BATW20

Bills won't rush to judgment on No. 1 QB


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J.P. LOSMAN: "These coaches are looking for someone they can trust, someone they can count on."

By ALLEN WILSON
News Sports Reporter
6/15/2006

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James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
Bills coaches have found something to admire in the performance of all three quarterbacks: from left, Craig Nall, Kelly Holcomb and J.P. Losman.

After four months of minicamps and organized team activities, the Buffalo Bills are no closer to having a starting quarterback than when the offseason began.
J.P. Losman, Kelly Holcomb and Craig Nall are still locked in a tight three-man race, and the Bills are in no hurry to make a decision on who will be the No. 1 QB.

Shortly after being named head coach in February, Dick Jauron said he hoped to name a starter before training camp opens in Rochester on July 28. But it will probably take most of training camp and two or three preseason games before someone is chosen.

"We're going to wait and see how it plays out," Jauron said Wednesday after the Bills wrapped up a three-day minicamp, their last offseason workout before training camp. "We like the competition. We think competition is healthy, and they're still competing. I think they've all done pretty well at times, and at times they've looked bad, which quarterbacks will tend to do. We've got time in front of us and we're going to use it, and we're going to use training camp to make any decision on those guys."

Perhaps the Bills are being deliberate because they need more time to see Losman, Holcomb and Nall in action. Each has received equal snaps in team drills, and each has had a chance to lead the starting offense. But none of the three has established himself as the best man yet.

That will come in training camp, though it will be challenging for the Bills to make a fair evaluation when none of the quarterbacks is getting a large number of snaps.

"We did wrestle with the idea that maybe we're hurting a guy or two with a lack of reps, but I think we can make it work," offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild said. "I like the way those guys are reacting to each other. Kelly has obviously played a lot. You can tell he's very experienced and has seen a lot. J.P. has got some real raw ability in terms of arm strength and athletic ability. Craig is an intriguing guy. When he's been given a chance to play he has played well. He has some size and strength to him. They each bring something to the table, but I don't want to rush to any conclusion."

Losman is clearly the best athlete of the three quarterbacks. The third-year pro has displayed a strong arm and the ability to make plays on the move.

His decision making and accuracy still need work, but he's shown steady improvement in his footwork and techniques, and he is learning to make the proper reads.

"I'm getting better," said Losman, who started eight games last season. "There's always more room for improvement. Coming to camp we've got to be even sharper. I feel more comfortable. I feel like things are slowing down. I just want to slow down and not just be so great sometimes and then make a bad throw. I'm just trying to be more consistent and not be up and down. That's what it's going to come down to. These coaches are looking for someone they can trust, someone they can count on day in and day out, play in and play out."

Holcomb's 10 years of NFL experience showed early in the offseason. He seemed to grasp the new offense quickly and has a good handle on calling the plays. His arm is not as strong as Losman's or Nall's, but he is a savvy veteran who doesn't make a lot of mistakes and throws the ball with accuracy and touch.

Having gone through a quarterback competition in Cleveland, Holcomb knows the importance of making the most of every opportunity in training camp.

"It is a little different when you're the No. 1 guy going into camp and you know that you are going to get a rhythm in with the [starting offense]," he said. "But you can't worry about how many reps you're getting or what guy is going first. You've just got to go out and do your job. You've got to go out on this field and produce and show the coaches and teammates that they can trust you."

Unlike Losman and Holcomb, Nall has never started an NFL game. But the Bills like his live arm and potential. He spent his first four seasons in Green Bay's West Coast offense, so it has been an adjustment learning a new system.

Nall made errant throws and had indecisive moments during the early OTAs, but he appeared to find his rhythm the last couple of weeks. He needs to carry the momentum of his recent strong workouts into training camp.

"It has been a struggle sometimes just trying to get the play out because it's not familiar to me," Nall said. "I'm just trying not to get uptight about it and know that I'm going to go through these growing pains and make mistakes. I'm just trying to eliminate those mistakes and get better. The more we do it, the more comfortable I'll become."

Losman, Holcomb and Nall will have six weeks off before resuming their competition at St. John Fisher College in July. While the battle for the Bills' starting quarterback job almost surely will continue deep into August, Fairchild certainly won't mind if one of the three candidates emerges sooner.

"I hope that somebody just comes to the top and shows us they're the best quarterback, and then we'll go from there," he said. "But it would be foolish to prejudge anything until we put pads on. I want to get all three exposed to as much as we can and then see what they do in the preseason. When the time's right [to choose a starter], Dick will know or I'll know, and we'll do something. But right now the competition is going good, and I'm pleased with it."

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KWilliamsAWinfield

In my opinion, Kelly should get the starting job

BATW20

Ew no.


The Bills are going no where this upcomming season barring JP Losman really becomming the reincarnation of Kenny Stabler and our Defense returning to 04 forum.


So you might as well see what you have in your young guys and let them develop them waste a year with a veteran starting on a bad team.


If your team does bad with a young guy at the helm atleast you can say your building for the future and giving him experience, but what do you gain with a bad team with a 33+ year old QB playing? It's pointless enless if the Bills for some reason think with Kelly Holcomb they are a Playoff caliber team.

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imported_Zac

NAW BAW

Lego

i think Nall ends up getting the job and does really well.

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AIM: grandoompahpah

imported_Zac

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Lego @ Jun 16th ) [snapback]1580407[/snapback]</div>

BATW20

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Zac @ Jun 15th ) [snapback]1580261[/snapback]</div>
huh?

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DJ Boyer

Nall is the best of the three...question is grasping the offense because he is the outsider coming into this season

SDOGO

I got an idea. Buffalo should trade their 1st round pick next year for Drew Henson or their 1st and 2nd for Tony Romo.

Hell, we will even give you Henson for Losman. Neither Buffalo nor Dallas have any clue what to do with a young QB so does it really matter?

Yes I'm *****ing, I'm getting the rust off my weekly "**** Parcells" outbursts.

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Nixon

ehm... they might want to rush to judgement...

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CUNT SAUCE!!!