Gailey Confirms Fitzpatrick As Bills' Backup Quarterback
by Brian Galliford on Sep 6, 2010 4:29 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintWhen the Buffalo Bills kept both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm on their 53-man roster over the weekend, many Bills fans openly wondered which quarterback would serve as the primary backup to starter Trent Edwards entering the season. Chan Gailey put to rest any speculation on that front Monday after practice, confirming that Fitzpatrick is the Bills' No. 2.
That puts Brohm at third on the depth chart, and he will serve as the emergency quarterback in Week 1 against Miami. He will not count as one of the team's 45 active players for that contest.
Fitzpatrick out-performed Brohm in the preseason, completing 65.2% of his passes with two scores in just two appearances. He led the Bills to a 5-4 record in games where he saw the majority of first-team reps in 2009, and is in the second of a three-year deal he signed last March.
Now let's keep our fingers crossed that he won't need to see the field.
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Wishful Thinking
Now let’s keep our fingers crossed that he won’t need to see the field.
Good move though…………it just makes the most sense.
"I understand that's the way it is, You're just going to have to take that with a grain of salt and realize there's going to be people out there that aren't going to like the way you play and where you're from." - Trent Edwards
by norcaliangelsfan on Sep 6, 2010 4:30 PM EDT reply actions
Yea
I guess for my money, if one of them has to come in in an emergency situation (mid-game) then I’d rather have Fitz. However, if we knew we were going to be without Edwards for a few games, then I think I would rather have Brohm start those absent games instead of Fitz. Basically, at this point, Fitz is the more veteran backup, and has sprung into games mid-way multiple times. Not sure Brohm has ever really done that (except pre-season of course, but then he knew that was coming, plus it’s pre-season).
Fear the Grier!!!!
We shouldn't be surprised
Fitz played well enough in the preseason to get the job. Let’s just hope he’s never thrust into a game, either due to an injured or ineffective Edwards. I’d love to see Edwards play all 16 games and not get yanked for poor play. I know it’s unlikely, but it sure would be nice.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
In Edward's case
if it’s not one, there’s a solid chance that the other rears its ugly head. Let’s hope that this season, he can find a way to avoid both.
"SO LETS GET ON IN THIS BUS cause this is the year we are coming to KICK SOME #$^u%*$% GODZILLA IS COMING BE READY" - abayarde
Maybe
Just maybe Chan’s style will be different, He might be less likely to pull Trent out like DJ.
Home of "Spiller the Thriller"
by buffalobacker on Sep 7, 2010 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions
There is a part of me that still favors RF as the starter in 2010.
Clearly, Trent has once again earned this honor. I will watch and pull for him to be successful each and every game. Both Ryan and Trent lacked two things last season. One was pass protection and two was a running game. Pass protection will get better with time, but the run game should be all go from the beginning. This will only help our QB’s grow and develop more confidence.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
Chan Gailey was our upgrade at QB this year. I think he’s rebuilding Edwards psyche and I think he’ll improve. Edwards has a better skill set than Fitz. I think the days of saying “once again” are over with the new regime. I believe Gailey is too smart to be fooled into picking the guy who appears to look the best in training camp and pre season games. I believe Edwards won the job because he has the best tools and Gailey think he’s the one he can develop.
My Point
We had two very good running backs last season, yet it took Freddy 16 games to break the 1,000 yard mark. Hence the poor running game generated by this offense. I believe that with the same two running backs this season and the addition of spiller, that running portion of the offense should be a go from day one and help the progession of the QB’s in this offense. Defenses that flood the box will get hurt with Spiller and Parrish on slants, draws and playaction.
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
To be fair
He only averaged about 14 carries per game before that last one. Not too many guys are going to be breaking 1000 yards until the last game or two with that type of workload….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
On Brohm
I watched the tape and Brohm played very well and imo better than Fitz. The stats don’t show it but he definitely played well. Even in the last game, statistically he had an INT but he threw a perfect pass to J.P. Foschi, who basically bobbled it right into the defender’s hand. This shows up as an INT but it really wasn’t brohm’s fault.
