Thrilled for the Bills

Hiring of a defence first head coach, who inherits an already elite NFL defence is cause for great optimism. However, in the NFL, having a great defence is only one third of the battle. Although the Buffalo Bills can boast about their defense, its time for the offence to pick up some slack. The announcement Tyrod Taylor would be taking over the Bills offence in 2015, may have been the beginning of the end in a 15 year playoff drought in Buffalo.

Wherever Taylor has been given the chance to lead, he has succeeded. As far back as his high school career he has been able to put up huge numbers when given the chance to lead. At Hampton High in his home state of Virgina he led the team to a 34-4 record, along with his shining stat line (5144 Pass Yds , 44 Pass TDs, 2,546 Rush Yds , 56 Rush TDs) Taylor would graduate as the number one ranked 'dual-threat' QB in the country. Making the leap to college, Tyrod would once again prove leadership was the key to unlocking his potential.  

The 'hybrid' QB would split time as the teams starter his freshman year. In week two of the Hokies '07 season, in a game against the LSU Tigers, Taylor gave Virgina Tech fans their first look at his productivity when given the chance to lead. Entering the game late in the first half, leading the team on its only scoring drive of the night. From that point on Taylor never looked back, earning himself the starting position as the Hokies QB for the remainder of his NCAA career. The Virgina native would continue to dazzle Hokies fans for two seasons as the full-time starter before finishing his college career in 2010. During his time at Virgina Tech, Taylor would break multiple records and finish with stats worthy of a look on NFL draft day (50 GP, 7,017 Pass Yds, 44 Pass TDs, 1,943 Rush Yds, 23 TDs) Being drafted by Baltimore, who already had a starting QB, Taylor would either have to switch positions, or move on to the NFL without his most powerful quarterbacking weapon, a chance to start.

Many teams expected Taylor to play his NFL career as a receiver, however, when the Baltimore Ravens drafted him they kept him at his natural position. His time as the backup in Baltimore proved invaluable, allowing him to show flashes of potential in the preseason, and earning him a Super Bowl ring in 2013. On March 12, 2015 Taylor would make a career changing move, signing with the Buffalo Bills, one the NFLs most notorious for having a quarterback carousel. With the Bills adding free agent QB Matt Cassel, along with 2013 16th overall pick EJ Manuel, Taylor would have an uphill battle, competing against two quarterbacks who had more starting experience. After earning Rex Ryan's trust giving the head coach the 'magic' he had asked for, Taylor was named the teams starting QB for the 2015 season. The fifth year QB may not bring with him the excitement of a first round draft pick, or the signing of a high profile free agent quarterback, however, the combination of his 'dual-threat' ability and track record as a starter could be exactly what the Bills offence needs.

Having had a silent NFL career up to this point, uniting with the NFL's loudest coach may have returned Taylor's most powerful weapon, the title of starter, and ultimately, a long awaited playoff birth for the city of Buffalo.


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References; Photos sourced from: http://espn.go.com/espn/page2/index?id=5550771, http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Help-us-create-“An-Ode-to-the-Fans”-/bc74d1ee-dbc0-4688-9b95-43fb60c7ac2d