Trent Edwards has compiled a 93.5 passer rating while leading the Bills to a 4-0 start.
Ed Wolfstein/Icon SMI
Will
Trent Edwards become the league's next great quarterback? That's what some scouts are pondering after watching the rapid development of the former Stanford passer whom many of them whiffed on in the 2007 draft. The third-round selection has taken his game to another level, and the Bills' surprising 4-0 start can be largely attributed to his growth.
"He is a really good player," said a longtime NFL defensive coach whose team faced Edwards last season. "He has good physical tools and manages the game well. But I think that his football intelligence is his most impressive attribute."
Edwards has a 9-4 record as a starter, completing 65.5 percent of his passes and sporting an impressive 93.5 passer rating, both better than his 2007 numbers of 56.1 percent and 70.4, respectively. Moreover, he has thrown four touchdowns passes and only two interceptions this season. A year ago he had seven TD throws and eight interceptions.
While it would be tempting to attribute Edwards' success to a conservative game plan that rarely incorporates deep throws, the fact is Edwards' yards-per-attempt (7.8) ranks seventh in the league. Last season the Bills completed 33 passes over 20 yards. Through four games, they already have 14 completions over 20 yards, and the increase in explosive plays has helped boost their scoring average to 27.2 points a game, up from 15.8 last season.
Most offenses attempt to protect young quarterbacks by featuring an assortment of short-and-intermediate routes in their game plans. The strategy allows inexperienced passers to compile gaudy completion percentages, but the lack of downfield throws encourages defenders to clamp down on underneath throws and often leaves the quarterback with tighter windows in which to complete passes. Therefore, completing the long ball is essential for any offense that wants to move the ball consistently.
"You want to have those explosive plays, and in order to have those plays you have to throw it deep down the field and be accurate with it," Edwards told
The Buffalo News earlier this season.
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Edwards stepping up in Buffalo - Bucky Brooks - SI.com