Brohm’s arm and mechanics are way better than Fitz and he can zip them in there with tight spirals. I really believe that Brohm has a chance to succeed in this league and he could easily be the backup to Trent Edwards. I think Fitz won the job because of his contractual status and overall experience (more starts), I don’t see in a Buffalo uni next year.
Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience
Actually, Fitzpatrick looked better than Brohm in the preseason. He not only posted better stats, but he actually scored TDs, something Brohm has never ever done before. I also think that Fitz has better chemistry with his WRs.
I really don’t care if someone looks like the better passer. I care about what he actually produces on the field.
Im with Keysh on this one
Brohm looked better on all accounts, yes Fitz scored the TDs, but they were ugly. Brohm seems better at executing his assignment, while (I’ll give Fitz this) RF is better at ad-libbing. But game in game out throughout the course of a season, execution will beat out moxy and luck more often than the other way around.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 6, 2010 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Come on now.
You claim his TD passes looked ugly, but at least he got into the end zone.
Brohm did better with his assignments? Are you kidding me? Brohm lacked chemistry with his receivers, and couldn’t lead the Bills into end zone period, and he had more opportunities to do it.
in the end, the only thing that matters are results. Fitz posted results, Brohm didn’t. End of story. No “controversy” here.
Seriously
You guys are talking about preseason stats…im not arguing that Fitz shouldn’t be the #2, Im okay with that. Im arguing that Brohm is the better QB, even though he didnt score some meaningless preseason TDs against back-ups. Be honest, if Brohm had the same exact stats as Fitz, would you then change your mind? Or would you still believe Fitz is the better QB?
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 6, 2010 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions
you evaluate players in the preseason. Brohm still has a job in the NFL because of his performance. He was not good enough to overtake Fitz, who posted similar stats with 2 TDs under his belt, to boot. His qb ranking was higher, he is a more experienced vet with a working repitoire with Lee/Roscoe/Fred/Lynch/etc (the guyson offense who didn’t get the axe from last season).
Its not a matter of IF. Its a matter os what DID happen. If Brown posted better numbers than Fitz ot Brohm, he’d still be on the roster. Its spilt milk, at this point.
Exactly Wien
I don’t think Brohm played terribly, but it was pretty evident to me that Fitz looked more efficient and could move the ball better.
Did you guys not read my remarks?
The only thing I said was that Brohm is the better QB but I understand why Fitz got the nod for QB2
Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience
True
But theres a reason Brohm is #3 QB, not sure what it is, but I’ll trust Chan on this one. They must think he has potenial though..
Home of "Spiller the Thriller"
by buffalobacker on Sep 7, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Success on a given play does not mean it was run correctly. You’re basing an analysis of Brohm on his chemistry with WRs that are no longer on the team. QB/WR chemistry does not matter when looking at individual performance. That’s like saying the smartest kid in the school is not as smart as everyone thought because when he had a group assignment with the dumbest kids in the school, they didn’t perform well when the scores were compiled. Preseason TDs are NOT the end all be all for player performance analysis.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 6, 2010 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions
At the end, it is all about results.
You can argue that he looked cooler, but you can’t argue that he was more effective this preseason.
At least on one occasion he threw off his backfoot (a complete no-no) and with luck the defender did not get to it in time and they scored a TD. I don’t give a rats #ss about the few TDs he scored against scrubs, when he’s lined up against #1s he will be horrible.
Brohm is mechanically sound and made the right reads and throws. Chemistry is built over time and BB will develop it. I guarantee he’ll be on the roster in 2011 and RF won’t.
Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience
Not Convinced...
