Buffalo And New York Jets Have Ugly QB Situations
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – For the first time in many years, the Miami Dolphins have confidence in their quarterback heading into the regular season. And other than New England Patriots legend Tom Brady, the Fins have the best quarterback in the division.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill appears to be making a significant jump from his rookie year to his second season in the NFL. In limited action in the preseason, Tannehill has thrown three touchdowns and has yet to throw an interception.
Overall, Tannehill has put together a quarterback rating of 98.6 which any Fins fan would take in a heartbeat in the regular season. Tannehill is also completing 60.7 percent of his passes in the preseason.
While things are sunny in South Florida, the skies are gloomy for the Buffalo Bills and the New York Jets at the quarterback position.
The Bills were likely turning over the reins of the offense to rookie E.J. Manuel, but his health has been in question since a minor procedure on his knee last week. If Manuel can return in time, the Bills' offense will be stabilized, without him, disaster looms large.
Buffalo's backup quarterback Kevin Kolb suffered what is being described as a "serious concussion" in the team's last game on Saturday. Kolb has already suffered three concussions and early reports have said the latest one could be a career ender, but the team is still testing his condition.
Either way, Kolb isn't ready to go in Week 1 for Buffalo. That led the Bills to sign journeyman quarterback Matt Leinart and trade for Thaddeus Lewis over the weekend. Leinart has been a bust since joining the NFL.
The Bills' other two quarterbacks, Jeff Tuel and Lewis, have either not played in a regular season game (Tuel) or have been a career backup (Lewis). It was so bad for Buffalo on Saturday that at one point in the game against Washington, Tuel was the only healthy quarterback on the roster.
As this story was being written, the Bills named Tuel the starter for Week 1 of the regular season. That sound you hear is the collective face-palming of Bills fans everywhere.
In New York, health isn't the issue; instead it's about talent and poor coaching decisions.
The Jets gave rookie Geno Smith the start at quarterback in week three of the preseason and Smith looked completely overmatched by the Giants defense. He threw three interceptions in the first quarter before settling in and throwing a touchdown pass later.
Things didn't improve when head coach Rex Ryan made the questionable call of inserting Mark Sanchez in at quarterback in the fourth quarter. Sanchez was playing behind backups on the offensive line and while he threw the ball well, he injured his shoulder in the quarter and his status is unknown.
The biggest question for Ryan was why Sanchez was in there in the first place. Obviously after four seasons, the Jets know what Sanchez can do on the field. He was in during garbage time and the Jets ended up paying the price.
New York had hoped Smith could step up his game, but he couldn't and now they need to turn to Sanchez again, but he may not be available in Week 1.
Needless to say, it's an ugly, ugly situation in New York City and Ryan's call to put Sanchez in the game may end up costing him his job in the long run as it was another decision that didn't take into account the bigger picture of the entire team and the season rather than just the preseason game.
