Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor ranks in the middle of the pack of starting quarterbacks in the NFL, according to analytics website Football Outsiders.
They evaulate quarterbacks according to a defense-adjusted yards-above-replacement (DYAR) measure, and Taylor has a 96 rating, which ranks 17th in the league. They also rank the quarterbacks according to the defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), and Taylor has a 6.5 rating, which ranks 16th.
Taylor has completed 53 of 79 passes for 671 yards, four touchdowns and one interceptions. He has a passer rating of 99.2 and basically is considered a running quarterback and game manager.
“Tyrod is multiple in what he can do obviously with the passing game and running game and just spreading the ball around,” Buffalo coach Sean McDermott said. “I thought he did a good job of that last week.”
The Falcons are worried about his ability to escape the pocket for runs and sometimes for deep throws down the field. He has rushed 24 times for 106 yards.
Taylor rushed for 580 yards and six touchdowns last season and 568 yards and four touchdowns in 2015.
“Obviously, he can run, so when we do pass rush, we’ve got to make sure we keep him in the pocket, collapse the pocket because he’s a dangerous runner and also can throw,” defensive end Takkarist McKinley said. “So for us, we’ve just got to rush smart. You can’t rush wild because he’ll just scramble out and get the first down.”
Taylor is elusive in the open field.
“He does a wonderful job as far as being mobile and having a good arm as well,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “He’ll keep plays alive. You can rarely get him down on your first try. You just have to continue to pursue. When he’s one-on-one with a guy, it’s hard to get him down, especially when there is space.”
