is playing Taylor to find out exactly what he has, and so far the head coach has to be pleased. Taylor’s running ability (he has 10 rushes for 88 yards) and throwing accuracy 12-of-18 passing through two preseason games has been strong, especially with whom he’s thrown to and run with.
Does this vault Taylor into a starting role? Not yet. But don’t be shocked if Ryan leans toward Taylor ever so slightly following the Browns game.
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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Eric_Edholm
