Buffalo Bills Training Camp Battles: Backup QB

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2007 8:48 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Can Nall hold off Edwards? (Courtesy: Getty Images)

This is a continuation of Buffalo Rumblings' training camp battles series. Previous installments: RCB.

What a difference a year makes. Last season, the Bills were headed into training camp with a three-way quarterback competition the headlining battle. J.P. Losman eventually beat out Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall, obviously; one positive of this battle was that the team had very solid depth behind Losman should he falter. But now Holcomb, at the very least a heady veteran, is gone. The team still has Nall, who by many accounts could have won the starting job last season had he not been injured during camp, and rookie Trent Edwards was added in April as well. Which begs the question - who will back up Losman this season?

The Favorite: Craig Nall (16)
Despite 2007 being his sixth season in the NFL, Nall remains an enigma. He showed enough potential and poise in very brief appearances as Brett Favre's backup in Green Bay to warrant a free agent contract from the Bills last off-season. Make no mistake - the Bills signed him as a potential starting quarterback. With Losman entrenched as the starter and Holcomb out of the way, it seems logical that Nall - who seems like a solid fit in Steve Fairchild's offense - would assume the primary backup job. Unless he can't hold off his competition, of course.

The Upstart: Trent Edwards (5)
What was arguably the Bills' most illogical pick in April could wind up being a big-time value to the team sooner rather than later. Edwards, who mired in mediocrity for a terrible Stanford program, has a world of potential with more talent around him. But is he ready to assume a backup responsibility as a rookie? Edwards does have the arm strength, athleticism and moxie to succeed - but does he have the brains to pick up an entire offense quickly enough to supplant Nall? If he can answer that question with a resounding "yes" in the pre-season, then there is a good chance the team could play Edwards in front of Nall in specific circumstances.

Predicting the Winner
When it comes right down to it, there isn't much predicting to be done here. Unless Edwards sets the world on fire in camp and during the pre-season (and we're talking monster, multi-TD performances every game), there's no chance that the team will entrust a rookie with the primary backup role right away. Edwards, if he is to be as successful as possible in this league, needs to be holding a clipboard for at least two seasons. While he has very little NFL game experience, Nall has been around the block, has a year of Fairchild's scheme under his belt and seems the easy choice to be JP's backup. Just don't count out Edwards yet...

Poll Results: Nall's the Guy
The poll conducted over the last 24 hours backs up the Nall theory: 68% of Bills fans who voted feel that it's Nall's job to lose.

Who wins the backup QB job?
Craig Nall - 24 votes (68%)
Trent Edwards - 11 votes (31%)

Coming Tomorrow: the Middle Linebacker battle. Make sure to vote in the new poll to the right and let us know who you think will be the opening-day starter on the inside!

Tweet Comment 16 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Nall will be backup

There is no rush on Edwards. He has ability and we'll see more in preseason, but I also get a Rob Johnson vibe from him. Either way there is no reason to thrust him into a 2nd string role unless it is for certain that his talent and recognition surpass Nall's which I don't is possible this year, and maybe not next year either, unless injuries to Losman force the issue

The Bills can win every game

by killascript on Jul 18, 2007 9:39 AM EDT reply actions

No decision

I was thinking there should be a third option on the poll - "It doesn't matter; Losman will take all of the snaps again."

Here's an interesting interview with Edwards from a couple weeks ago, if you haven't seen it yet. It should be interesting watching him in the preseason...

by Krenn on Jul 18, 2007 11:04 AM EDT reply actions

On the contrary

I think it matters a whole lot - good teams have good backup quarterbacks. We have a rookie and a guy who hasn't played a whole lot. How comfortable are you with our backup QB position - perhaps the most important backup position on any given NFL roster?

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2007 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Up to speed

One of the two will have to be taking more snaps soon enough. If Edwards is to get up to speed then he will need significant snaps in camp and in preseason. If it is Nall, same thing. Anything can happen during the season preseason on a motorcycle or anywhere else for that matter and that means we need someone we can count on.
With all this said, no for sure that the backup QB battle will be fiery if Edwards is as talented he seems to have the potential to be

The Bills can win every game

by killascript on Jul 18, 2007 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Nall will be the backup this year

But make no mistake, he's not good enough to be a starting QB in the NFL; I've seen enough of him in Green Bay to make that call. Think of him like Frank Reich, only probably not quite as good -- he can step in if Losman gets hurt, and he might even play very well, but you're going to lose a lot of games if he's your full-time starter. He's a decent #2, but that's it. If Edwards works hard, he should overtake Nall by next season.

