After solid ‘06, what can Bills’ Losman do for an encore?

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, June 28, 2007  |  Comments( 40 )

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Since entering the NFL as a first-round pick (22nd overall) in the 2004 draft, the Buffalo Bills' J.P. Losman has been one of the league's most highly scrutinized young quarterbacks. Whether what has seemed like downright disdain from fans and media comes from the California native's perceived cocky attitude or something else, it's safe to say he's far from a golden-boy QB. In other words, nobody's confusing the 25-year-old with someone like Tom Brady or even Chad Pennington.

Entering his fourth season with the Bills, the pressure on Losman is greater than ever. There are no excuses why he shouldn't have a breakout year, especially considering how promising his 2006 was. In his first full campaign as the starting signal-caller, Losman completed an impressive 62.5 percent of pass attempts for 3,051 yards, 19 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and a solid 84.9 efficiency rating. Even more impressive, perhaps, was the durable Losman's ability to stay healthy and take every offensive snap for the Bills behind one of the league's flimsiest offensive lines.

In 2007 things are looking up for Losman, who's operating within offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild's system for the second straight year. He has a three-headed running attack -- Marshawn Lynch, Dwayne Wright and Anthony Thomas -- buoyed by two promising rookies and a steady veteran. That must seem more enticing for Losman than former starter Willis McGahee, a bickering, hesitant, one-dimensional back whom Buffalo jettisoned in a trade with Baltimore back in March. Both Lynch and Wright can block, unlike McGahee, and they're dependable enough to actually catch some passes -- again, unlike McGahee.

Adding to the improved backfield is an O-line that should have a great left side. The Bills already had Pro Bowl-caliber LT Jason Peters, and they spent big bucks (seven years, $49 million) during free agency to secure guard Derrick Dockery, a former Washington Redskin who will line up next to Peters.

The best news for Bills fans is that Losman looked terrific during the team's organized team activities and minicamp during the spring. The 6-foot-2, 217-pounder found his receivers with pinpoint accuracy (particularly stud No. 1 wideout Lee Evans and slot man Josh Reed), barely allowing any passes to even touch the ground.

If that progress continues into September and beyond, there's no reason to believe the ex-Tulane star won't cement his place as one of the game's most dependable starting QBs in '07. In the event that doesn't happen, though, Losman -- who has two years remaining on his original rookie contract -- will face heat from first-year third-round pick Trent Edwards, a very promising yet slightly unpolished Stanford product whom the Bills passed up need players (Cal cornerback Daymeion Hughes, for instance) to take this past April with the 92nd choice.

Indeed, then, the heat is on Losman. Whether he can rise to the challenge will likely be Buffalo's biggest storyline of the upcoming season.

RealFootball365.com: Where there's no such thing as an offseason for Buffalo Bills football.
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CommentsComments: 40  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Murph-Dogg		03:49 AM
06/29/2007
It's great to hear some positives about Losman and that he has looked great so far in OTA's. It would be nice to seem him ...
No.2
Neil		03:57 AM
06/29/2007
The heat is always on a NFL QB until he proves that he can win consistently and stay on the field if he does (see D.McNabb). Even ...
No.3
palladin		05:11 AM
06/29/2007
Even though your article was somwhat positive for JP, I think it's somwhat off the mark. Yes JP looked good in OTS's but everyone ...
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