The Buffalo Bills might not be the media's favorite team, but right now they have a legitimate quarterback competition waging on in training camp. Journeyman Kevin Kolb is facing off against rookie EJ Manuel who appears to be looking more impressive by the day. As training camp kicks off for the Bills, both general manager Doug Whaley and head coach Doug Marrone say Manuel has that "it factor".
Kolb is currently on his seventh year in the NFL with 21 starts under his belt. His best season came in 2011 with the Arizona Cardinals when he threw for 1,955 yards and nine touchdowns. He followed that up with a rib injury in 2012 that caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Kolb's NFL career has shown enough flashes of talent that keep teams thinking he can be a starter in the right situation.
Buffalo was supposed to be that situation, but so far, rookie Manuel is winning over the coaches and front office. While with Florida State in 2012, Manuel threw for 3,397 and 23 touchdowns. It is clear he was drafted to be the future of the Bills, but that might happen sooner rather than later.
Marrone is prepared to name a starter exactly 10 days before the season begins. He is not about to say now who that starter will be.
"You like to sit there as a coach and say you'd like that decision to come out in front of you," Marrone said. "But again, really if you could get 10 to 12 days prior to that first game, that's when you're going to get pressed for time and have to make a decision on a quarterback. Because that's when you're going to start preparing - 10 days out for that first game."
Whaley has taken notice of Manuel since Day 1. He told reporters that the NFL and the Buffalo Bills were not too big for Manuel and he carried himself well. The team is just waiting to see if he can handle NFL blitz packages and increased pressure that comes with being a professional. According to Whaley, he has done a great job so far.
Kolb was originally brought in to help with the rebuilding phase of the team, but the best answer might be going with Manuel. Kolb puts the Bills in position to win a few games based on his overall experience, but Manuel is poised to be the poster boy in Buffalo for years to come. Marrone believes Manuel can be a duel threat quarterback once the kinks are ironed out. When they are, Kolb should prepare to take a back seat.
