As a Bills fan, Zappe scares me

[PatsFanInVa]

I dont think Mac can move well enough to play... But, it might actually benefit Mac to play a bit hobbled like that though... might teach him to step up into the pocket and get rid of the ball faster instead of holding onto it and rolling out

I'll tell you, I remember the high ankle sprain well from fantasy football. You keep looking for the guy, he keeps not being ruled out, he keeps being a gametime decision/scratch.

I am delighted if Mac claws his way back, but not when it's still tender, please.. I dont think we let Hoyer get in the way of the fascinating development of Zappe, but let's see what Mac's got once he's healthy again.

And for now, it is so much fun to discover Zappe (Just get him on a nationally televised game please)

 

[venecol]

So what's your point, that it proves Zappe gives us the best chance to win? Let's see what Zappe can do if he has to come back, or score points starting on our 25. He made some good plays and he didn't appear shook but he didn't do anything(nor was he asked to) when we took over already in scoring position. A bunch of field goals. If Mac continues to turn it over when he comes back then that's a problem but Its just to early to start projecting.

If drives stalled it was because of play calls. The wunderkind had an 81% passing completion, not sure what more you want. If Agular actually catches the ball placed in his hands, the completion jumps to 86%!!!! It's not like the OC was letting him change the calls or ad lib.

1st drive start @DET 45, drives to DET 21: Harris run for 1 yd, Harris reception for 1 yd, 3rd & 8 pass incomplete to Henry. FG

2nd drive starts @NE 3 yard line!!! Drives to DET 21. Harris for 9 yds, Harris for no gain, Rham TFL -2 yds. FG

3rd drive: Agular INT!!!

4th drive starts @NE 13, drives to DET 39: 15 yd pass to Rham, 1st & 10 @ 24 - Holding; 1st & 20 @ 34 - Rham for 8 yds w/ 0:05 left. FG

2nd Half - 5th drive starts @ NE 25 and drives to DET 19: Rham no gain, pass to Rham for -1 yds, pass to Bourne for 1 yd. FG

6th drive starts @NE 34 and drives to DET 24: bullet to Meyers for TD.

7th drive starts @ NE 5: 1st punt.

8th drive starts @ NE 32 and drives to DET 17: Bourne -1 yds, Rham for 2 yds, Zappe for 5 yds. FG.

9th drive killing clock. Game over.

As you can see, 4 drives inside RZ but poor play calling results in 4 FGs. Just terrible.

The wunderkind was spectacular. You guys sh*tting on his perf. w/ lame excuses about poor D, open receivers blah, blah sound like a bunch of haters. 1st career start. No mistakes. 6 scoring drives out of 8. Get used to this kid, he's going to be around for a long time.

 

[PatsWSB47]

If drives stalled it was because of play calls. The wunderkind had an 81% passing completion, not sure what more you want. If Agular actually catches the ball placed in his hands, the completion jumps to 86%!!!! It's not like the OC was letting him change the calls or ad lib.

1st drive start @DET 45, drives to DET 21: Harris run for 1 yd, Harris reception for 1 yd, 3rd & 8 pass incomplete to Henry. FG

2nd drive starts @NE 3 yard line!!! Drives to DET 21. Harris for 9 yds, Harris for no gain, Rham TFL -2 yds. FG

3rd drive: Agular INT!!!

4th drive starts @NE 13, drives to DET 39: 15 yd pass to Rham, 1st & 10 @ 24 - Holding; 1st & 20 @ 34 - Rham for 8 yds w/ 0:05 left. FG

2nd Half - 5th drive starts @ NE 25 and drives to DET 19: Rham no gain, pass to Rham for -1 yds, pass to Bourne for 1 yd. FG

6th drive starts @NE 34 and drives to DET 24: bullet to Meyers for TD.

7th drive starts @ NE 5: 1st punt.

8th drive starts @ NE 32 and drives to DET 17: Bourne -1 yds, Rham for 2 yds, Zappe for 5 yds. FG.

9th drive killing clock. Game over.

As you can see, 4 drives inside RZ but poor play calling results in 4 FGs. Just terrible.

The wunderkind was spectacular. You guys sh*tting on his perf. w/ lame excuses about poor D, open receivers blah, blah sound like a bunch of haters. 1st career start. No mistakes. 6 scoring drives out of 8. Get used to this kid, he's going to be around for a long time.

Mea Culpa. Once in scoring position they mostly kicked field goals. Then they went into game management mode. Im not blaming Zappe but actually no "blame" is necessary. The game was being controlled by us. All I'm saying is show me again before declaring Zappe our franchise quarterback.

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Zappe had 1 drive starting in Lions territory. He scored with drive starting at :

NE 3
NE 13
NE 25
NE 34
NE 32

Right now Zappe gives us the best chance to win because he will not make the mistakes that will kill us like Mac has been doing.

