Orchard Park, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills are hopeful that they have their quarterback of the future in Tyrod Taylor.
At least that's what general manager Doug Whlaey said on WGR 550 Tuesday morning when discussing the disappointment of the 2015 season.
"If you strip the 16 seasons away and the logo off the helmet, you have a team with the possibility and I stress possibility of the quarterback in the future."
Rex Ryan has called Taylor "legit" while wide receiver Sammy Watkins has continually expressed confidence in his quarterback. Whaley has been encouraged by what he's seen but is ready to see him take the next step.
"The next step he has to do, is we have to open things up where we design some things for him to have those inside-the-numbers throws," Whaley said. "But the biggest thing for him is he has to take that next step and that next step is the end-of-the-game situations where we can count on him like he did in Tennessee. To get that consistency in the end of game situations where we can depend on him and basically throw the game on his back and have him come through and deliver."
In order to do that, Whaley said Taylor needs to attack the middle of the field more often. That's something he expects to happen more when defenses start playing Taylor differently.
"That's how you're going to defend a young, athletic quarterback. You're going to take away those easy throws and you're going to clog up the middle of the field if he runs. I look at it as a positive because the harder throws are the throws outside the hash. If he can make those throws consistently as well as those throws down the field, those slants, those curls, those hitches, those are the things that are easy. So when the defenses start loosening up and try to defend the outside-the-number throws — because they didn't think he could make it — then it's going to open up the inside of the field. But there's always going to spies there so the middle of the field is going to be cluttered at times because of his ability to scramble and make plays with his feet."
While the Bills are trying to determine what exactly they have in Taylor, he's shown plenty of promise in his first season starting in the NFL. He's thrown 20 touchdowns to just six interceptions and rushed for a single-season franchise record 517 yards this season. He also has three rushing touchdowns and is averaging over eight yards per passing attempt.
Taylor has already triggered a contract incentive in which he voids the third season of his contract by playing 50 percent of snaps for the Bills this season. He's on track to play 80 percent of the team's snaps and will earn a $1 million bonus for that, according to Field Yates of ESPN.
The bigger question, though, is whether the Bills will extend his contract this offseason or let him play the final season of his deal in 2016. The answer to that question hinges on how much development the Bills expect from Taylor.
"I think it can be done," Whaley said. "I think it's going to be a maturation process where he starts moving around, as we say 'pocket presence,' to move around in the pocket and find those open throwing lanes because there are throwing lanes. A lot of times with those younger quarterbacks, they have that flight feel. Instead of moving around the pocket and buying time, they want to fly out of the pocket. So I think that'll come with more reps and more game experience."
Rex Ryan and center Eric Wood have both mentioned that they would like Taylor to protect himself a bit more when he runs. If he's going to be the Bills' franchise quarterback, they need him healthy more than anything.
While there are still questions, those at One Bills Drive have plenty of faith in Taylor. The real show of faith will come with a new contract, and if he cleans up the areas Whaley mentioned, that will be a top priority for Buffalo.
At least that's what general manager Doug Whlaey said on WGR 550 Tuesday morning when discussing the disappointment of the 2015 season.
"If you strip the 16 seasons away and the logo off the helmet, you have a team with the possibility and I stress possibility of the quarterback in the future."
Rex Ryan has called Taylor "legit" while wide receiver Sammy Watkins has continually expressed confidence in his quarterback. Whaley has been encouraged by what he's seen but is ready to see him take the next step.
"The next step he has to do, is we have to open things up where we design some things for him to have those inside-the-numbers throws," Whaley said. "But the biggest thing for him is he has to take that next step and that next step is the end-of-the-game situations where we can count on him like he did in Tennessee. To get that consistency in the end of game situations where we can depend on him and basically throw the game on his back and have him come through and deliver."
In order to do that, Whaley said Taylor needs to attack the middle of the field more often. That's something he expects to happen more when defenses start playing Taylor differently.
"That's how you're going to defend a young, athletic quarterback. You're going to take away those easy throws and you're going to clog up the middle of the field if he runs. I look at it as a positive because the harder throws are the throws outside the hash. If he can make those throws consistently as well as those throws down the field, those slants, those curls, those hitches, those are the things that are easy. So when the defenses start loosening up and try to defend the outside-the-number throws — because they didn't think he could make it — then it's going to open up the inside of the field. But there's always going to spies there so the middle of the field is going to be cluttered at times because of his ability to scramble and make plays with his feet."
While the Bills are trying to determine what exactly they have in Taylor, he's shown plenty of promise in his first season starting in the NFL. He's thrown 20 touchdowns to just six interceptions and rushed for a single-season franchise record 517 yards this season. He also has three rushing touchdowns and is averaging over eight yards per passing attempt.
Taylor has already triggered a contract incentive in which he voids the third season of his contract by playing 50 percent of snaps for the Bills this season. He's on track to play 80 percent of the team's snaps and will earn a $1 million bonus for that, according to Field Yates of ESPN.
The bigger question, though, is whether the Bills will extend his contract this offseason or let him play the final season of his deal in 2016. The answer to that question hinges on how much development the Bills expect from Taylor.
"I think it can be done," Whaley said. "I think it's going to be a maturation process where he starts moving around, as we say 'pocket presence,' to move around in the pocket and find those open throwing lanes because there are throwing lanes. A lot of times with those younger quarterbacks, they have that flight feel. Instead of moving around the pocket and buying time, they want to fly out of the pocket. So I think that'll come with more reps and more game experience."
Rex Ryan and center Eric Wood have both mentioned that they would like Taylor to protect himself a bit more when he runs. If he's going to be the Bills' franchise quarterback, they need him healthy more than anything.
While there are still questions, those at One Bills Drive have plenty of faith in Taylor. The real show of faith will come with a new contract, and if he cleans up the areas Whaley mentioned, that will be a top priority for Buffalo.
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