Here's the Bills news of note for March 9th.
**1 - Pushing Taylor's game forward
**The decision to keep Tyrod Taylor on the roster Wednesday led many to contemplate the future of Buffalo's offense under the direction of coordinator Rick Dennison with Taylor at the controls. Some outside observers are expecting Taylor to be the same quarterback they've seen the last two years. By the sound of it head coach Sean McDermott intends to pull even more from Taylor's skill set.
"You look at the individual first and the skill set he brings to the table and the success he's had to this point," said Taylor. "You're continuing to develop a player and we know about the mobility when plays break down. It does create headaches for defensive coordinators. I've been on that side of it. The scheme is an extremely good fit for Tyrod and his skill set. This was a very solid move in that regard."
Though the offensive scheme will be new for the majority of the players on the roster, Taylor is familiar with it having run a very similar version in Baltimore under Gary Kubiak and Dennison. And when it comes to that system McDermott has a plan there too.
"I want to see him execute the system," said McDermott. "Just like every other player whether you're talking about offensive football at the quarterback position or defensive football and playing middle linebacker. I want to see the players execute the system and then use their natural abilities to make plays. If we're doing our job as coaches that means putting them in position and shaping the system around their skill set. So that's the marriage between athlete and system. So that's really how I see it."
McDermott has been around athletic quarterbacks before during his time coaching in Philadelphia and Carolina. So knowing how to get the most out of Taylor on the field seems to be an end game he and his offensive staff can realize.
"I've been fortunate enough to be around two mobile quarterbacks in my career," said McDermott. "One with Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia and with Cam Newton in Carolina. That skill set is a familiar one to me and there's a fine line to using one's mobility to make plays in game situations and times when it's not ideal. I'm very familiar with that."
But to think that McDermott and his staff are not going to make every effort as coaches to push Taylor's game forward would be a mistake.
"We're going to compete in everything we do," said McDermott. "That's how this thing is going to look. I expect that from myself and the same from our players and coaches. We're going to earn the right and that means doing things the right way in the decisions we make on a daily basis.
"When you look at all of our players that's what we've got to do. We've got to put the players in position to be successful with the systems we're going to implement. Then after that it's developing the players to be the best players they can possibly be."
**2 - Bills players just like fans were waiting on Tyrod decision
**The decision that the Bills had to make on Tyrod Taylor carried every bit the intrigue for his teammates on Buffalo's roster as it did for Bills fans. In an appearance on the John Murphy Show shortly after the Bills announced that Taylor would remain on the roster, center Eric Wood admitted that Taylor's situation was on his mind.
"I was definitely concerned about it. I was definitely interested and had no insider info," said Wood. "I was hanging on just like everybody else. I texted Tyrod a couple of times. He told me he wanted to be back and it was clear he was hopeful that would happen."
Now that Taylor is under contract again, Wood believes Taylor's skill set is a good fit for coordinator Rick Dennison's offense.
"I do," Wood said. "A lot of play action I think will help him throw the ball down the field. I think we're going to have an effective running game with him in the lineup. I think it's an offense that will work well with him in it."
3 - Casserly mock has Bills trading into bottom of firstYou can take mock drafts for what they're worth, which typically is little more than entertainment. In terms of entertainment, NFL.com's Charley Casserly hit the mark for Bills fans with his latest mock draft. After taking Clemson WR Mike Williams at 10, he has Buffalo trading back into the bottom of round one to take a quarterback. Here were his two picks in round one for the Bills and his reasoning.
PICK 10 - BILLS
****Mike Williams**** - WR, Clemson: The **Bills* keep Tyrod Taylor and draft a quarterback later (see Pick No. 31).*
PICK 31 - BILLS
DeShone Kizer - QB, Notre Dame: (Projected trade up with Falcons) The **Bills* get back into Round 1 and take their quarterback of the future.*
Casserly has the Bills giving up their second and third-round picks to climb back into the bottom of round one. That would leave them only with a pair of fifth-round picks and a sixth-round selection.