Of course, in fairness, there are a number of starting QBs in the league who aren't good enough to start, and Nall may be about as good as them.

by rexob on Jul 18, 2007 3:46 PM EDT reply actions

Ha, exactly

Think Atlanta wouldn't mind having Nall on their roster right about now?

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2007 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions

Why?

Did something happen to Atlanta?

by Zumone on Jul 18, 2007 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions

Vickkkkk

Would you rather go into a season with Vick, Joey Harrington or Craig Nall? I'm half-inclined to pick Nall - I think I'd rather choose the "unknown" over mediocrity or felony indictments...

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2007 4:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I think...

...Matt Schaub is a better QB than Craig Nall, and if Vick ends up in serious trouble over this, they're going to regret making that trade, but Buffalo might want to consider offering Nall to them for a mid-round draft pick.

by rexob on Jul 18, 2007 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe...

... but I think a far more likely scenario has Daunte Culpepper lucking into his third NFL starting gig. Harrington isn't taking the Falcons anywhere.

Create a free account to join in the discussion, Bills fans!

by Brian Galliford on Jul 18, 2007 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

Even if they sign Culpepper...

...he'll blow out his knee the first time anyone so much as looks in his direction, so they'll still need another QB.

by rexob on Jul 18, 2007 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Nall

But make no mistake, he's not good enough to be a starting QB in the NFL; I've seen enough of him in Green Bay to make that call.

Just curious, but what exactly did you see of Nall in GB that makes you feel that way? In his limited action in GB he produced a QB rating of 139.4 with a 4/0 TD to INT ratio. It's not like he stunk up the joint when he played and I really hope you aren't basing your opinion on Preseason games. Nobody knows if Nall has what it takes to be a starter, but I wouldn't say what we've seen of him would lead us to believe he can't.

by Kurupt on Jul 18, 2007 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

It's not his numbers

And it's not all based on the preseason, though that does factor into it.

Nall's regular season numbers are based on 33 passes in five games in mop-up duty, mostly in blowouts against subs but with Donald Driver and Javon Walker still on the field. They made him look good, but it was all them. He makes Brett Favre look mobile. When he's rushed, he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He has a tendency to throw the ball to receivers over the middle such that they have to lay themselves out in a way that's going to get one of them decapitated sooner or later. He's never looked all that good in the preseason playing against subs. He couldn't even complete 60% of his passes in NFL Europe, where everyone is a sub. I'm pretty sure he also never completed 60% of his passes in college, and he ended up transferring out of LSU to play in one of the not-so-well-regarded conferences. I'd be shocked if he ever completed a pass 30 yards downfield in the NFL, even in preseason. He's always been inconsistent. He has a long history of concussions.

The Packers never worried about him because Favre would play even if he was dying, but the second they were sure Aaron Rodgers had a decent grasp on their offense, Nall was sent packing. He's a decent backup, but that's all he is.

by rexob on Jul 18, 2007 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions

ok

If you say so! I've never seen him play, so I can't argue either way, though I do feel 33 passes is far from enough to determine is long term play/potential in the NFL. And if Driver and Walker made him look great, couldn't the NFL Euro WR's and his college mates make him look average?

by Kurupt on Jul 19, 2007 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

In leagues of lesser quality...

...receivers have big advantages over corners and safeties. Nall started out at LSU, but couldn't cut it there and transferred, and he still didn't put up great numbers at his new school. And when I say Driver and Walker made him look great, I mean they saved him by turning bad passes into completions and, in Walker's case, a few touchdowns. Move him to NFL Europe, where the average player is looking to make a practice squad, and he still couldn't complete 60% of his passes, and not because his not-so-good receivers kept dropping his passes.

It's really the other stuff, though -- the immobility, the inability to hit the broad side of a barn when rushed, the likelihood that he'd get Lee Evans killed, and the inability to throw downfield -- is more important. The talent just isn't there to be a starter, not on a team with playoff aspirations, and probably not even on a mid-90s Bengals team.

by rexob on Jul 19, 2007 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Trade Nall to Atlanta

That´s depend of how Edwards develop in training camp, if the coaching staff thinks he´s not ready yet I don't think they go to trade the only proven veteran in the roster and gambling with Edwards as the primary back up to Losman.

by Billfaninmexico on Jul 18, 2007 6:09 PM EDT reply actions