It's getting harder for NFL teams to sit rookie quarterbacks. It's
also unreasonable for teams to expect the rookie QB results that last
season's brilliant class yielded.
EJ Manuel, left, should step ahead of Kevin Kolb on the Bills depth chart. (AP Photo)
That's the biggest question the Bills face in training camp: whether
it's in their best short-term interest to start first-round pick
Manuel, or to sit him behind veteran newcomer Kevin Kolb.
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Manuel is an intriguing prospect because of his size, arm and athleticism. There's no doubt the raw Florida State product was taken so high because of the potential to put all that together and ride the wave of successful young athletic QBs.
In the best-case scenario, Manuel becomes a player in the mold of Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers gave the Bills a good blueprint by spending a good season and a half grooming Kaepernick before letting him loose as the quarterback who took them to the Super Bowl.
There is a big difference: Kaepernick inherited a strong supporting cast. In addition to a powerful running game and an elite offensive line, he also benefited from a diverse, innovative passing attack.
The Bills hope new coach Doug Marrone will install such an offense to help them catch up with the NFL's better teams. But with a philosophical change, needed line adjustments and a remixed receiving corps it will be a while before a schematic transition can be successful.
Until some of those other parts are settled, the offense will revolve around running back C.J. Spiller, its best skill player and most dynamic threat. Any starting quarterback is will take his lumps when the ball isn't in Spiller's hands.
Kolb was acquired to be a serviceable veteran. What's kept him from being more is his lack of great feel for handling the pass rush and the inability to stay healthy. Because of those durability issues, there's a good chance even if Kolb is the initial starter, Manuel would be called to action.
Marrone would like to name a starter early in camp, and that's important if he's leaning toward Manuel to give his young passer valuable live-game opportunities in the preseason. The Bills should stop thinking about the remote possibilities they will contend for anything with Kolb and turn to rolling with the rookie now.
The key is being fair to Manuel, keeping him comfortable as a caretaker while at the same time helping him progress as a playmaker. There's no point grooming behind him Kolb, who contrary to what the veteran thinks, was a makeshift option.
The Bills, also unlike the 49ers, don't return a Super Bowl-caliber team, rather one that's chasing the playoffs. The faster the Bills can work to get Manuel up to speed, the better.
EJ Manuel, left, should step ahead of Kevin Kolb on the Bills depth chart. (AP Photo)MORE: Eagles' Vick | Cowboys' defense | Dolphins' Tannehill | Camp sites, dates
Bills camp preview | Jairus Byrd contract | Mario Williams' gaffe | Bills schedule
Manuel is an intriguing prospect because of his size, arm and athleticism. There's no doubt the raw Florida State product was taken so high because of the potential to put all that together and ride the wave of successful young athletic QBs.
In the best-case scenario, Manuel becomes a player in the mold of Colin Kaepernick. The San Francisco 49ers gave the Bills a good blueprint by spending a good season and a half grooming Kaepernick before letting him loose as the quarterback who took them to the Super Bowl.
There is a big difference: Kaepernick inherited a strong supporting cast. In addition to a powerful running game and an elite offensive line, he also benefited from a diverse, innovative passing attack.
The Bills hope new coach Doug Marrone will install such an offense to help them catch up with the NFL's better teams. But with a philosophical change, needed line adjustments and a remixed receiving corps it will be a while before a schematic transition can be successful.
Until some of those other parts are settled, the offense will revolve around running back C.J. Spiller, its best skill player and most dynamic threat. Any starting quarterback is will take his lumps when the ball isn't in Spiller's hands.
Kolb was acquired to be a serviceable veteran. What's kept him from being more is his lack of great feel for handling the pass rush and the inability to stay healthy. Because of those durability issues, there's a good chance even if Kolb is the initial starter, Manuel would be called to action.
Marrone would like to name a starter early in camp, and that's important if he's leaning toward Manuel to give his young passer valuable live-game opportunities in the preseason. The Bills should stop thinking about the remote possibilities they will contend for anything with Kolb and turn to rolling with the rookie now.
The key is being fair to Manuel, keeping him comfortable as a caretaker while at the same time helping him progress as a playmaker. There's no point grooming behind him Kolb, who contrary to what the veteran thinks, was a makeshift option.
The Bills, also unlike the 49ers, don't return a Super Bowl-caliber team, rather one that's chasing the playoffs. The faster the Bills can work to get Manuel up to speed, the better.
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