I thought that Zappe showed more poise in this game than Mac ever showed this year. I saw Zappe step up in the pocket. I can’t even remember the last time I saw Mac step up in the pocket. I think more often then not he is turning his back on the OL and tries to run out. Sometimes running right in the pressure. There was a play, I believe in the Steelers game where he bailed out of the pocket when the pressure wasn’t even close and ran right in the defender trying to go outside of Wynn.
I thought the offense looked much more in rythme with Zappe.

At this point it’s pretty clear that Mac is not a QB that can carry an offense. The first 3 games proves it. The patriots thought they could ask more of Mac in year 2 evidently it was a mistakes and if we have to go back to the Zappe gameplan (lean on the run and throw safe passes) with Mac then it’s not a good look on him.

Zappe played well. He made quick decisions when he dropped back, consistently found holes in the pocket to step up into, then was able to find targets while moving forward. He also made some good throws from the pocket, avoided big sacks, and had no INT's in my mind cause that throw to Agholor was perfect.

However, a healthy Mac would've done even more, finishing drives, more big plays, etc. He also would have won the GB game. You can't blame Mac for everything that went wrong the first 3 weeks. Week 1 was a cluster at Miami in September, week 2 was a win, week 3 was when he hit Parker for 5 big plays for 168 yards and was leading them to a late lead when Agholor fumbled (plus the D collapsed that week too). The team as a whole, both the offense and defense, has gelled the past 2 weeks and is playing good ball. That's why they've looked better, it's not that Zappe's > Mac.

 

[Zuma]

If drives stalled it was because of play calls. The wunderkind had an 81% passing completion, not sure what more you want. If Agular actually catches the ball placed in his hands, the completion jumps to 86%!!!! It's not like the OC was letting him change the calls or ad lib.

1st drive start @DET 45, drives to DET 21: Harris run for 1 yd, Harris reception for 1 yd, 3rd & 8 pass incomplete to Henry. FG

2nd drive starts @NE 3 yard line!!! Drives to DET 21. Harris for 9 yds, Harris for no gain, Rham TFL -2 yds. FG

3rd drive: Agular INT!!!

4th drive starts @NE 13, drives to DET 39: 15 yd pass to Rham, 1st & 10 @ 24 - Holding; 1st & 20 @ 34 - Rham for 8 yds w/ 0:05 left. FG

2nd Half - 5th drive starts @ NE 25 and drives to DET 19: Rham no gain, pass to Rham for -1 yds, pass to Bourne for 1 yd. FG

6th drive starts @NE 34 and drives to DET 24: bullet to Meyers for TD.

7th drive starts @ NE 5: 1st punt.

8th drive starts @ NE 32 and drives to DET 17: Bourne -1 yds, Rham for 2 yds, Zappe for 5 yds. FG.

9th drive killing clock. Game over.

As you can see, 4 drives inside RZ but poor play calling results in 4 FGs. Just terrible.

The wunderkind was spectacular. You guys sh*tting on his perf. w/ lame excuses about poor D, open receivers blah, blah sound like a bunch of haters. 1st career start. No mistakes. 6 scoring drives out of 8. Get used to this kid, he's going to be around for a long time.

I agree with everything you said (even if you are being sarcastic...I have no idea)...and I agree about the play calling probably resulted in more FG's....BUT I think those were the right calls. I don't want my rookie marching down the field multiple times to only throw an INT where the DB's are in tighter coverage in the redzone or not even score at all. Why mess with his confidence? Each of those scoring drives will build confidence. I'm good with how the game was called...Bourne and Nelson were the issue...if their was any IMO.

 

[Lagaffe_07]

However, a healthy Mac would've done even more, finishing drives, more big plays, etc. He also would have won the GB game.

Mac hasn’t been finishing drive this year. He would have maybe had more big plays but he would have made more mistakes to counteract that. That’s why I disagree about the GB game. The loss wouldn’t have been that close if Mac played. They would have run less, throw more and Mac would have had 1-2 picks

 

[40yrpatsfan]

Mac hasn’t been finishing drive this year. He would have maybe had more big plays but he would have made more mistakes to counteract that. That’s why I disagree about the GB game. The loss wouldn’t have been that close if Mac played. They would have run less, throw more and Mac would have had 1-2 picks

The Pats were the better team vs GB. The offense had a good game plan and finally got their rhythm, which was expected after a couple of poor outings in games 1 & 2, plus the Ravens game where they showed how talented they are but had too many mistakes. The D also showed up after the 2nd half debacle vs Baltimore, and set the offense up to succeed.

Mac would have gone off for 280 yards and no picks vs GB had he not gotten hurt. The picks vs Baltimore were not his fault. The last one was a hail mary on the last play. The first one was Parker running the wrong route, clearly. The middle one to the LB may have been his fault, but many have noted that it was a bad play call, a play action from a look they hadn't shown all day so the LB's didn't bite. All of that would have been cleaned up for the GB game.

