Over the last two years with the Bills, Tyrod Taylor has undertaken a relentless pursuit to be the best quarterback he can be. Entering his third-year as a starter in Buffalo can his play reach franchise caliber?
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides the details. Here is his report:
It’s a level of play Bills fans have been craving at the quarterback position for a long time. The type of week to week performance that can carry Buffalo’s offense. The last two years it’s been the Bills run game that has carried their attack. Along the way Tyrod Taylor in his two seasons as a starter has made some improvements in his game. Can he take the next step and play franchise caliber ball?
Here are some signs that he’s moving in the right direction, as well as some factors that could positively impact his play.
Improved vision
If there is a criticism amongst Bills fans about Tyrod Taylor’s game, the common refrain has been that he has not sufficiently utilized open targets in the middle of the field. In his first year as a starter that criticism had merit. As last season wore on however, Taylor’s vision between the numbers noticeably improved.
Driven to excel
After toiling in obscurity the first four years of his career as a backup in Baltimore, Taylor bet on himself in a three-man quarterback competition in 2015. He came out of it with the starting job and since then has done everything in his power to improve his personal game. Despite being with his second coaching staff in Buffalo, his work ethic has left his coaches impressed and confident that he’s the right leader for this team right now.
“He knows what he’s doing. He knows where everybody is and he’s a good leader in the huddle and I think he’s doing a good job,” said Dennison. “His work habits are as great as they were (in Baltimore). He’s working his tail off. He’s watching film and even doing work outside the building.”
“I’ve really been impressed with the leadership, the intangible qualities that are inherent or must be inherent to that quarterback position,” said McDermott. “I’ve watched [Tyrod Taylor] develop in those areas and that’s important as we look to move forward. There’s leadership qualities at that quarterback position that are important to winning football games and I think he’s done a nice job in that area.”
Taylor’s quest to improve with every snap he takes and subsequently reviews should continue to push his game forward. How far he’s able to take it is difficult to gauge, but it won’t be for lack of effort.
“The reps that I’m getting are definitely key to my success and I’m taking each one very seriously, even the ones that I’m not on the field, just trying to better myself as a whole, as a player, and being a better teammate and leader and everything. I’ve been focusing on my feet and patience in the pocket. But I pick something different within the offense each day. Anything I can do to better my game and help this offense get to the next level I’m all for it.”