The Buffalo Bills did more scouting on quarterbacks while preparing for the 2013 NFL Draft than coach Doug Marrone ever had experienced. The decision to select EJ Manuel in the first round partially was due to the regularity with which nasty weather whips Ralph Wilson Stadium late in the season. Even for a man who coached down the road at Syracuse, throwing the ball into the Buffalo wind seemed like a big concern. "I remember when I first got the job here in Buffalo, and I had been up here and played up here before, and I got out of the car in January and the wind I was like, 'Wow.' I never realized how windy it was that time of the year," Marrone said Tuesday, via BuffaloBills.com. Manuel set himself apart from other prospects after impressing coaches when he threw well during a thunderstorm at a private workout with the Bills' brass in Tallahassee, Fla. Marrone said the Bills not only scouted how the potential draft picks played in poor weather -- the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl wasn't flattering for Geno Smith and Ryan Nassib -- they also noticed common characteristics among good poor-weather quarterbacks, big paws. "We went back and researched all the teams that played in the Northeast in the bad weather and all the success they had with quarterbacks and the common traits that they had," Marrone said. "They were big and had big hands and were able to throw the ball in tough weather and that's what we were looking at." Source: NFL.com
If I were a GM and looking at potential candidates to be my "franchise QB," if want to see all if them throw in the wind and rain conditions. I'm actually kind of surprised teams don't try this or try to at the very least simulate throwing the wet football.
You know what they say about a guy with big hands... It means he's a first round lock. Sick bastards. Alex Smith was knocked for his tiny fumble prone hands but I believe he played rather well in Buffalo.
Well, unfortunately for bills fans, Manuel may have these positives but also may have many negatives just based upon the bills poor draft history. I suppose hr could be the next Ben Roethlisberger but history is not on their side