Numbers mean little when you’re undermanned and under fire. Anyone who watched those preseason games with anything even closely resembling an educated eye for football and leadership on the field saw Brian Brohm perform at least as well as if not better than Fitzpatrick, especially in his ability to consistently read defenses and to accurately get the football into the hands of the receiver most likely to move the ball down the field. The only reason Fitz is the backup is his greater level of experience, period. I’d go with him too. But Brian G, you need to remove your anti-Brian B bias.. for one thing you’re dead wrong about him, for another, it doesn’t help this team. I’ve watched this guy since he was in high school, and you are just plain wrong about him. He will succeed eventually in this league and my guess is that Gaily sees that. I also think Gailey is happy to have Brohm as “one” of his go to guys, when, not if, Edwards is injured. The fact that Fitz is listed second will mean little when that thin o-line breaks down, and Gailey needs someone who’s got the moxie to run that team under difficult conditions, something Brohm proved he could do his senior year at Louisville, and which he proved again against Detroit, when his receivers were dropping great passes and his o-line was breaking down, gaining 34 yards in the process and twice giving his team a chance to score points and stay in the ballgame. The bills are lucky to have Gailey, lucky to have a revitalized Edwards, albeit still injury prone, lucky to have Fitz, and lucky to have Brohm, ‘cause they’re going to need all three before the season’s over.
Just because I think Brohm didn’t play as well as Fitz doesn’t mean I didn’t watch the game with “anything even closely resembling an educated eye for football and leadership”. First, Fitz put up points with the same players that Brohm played with. Second, Fitz obviously can lead this team, as he went 5-4 last year at the end of the year when they were playing with very inferior linemen. And third, the stats support Fitz. So really, what was your point?
But Brian G, you need to remove your anti-Brian B bias.. for one thing you’re dead wrong about him, for another, it doesn’t help this team.
Well, aside from the fact that I don’t do this to help the team, I’m not sure why my saying “Fitzpatrick outplayed Brohm” is me being anti-Brohm. It’s an observation, man. I liked a lot of what I saw from Brohm this preseason.
by Brian Galliford on Sep 6, 2010 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions
I agree with JP
replace
educated eye for football and leadership
with
an unbiased eye
and we’re on the same page. I understand why Gailey would come out behind Fitz, he is better to come off the bench without any notice, while IMO Brohm would be better with a weeks worth of practice and a game-plan. Brohm is the developmental QB and will get the second most attention of all the QBs behind only Edwards. Some people see something in Fitz that I dont see, he does surprise at times, but it always seems that he is trying to catch up, game-speed wise.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 6, 2010 6:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Sure. I'm always right (and unbiased)...
So, therefore, anyone who disagrees with me and is looking at the same results must be biased. QED.
"This is a tough gayem for tough peepole" -- Chan Gailey
by Backup to Farve's Backup on Sep 7, 2010 6:05 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel you hit the nail on the head
Droppin Brown and keeping all three says a lot.
The Oline in detroit was worse than any line fitz played with for his two games, and I feel that was intentional for Brohm to be thrown into the fire of second and third string oline. Foschi ruined it for him, first he dropped an easy ball, then blew a route, then the bobbed stone hand balls. All three plays he was open.
Even more impressive was Brohm yelling to Foschi after the blown route.
I’d be willing to bet the bills do not take a qb early in draft if edwards has a decent injury free year, brohm could be the guy in 2 years who is a stud
by sketchydave on Sep 6, 2010 7:27 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Haha
How does what Brian said have anything to do with the team?
Sounds like you need to take off your pro-Brohm cloak of invincibility and realize that he was indeed the third best QB this summer. He didn’t play poorly at all, but was outplayed by the other two.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
was outplayed by the other two
I don’t agree that Fitz outplayed him at all. I personally think that Fitz should be QB2 because of the amount of starts behind his belt and his contract status – that’s it. Because on a pure playing perspective, I think Brohm played better. Stats don’t show horseshoes!
Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience
As for my uneducated eye
It sure “appears” that Fitzpatrick outplayed Brohm.