I'm loving what I see from Zappe, and right now we need him to save our season, but Mac is our man.

 

[venecol]

I agree with everything you said (even if you are being sarcastic...I have no idea)...and I agree about the play calling probably resulted in more FG's....BUT I think those were the right calls. I don't want my rookie marching down the field multiple times to only throw an INT where the DB's are in tighter coverage in the redzone or not even score at all. Why mess with his confidence? Each of those scoring drives will build confidence. I'm good with how the game was called...Bourne as Nelson were the issue...if their was any IMO.

Zero sarcasm. This is the most excited I've been all season. Bill may have pulled another pearl out of his ass. Brady saved his job at the beggining. The wunderkind may just do it at the end. Don't f*ck it up Bill.

 

[venecol]

"Of course, Zappe played well. Aaron Rodgers is the only other quarterback in the last 20 seasons to finish with an 80-plus completion percentage, 100-plus passer rating and one or fewer INTs on 20-plus pass attempts in his first career start, per Patra."

Enough said. On Sunday Zappe got his 1st Win. Aaron lost to the Giants. Lol

 

[Ian]

The wunderkind was spectacular. You guys sh*tting on his perf. w/ lame excuses about poor D, open receivers blah, blah sound like a bunch of haters. 1st career start. No mistakes. 6 scoring drives out of 8. Get used to this kid, he's going to be around for a long time.

Yes sir, he's under a rookie deal, and he was a 4th round pick. He's not going anywhere for quite a while

In all seriousness, it's obviously in everyone's best interest if he performs well and continues to get better. One of them will be traded eventually, and it will be up to both Jones and Zappe to ultimately determine who it's going to be. But if the team is winning games, I doubt anyone here is going to be overly upset regardless of who the starter is. At the same time, you can't make that drastic of a change without making absolutely sure it's the right move.

People keep bringing up the Brady/Bledsoe dynamic, but they were coming off a 5-11 campaign, and he kept making the same mistakes two games into that 2001 season. The injury just happened to be the opportunity Bill needed to prove to Kraft that they really had something in Brady, especially considering the long-term relationship the two (Bledsoe and Kraft) had. It was a completely different situation.

Jones is coming off a solid rookie season and obviously he had issues over those three games, but it was during a massive transition offensively with 3 of his 4 turnovers also coming while targeting the same player in this new scheme. So unlike Bledsoe, he's at least built up some currency to give himself an opportunity to prove it's not going to be a long-term issue.

Obviously, if he suddenly loses it and starts getting picked each game, unlike when Cam Newton was here (since something seemingly happened with Stidham where he was no longer a viable option), if they drop to below .500 late in the year and have no shot, I'm pretty sure Zappe would likely finish the season, and they'd probably head into 2023 with an open competition.

But the ball is going to be in Jones' court regardless of how Zappe plays in however many more starts he gets. At the same time, what happens from there when he's back under center will ultimately be up to him. We'll definitely learn quite a bit about the kid in the next couple of months and hopefully he's up for the challenge.

 

[Jim Beankie]

I agree with everything you said (even if you are being sarcastic...I have no idea)...and I agree about the play calling probably resulted in more FG's....BUT I think those were the right calls. I don't want my rookie marching down the field multiple times to only throw an INT where the DB's are in tighter coverage in the redzone or not even score at all. Why mess with his confidence? Each of those scoring drives will build confidence. I'm good with how the game was called...Bourne and Nelson were the issue...if their was any IMO.

Also, based on BB's comments regarding Folk's (and the FG unit's) day, they really had to take wind into account (crosswind). Before reading the article, I was checking CLE's forecast (10-15mph sustained) and decided to look up the Pats' game's weather, and it was 12.5mph, so not insignificant but nothing close to crazy.

 

[Wozzy]

Zero sarcasm. This is the most excited I've been all season. Bill may have pulled another pearl out of his ass. Brady saved his job at the beggining. The wunderkind may just do it at the end. Don't f*ck it up Bill.

Bill drafted them both, he saved his own ass.

 

[PatsFan2]

So what's your point, that it proves Zappe gives us the best chance to win? Let's see what Zappe can do if he has to come back, or score points starting on our 25. He made some good plays and he didn't appear shook but he didn't do anything(nor was he asked to) when we took over already in scoring position. A bunch of field goals. If Mac continues to turn it over when he comes back then that's a problem but Its just to early to start projecting.

Mac struggled in that area too don't remember many come backs on his part when we are two scores down or more. That said I don't think we have the talent at the moment to overcome that.

 

[yukon cornelius]

If drives stalled it was because of play calls. The wunderkind had an 81% passing completion, not sure what more you want. If Agular actually catches the ball placed in his hands, the completion jumps to 86%!!!! It's not like the OC was letting him change the calls or ad lib.

