By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
Starting Rob Johnson at quarterback was the best move for the Buffalo Bills. In the second half of the season, Doug Flutie has played very average football.
Each week, I watch the same tape that the Buffalo coaches and players are seeing. The New York Giants had no business beating the Bills, but the reason they did was Flutie's limitations. They had five big-play opportunites that required a quarterback to be able to throw the ball downfield, and Flutie couldn't do it with any accuracy. That limits them as an offense.
The following week against New England, when the Patriots played two deep safeties and Flutie dropped back to pass, the safeties didn't even move. That tells me two things: The Patriots had no respect for the deep ball, and they were playing to what Flutie does best, throwing the quick slant routes or run around.
I like what Flutie stands for and how he plays the game. But his limitations hinder the Bills' opportunity to win a championship. People say Johnson's game against Indianapolis last weekend was insignificant, but that's untrue. Every game is significant. The Colts needed to win that game as much as Buffalo needed to win the game. Johnson did exactly what Indianapolis was afraid of him doing. The Colts said Johnson created more problems than Flutie. Johnson killed the Colts with his ability to throw the ball down the field.
Now the Bills can threaten the entire field. That means the other team has to run different coverages. With Flutie, teams don't need to cover the entire field. They can just play 11 close to the line of scrimmage. That's what the game tapes show.
The Bills have the No. 1 defense in the NFL and an adequate running game. If they could get big plays in the passing game, they have a good chance to win. With Flutie, it won't happen; with Johnson, it will. Defensive coordinators fear Johnson more than Flutie. Fans see Flutie running around and making spectacular 10-yard runs. That's great, but it won't win a championship.
Flutie doesn't have a strong arm and is not very accurate. With Flutie's serious limitations, it would be like going into a gun fight with a knife. You can't win that way. Teams have to fight fire with fire, and the Bills bring fire with Johnson at quarterback.
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By Sean Salisbury
Special to ESPN.com
I like Rob Johnson's ability at quarterback, but I think Doug Flutie should be starting this week against Tennessee.
Johnson will be a great quarterback in the NFL. He moves well and has an outstanding arm, throwing the ball vertically better than Flutie does. He would start for 80 percent of the teams in the league. The difference is that Flutie started 15 games and won 10.
Flutie has done for the Bills what he did last year. He has been inconsistent at times, but if the Bills weren't going to start him, they should have made a move much earlier than Week 17. That would get Johnson more snaps.
Johnson had a good game against the Colts, but the decision should have been made at the beginning of December, not the beginning of January. I'm surprised because I didn't think Wade Phillips would do that. First, he says he was going to rest Flutie. Then, he puts Johnson on display, and Johnson plays well. Then, he benches his starter after 15 games.
I don't think Phillips' decision is good for the rhythm of the team. The Bills might beat the Titans by 30 points, but if they don't, it's going to lead to controversy. If Johnson struggles, what do you do -- give him a quick hook and go back to Flutie? If Flutie struggled, Phillips could go to the bench and people would think the move was warranted.
Nobody should overlook the size of Flutie's heart and his ability to make plays. In terms of talent, Johnson is a better player, but I don't think he is a better playmaker than Flutie. Flutie can make things happen.
Flutie's size has always been a question, but in two years in the NFL, he has proven that people shouldn't bet against him. In the long run, Johnson might be a better football player, but the Bills might disrupt the flow of the football team with a change to Johnson.
Flutie deserved better. Phillips' decision might lead to some dissension in the locker room. If the Bills win, there won't be any dissension. But if they struggle, which is highly possible on the road at Tennessee, the switch to Johnson could divide the team.
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