No controversy, but Bills’ Losman still eases second-string fears

By Anthony Bialy  |   Sunday, August 24, 2008  |  Comments( 120 )

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It shouldn’t be that surprising that Buffalo Bills quarterback J.P. Losman looked sharp in Indianapolis on Sunday: He did accumulate over 3,000 passing yards while starting all 16 games for a troubled offense during 2006, which wasn’t even an Olympics ago. While fond memories of the Torino Games were eclipsed in the minds of Bills fans by Losman’s promising full season, his struggles last year overthrew subsequent hopes. Still, he showed against the Colts that he can do a fair job with help from both teammates and his coordinator, a promising sign for the offense even if happened too late for a player already relegated to the reserves.

For one, Losman and favorite target Lee Evans looked like Peaches and Herb, as the obviously comfortable Wisconsin product picked up 44 yards on five grabs; a pro who’s going to do his job no matter who happens to be throwing, Evans was nonetheless obviously feeling so good after being reunited with the onetime first-stringer.

Losman played well even as Josh Reed had a lapse or two, as when he ended the Bills’ opening drive with a sigh-inducing drop. He once again forgot his receiving checklist’s order: Catch, then look downfield. It’s the sort of mental error that can’t be blamed on returning from injury. And he set back his team a total of 24 yards on the next offensive play, picking up a 10-yard penalty that rendered Marshawn Lynch’s 14-yard rush nonexistent.

But he got himself 6 yards on the next snap with a nice catch and soon after turned a third down into a first with a 15-yard reception on a third and 14; it washes out, and it would be nice if he exhibits more consistency than balance starting Week 1.

Meanwhile, a receiver temporarily promoted thanks to injuries did well with the chance: Justin Jenkins got eight special teams tackles in 2007, and he’s going to have a chance to track down passes as well as punt and kick returners this year if he continues to play like he did. He looked sharp on both of his first-half catches, stretching for extra yards on the first and reeling in a thorny pass over the middle before dashing for a little extra field on the second.

Jenkins is entering his fifth season out of college; while his only receptions in that time came during his campaign with the defunct NFL Europa’s Hamburg Sea Devils last year, his showing may mean he’ll get a chance to catch passes near Hamburg, N.Y., this season as the Bills’ final wideout.

Making his case for time on the ground was rookie back Xavier Omon, as his 17 yards on six carries included a fine dive for points to cap an 18-play, 93-yard drive that lasted about three and a half days. He was just one of the runners and catchers who collectively looked as adept as their temporary starting quarterback.

It hasn’t always been such clear sailing for Losman, who sometimes exacerbated lousy circumstances with dubious actions despite occasionally showing off his potential. A dysfunctional offense has often been partly to blame for Losman’s struggles, like watching Dustin Hoffman try to act in that disaster movie about the infectious monkey: One can only do so much in a lousy environment. At the same time, his bouts with tentativeness, shady decisions, and scattershot throws infuriated followers; despite that, the Tulane man looked better Sunday night playing with a settled group in a clever system.

There’s no quarterback debate, as the staff likes Trent Edwards’ style and attitude; they not only took part in drafting the second-year Stanford grad but have also obviously been pleased with his upside and demonstrated flashes of proficiency. And a good preseason showing shouldn’t provoke radical change, anyway, as the studious Dick Jauron isn’t the type to make an impulse decision in a blowing-rent-money-on-Mega-Millions-tickets manner. He’s going to stick with the sensible course he’s laid out instead of potentially gambling it away.

But it’s nice to know that Losman can put together a competent performance, even though he already did so as recently as two years ago and might never do so again in a true game for Buffalo.
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CommentsComments: 120  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
06:20 AM
08/25/2008
Unless Losman wants to get closer to home (CA); he's better off here. Anywhere else he could go to would not guarantee him a ...
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No.2
LGB		06:35 AM
08/25/2008
Losman could probably start in Minnesota, Baltimore, Miami or Kansas City (maybe the Bears or 49ers too). Would the Bills trade ...
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No.3
8and8Forever		06:56 AM
08/25/2008
1) McKelvin won't be starting for a while and making his mistake during preseason (and getting reamed by the coaches and himself ...
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