1st drive start @DET 45, drives to DET 21: Harris run for 1 yd, Harris reception for 1 yd, 3rd & 8 pass incomplete to Henry. FG

2nd drive starts @NE 3 yard line!!! Drives to DET 21. Harris for 9 yds, Harris for no gain, Rham TFL -2 yds. FG

3rd drive: Agular INT!!!

4th drive starts @NE 13, drives to DET 39: 15 yd pass to Rham, 1st & 10 @ 24 - Holding; 1st & 20 @ 34 - Rham for 8 yds w/ 0:05 left. FG

2nd Half - 5th drive starts @ NE 25 and drives to DET 19: Rham no gain, pass to Rham for -1 yds, pass to Bourne for 1 yd. FG

6th drive starts @NE 34 and drives to DET 24: bullet to Meyers for TD.

7th drive starts @ NE 5: 1st punt.

8th drive starts @ NE 32 and drives to DET 17: Bourne -1 yds, Rham for 2 yds, Zappe for 5 yds. FG.

9th drive killing clock. Game over.

As you can see, 4 drives inside RZ but poor play calling results in 4 FGs. Just terrible.

The wunderkind was spectacular. You guys sh*tting on his perf. w/ lame excuses about poor D, open receivers blah, blah sound like a bunch of haters. 1st career start. No mistakes. 6 scoring drives out of 8. Get used to this kid, he's going to be around for a long time.

yep

as a backup, at least until his rookie contract is up......

 

[Bill Lee]

One of the first things out of BB's mouth when talking to the team after the game: "good ball security"...

 

[crawhammer]

So in a conference with Mahomes, Herbert, Burrow and Jackson... Buffalo fans are "scared" of Zappe??? I'd say in reality on a scale of 1 (least scared) to 10 (most scared), Buffalo fans would rate Zappe at 0. This isn't a knock on Zappe either. He's an overdrafted 4th round rookie quarterback who wasn't on anyone's radar as a starter in 2022. To his credit he's been fine and hasn't made any major mistakes in his unexpected playing time. However, he was heavily managed by the coaching staff in a loss and he had to do next to nothing in a blow out win. He's also benefitted from a dominant running game that has averaged 170 yards over the last two games.

Zappe's efficiency has been nice but he's averaging 143 passing yards and 1 TD per game. If he gets the chance, let's see what he looks like playing from behind or in a shootout before we start labelling him as scary. Right now, he isn't scaring anyone, if for no other reason then we haven't seen enough of him yet. Which ideally won't even be the case. Mac Jones is the franchise quarterback and nothing has happened to change that. Once Jones is 100% again he's the starter. To this point I think Zappe has shown he's probably a capable backup, which is an improvement on my initial projection, but he hasn't yet proven he's going to be a capable starter.

 

[PatsFan2]

One of the first things out of BB's mouth when talking to the team after the game: "good ball security"...

Mac and Agholor probably felt a kick in the gut after that statement.

 

[PatsFan2]

One of the first things out of BB's mouth when talking to the team after the game: "good ball security"...

BB really knows how to motivate players that's the edge we have had over all these years our needle is pointing up.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

So in a conference with Mahomes, Herbert, Burrow and Jackson... Buffalo fans are "scared" of Zappe??? I'd say in reality on a scale of 1 (least scared) to 10 (most scared), Buffalo fans would rate Zappe at 0. This isn't a knock on Zappe either. He's an overdrafted 4th round rookie quarterback who wasn't on anyone's radar as a starter in 2022. To his credit he's been fine and hasn't made any major mistakes in his unexpected playing time. However, he was heavily managed by the coaching staff in a loss and he had to do next to nothing in a blow out win. He's also benefitted from a dominant running game that has averaged 170 yards over the last two games.

Zappe's efficiency has been nice but he's averaging 143 passing yards and 1 TD per game. If he gets the chance, let's see what he looks like playing from behind or in a shootout before we start labelling him as scary. Right now, he isn't scaring anyone, if for no other reason then we haven't seen enough of him yet. Which ideally won't even be the case. Mac Jones is the franchise quarterback and nothing has happened to change that. Once Jones is 100% again he's the starter. To this point I think Zappe has shown he's probably a capable backup, which is an improvement on my initial projection, but he hasn't yet proven he's going to be a capable starter.

I'd spend a 3rd or 4th on a capable career bu in a second. I know that might sound high for some but not when you look at the average 3rd RD pick combined with how many games starters miss nowadays.

I think Zappe could get there, we'll see. I have no problem spending on that position when you factor in missed games, practice/film room habits, chemistry and smarts.

 

[Tunescribe]

One of the first things out of BB's mouth when talking to the team after the game: "good ball security"...

Look at Zappe next to Hobbit Bob. No way he's 6 feet tall, I'd say about 5-10.