Buffalo Bills coach defends EJ Manuel
By Cory Buck
Quarterback EJ Manuel hasn’t set the NFL on fire in his second preseason to date. After a mediocre 2013 season for the Buffalo Bills even by a rookie’s standards, it appears he’s closer to taking a small step forward rather than a leap in 2014. However, head coach Doug Marrone sees nothing wrong with that reality, assuring reporters that he has full confidence in Manuel.
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“We have to have people around him playing well,” Marrone said, per WGR 550 in Buffalo, “there’s no doubt about that. There are things that go on that are very difficult to see, sometimes people aren’t where they should be and it’s the same old story, when you win he gets too much credit and when you lose, he gets too much of the blame.”
This might become an issue later in the year if Manuel’s play doesn’t improve. As much as one likes confidence in a player, Marrone’s defense of Manuel will ring hollow if EJ can’t at least improve his numbers and help the team improve on its 6-10 finish last year. For now though, Marrone isn’t worried.
“We’re going to progress with him, he’s not going to turn around and be a franchise guy overnight, that doesn’t happen often in this league, we’re going to work with him, we’re going to stick with him, I’m going to support him 110 percent and we’re going to get him better.”