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If there were any skeptics entering Week Five who still wondered if Bills coach Dick Jauron made the right decision to entrust Trent Edwards with the starting quarterback job, there aren’t anymore. Edwards, he of one-touchdown-per-game efficiency, strolled into University of Phoenix Stadium sporting the high that accompanies a 4-0 record and having the complete confidence of his coaches and teammates. He left the desert with the woozy aftereffects of a concussion and a 4-1 record — but, in all likelihood, with his fellow Bills believing in him even more.
That’s because after Buffalo’s second-year slinger was sidelined just minutes into Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, former starter J.P. Losman took over and the Bills’ resurgent offense suddenly looked liked the Bills’ offense of old. And that’s not a good thing.
The PFW spin
Throw out the stat sheet. If trying to gauge Losman’s performance in the Cards’ 41-17 steamrolling of the Bills, the proof is in the game tape. The numbers depict a solid afternoon. Losman, the Bills’ 2004 first-round pick, completed 15-of-21 passes for 220 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
But the majority of those completions weren’t of the variety Edwards throws. Edwards knows when his receivers are breaking, where they’re breaking to, and what kind of coverage and defensive scheme he’s up against. Then he throws accordingly. If Losman has as keen an understanding of the game, it didn’t show on Sunday. He completed passes, for sure, but many of those passes were to stationary or slowly moving targets with defenders barreling down on them. Although a shoddy defensive effort cannot go guilt-free, the Losman-led offense contributed mightily to Buffalo’s first loss.
New offensive coordinator Turk Schonert’s system is about rhythm and timing. Line up, get the ball going downfield, move the chains, and repeat that process again and again. Edwards is an ideal fit for such a scheme. He makes quick decisions, and they’re usually the right ones. Losman, much like former Buffalo quarterbacking flop Rob Johnson, lacks that almost innate ability to operate with such rapidity. On Sunday, he drudged up memories of what the offense looked like in recent years, standing in the pocket for way too long, holding on to the ball for way too long, and suffering the consequences way too often.
Losman was sacked five times on the day, and although no hit was as detrimental to his personal health as the lick Edwards absorbed from Cardinals S Adrian Wilson on that first series, each stymied any hope that Buffalo would escape Arizona 5-0.
In a way, Losman’s playing style mirrors his physical appearance. His perpetually unkempt hair flops over his forehead and out of his helmet in seemingly random tufts, and he’s even more inattentive to his beard. In other words, there’s no purpose or deliberateness to his appearance, just as there’s not much of it with his game.
For as much as Losman struggled in his first action of the season, he still had moments where you could see just how much raw ability is packed into his 6-2, 212-pound body. On his 87-yard hookup with speedy WR Lee Evans, Losman heaved the ball with the force that precious few quarterbacks boast, and Edwards certainly isn’t one of them. Alas, such plays were few and far between for Losman.
The Bills now have a week off to heal and ready themselves to get back on the winning track. For their sake, let’s hope Edwards shakes out the cobwebs, because this offense is stuck in neutral without him.
Our fantasy take
Edwards should be back on the field in Week Seven. Losman doesn’t warrant fantasy consideration.
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