EJ Manuel stakes claim to Bills starting gig with strong showing
Rex Ryan said it's finally time to select the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback.
And the decision won't be an easy one.
And that's just the way the Bills coach wanted it, Ryan said after EJ Manuel made a case to reclaim his old job in a 43-19 preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night.
"This is the ideal situation we had talked about. This is exactly what I wanted. And all three guys played to their abilities," Ryan said, upon announcing he intends to spend Sunday having a lengthy discussion with his staff to determine whether Manuel, Tyrod Taylor or Matt Cassel will be the team's season-opening starter. "The decision will be made and we'll move forward."
Ryan wouldn't say when he intends to announce his decision, and wouldn't provide any hint on which way he's leaning.
All he would reveal is that fourth-string quarterback Matt Simms will start Thursday in Buffalo's preseason finale at Detroit.
In five-plus series, Manuel went 7 of 8 for 170 yards and two touchdowns, a 67-yarder to tight end Charles Clay and a 37-yarder to Tobias Palmer.
Manuel is leaving the decision up to the Bills brain trust.
"I don't know, we'll see," the Bills' 2013 first-round draft pick said, when asked if he felt he's done enough. "It's coach's decision. But I know I played well."
Taylor went 12 of 13 for 122 yards and scored on a 20-yard run. Cassel went 6 of 7 for 38 yards in just two series for Buffalo (2-1)
For Pittsburgh (1-3), Michael Vick showed no signs of rust in making his preseason debut four days after signing with the Steelers.
Taking over for Ben Roethlisberger in the first quarter, Vick completed a 63-yard pass up the right sideline to Martavis Bryant on his first play from scrimmage. Vick finished 4 of 5 for 116 yards and was sacked once in two series.
Vick is competing with Landry Jones for the No. 2 job after backup Bruce Gradkowski sustained a season-ending injury to his left hand in 24-19 win over Green Bay last week.
Observations from the game:
SLOW-STARTING D:
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin isn't pleased with how his starting defense allowed 128 yards of offense and two touchdowns on the first six plays from scrimmage.
"We continue to be slow starters and that's disturbing," Tomlin said of a defense that went through a major offseason overhaul. "Some of those guys, quite frankly, look like the walking dead."
Tomlin wouldn't identify who, but the Steelers allowed a 41-yard run to Fred Jackson on the opening play. And then linebacker Ryan Shazier slipped in coverage, allowing Clay to get open on his 67-yard TD.
ACTION JACKSON:
After missing three weeks with an injured hamstring, Jackson was ready to run. After stepping out of bounds at the 2 on his first carry, Jackson got two more chances and scored with a 1-yard dive over the middle.
Not bad for the 34-year-old, who finished with five carries for 48 yards.
"I still have a lot to prove," Jackson said. "And today was a step in the right direction."
KICKING WOES:
Steelers: Pittsburgh might be searching for another kicker after Garrett Hartley hurt his right hamstring during a kickoff in the first quarter. Tomlin would only say Hartley's injury "doesn't look good." The Steelers signed the seventh-year player on Aug. 11 after Shawn Suisham sustained a season-ending injury to his left knee in the Hall of Fame game against Minnesota.
Bills: Dan Carpenter missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt wide left and also pushed an extra-point attempt wide right.
INJURIES: Bills WR Marquise Goodwin is out indefinitely with broken ribs after being hurt on a 19-yard catch. CB Stephon Gilmore hurt his shoulder, but test results revealed he did not sustain a concussion. WR/Returner Austin Willis sustained a concussion on a punt return.
ROOKIE WATCH:
Bills: CB Ronald Darby struggled in coverage. He had poor position on Bryant's 67-yard catch. The second-round draft pick was also flagged twice for pass interference: a 35-yard penalty against Bryant, and another in the end zone against Bryant.
Steelers: First-round pick, linebacker Bud Dupree, had one tackle before leaving the game with a right foot injury.