Fitz: 15 for 23, 138 yards, 2 TD’s, 0 INT. 6 yards per attempt, 110.4 QB rating
Brohm: 21 for 37, 203 yards, 0 TD’s, 1 INT. 5.5 ypa, 61.0 QB rating
I’m not sure how Brohm played as well, or better, than Fitzpatrick. Brohm lead the offense to 9 points on three FG’s. Fitzpatrick helped lead the offense to 21 points (3 TD’s).
Brohm had his chances to win the #2 job, but Fitz outplayed him. It’s as simple as that.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Go back and look at the tape and tell me that you’d want Fitz to attempt some of those stupid passes in a real game against starters? Just that last TD he threw off his backfoot, C’mon man, that would have been intercepted big time – negating a great drive. Don’t get me wrong, Fitz didn’t play that bad and again, given his contract status and his veteran status and experience I agree that he should be the QB2 but it’s not because he outplayed Brohm in Pre-Season, statistically he did but in reality … Not so sure!
Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience
I watched each game twice. Fitzpatrick played better than Brohm. Both had their moments.
by Brian Galliford on Sep 6, 2010 8:48 PM EDT up reply actions
He still played better than Brohm IMO
Brohm made some nice throws, but overall I think Fitz was better…..
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Why did Fitz did a better job than Brohm. Let me count the ways.
1. Put up better stats than Brohm in every single statistical category.
2. In 9 possessions, Fitz helped the Bills offense score 3 TDs. In 12 possessions, Brohm helped the team score 3 field goals.
3. In 162 passing attempts, Brohm has scored a total of 0 TDs. That’s pretty pathetic.
4. You can blame the receivers for Brohm’s problems, but in reality, the relationship between receiver and QB is pivotal in the NFL, and if your QB is on different wavelengths as your receivers, then you have a major problem on your hands.
I for one feel more comfortable having Fitz to take clean-up duty than Brohm.
That is not very convincing...
Preseason stats are meaningless, the comparison has to be done based on what the QB did based on the reads he gets from the defense. Both Fitz and Brohm played well, Fitz has more experience, he is NOT the better QB IMO. Brohm showed he can run and is the better pure passer. Fitz throws well for jumping half the time, he is not someone you can count on long term, but he can get you through a rough spot if needed. Im okay with both, mostly because I trust Gailey.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Sep 6, 2010 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions
My logic went beyond stats
The team did better with Fitz in the game.
No offense, but you’re over hyping up Brohm. Not scoring a TD in 162 attempts and 12 games is awful. There’s no way you’re can label him the better passer.
Levi Brown
Saw where it he didn’t even merit an invite for the PS. Do you think this is due to the quality of guys they kept OR the need to keep spots open for OL and LB? Or is he that raw?
Go big or go home.
To be honest Jack
I thought the pick up of Levi Brown was a bad decision. The team already had three young QBs with starting experience already, and those three were given the opportunity to start.
Levi Brown is too much of a work-in-progress. The kid had less than 2 years worthy of starting experience in college, came from a pure spread offense, and had accuracy problems whenever he faced off against a +.500 opponent in college.
I agree with Brian
I am glad we have Fitz as the current# 2. But here is hoping he doesn’t need to play.
abayarde- "I SAY this get ready cause the BUFFALO BILLS ARE COMING TO TOWN and I dont mean like Santa clause. WE will not Surrender this is were you all FALL The WHAGON BLASTER IS TAKING OFF AND YOU PUNKS are in our way, This wagon has no BREAKS so get ready for the ride of the life time"
by WABillsfan on Sep 6, 2010 8:26 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Here's the way I see it....
If Edwards goes down in a game, I think Fitz gives us our best hope in finishing that game..
HOWEVER!!!!
If Edwards were to be out for an extended period, I truly think, Chan will go with Brohm….
That said, I’m on board with others in hoping neither of those 2 has to play at all this season…
The draft dawns a new year for Buffalo Bills fans, so let optimism reign supreme!!! After all, we are now, UNDEFEATED!!!!
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