The Sports Xchange

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — It’s all about the quarterback at St. John Fisher College. What else is new for the Bills, right?

Isn’t it always about the never-ending search for a competent player at the game’s most important position for this franchise that has missed the playoffs 15 years in a row?

What’s different about 2015? Unlike past years, when one quarterback was trying to prove himself as the undeniable starter or two guys battling to win the job, new coach Rex Ryan has opened the competition three-fold as EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor will take turns with the first string in an effort to determine who will start opening day against the Indianapolis Colts.

With so much talent at the skill positions — newcomers LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay and Jerome Felton join Sammy Watkins, Robert Woods, Chris Hogan and Fred Jackson — the Bills could make some serious noise this year if their quarterback can simply not screw things up and just distribute the ball to everyone with some consistency.

However, Manuel, Cassel and Taylor aren’t exactly creating much of a buzz because none of them is particularly accomplished. Manuel, the team’s first-round pick in 2013, has started just 14 games in two years. He lost much of his rookie year to injury, then was benched after four games in 2014 and never saw the field again as he watched Kyle Orton lead the Bills to a 9-7 record.

“It doesn’t fire me up,” Manuel said of his many doubters. “If I continue to focus on what I need to do to get better, I think that’s what matters for me. I really don’t buy into the extra stuff being said. I just focus on what I need to focus on.”

Cassel, who came to Buffalo in a trade from Minnesota, has started for the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and Vikings — in other words, he is really nothing more than a journeyman. During his first 10 NFL seasons, he has a starting record of 33-38.

“There’s always going to be critics out there, but I think my best football is ahead of me and I’m excited about the opportunity,” the 33-year-old said. “Everybody is going to have an opinion; I have to go out there and earn it and prove to the coaches and everybody else that I deserve the opportunity to play.”

Taylor, acquired via free agency from Baltimore, is the great unknown. He has thrown 35 NFL passes, all in mop-up duty behind Joe Flacco, but he flashes remarkable athleticism and a strong arm, so the Bills aren’t quite sure what they have.

“I know what I’m capable of; it’s my job to prove it to the coaches,” Taylor said. “I think they’re aware; but, as long as I continue to keep working and impress them every day, at the end of the day the coaches will decide.”

Ryan has remained as neutral as Switzerland on the quarterback dilemma because he doesn’t want to have a bias heading into camp.

“The No. 1 thing is to pick the right guy,” Ryan said after minicamp in June. “Is time on our side a little bit? Yes, it is. In an ideal world, would you already have your quarterback named by now? Yeah, that’s an ideal situation. But, you know what? We’re not there. We’re in an ideal situation to have competition at that spot and I welcome it.”

Ryan, of course, knows all too well what it’s like to have an unsettled situation at quarterback. He just spent the last two years with Geno Smith and Michael Vick in New York; and, before that, Mark Sanchez spent four years under Ryan going up and down like a yo-yo.

“I think they all have something to prove,” Ryan said of his new quarterbacks. “How they’re going to be in this system, we’re going to find out. Some quarterbacks flourish in certain systems, and I believe all three guys will have a chance to be successful. I hope that’s the case. And hopefully that decision is going to be tough, on a good note, not that this guy wins it by default.”

CAMP CALENDAR

July 29: Rookies and veterans report

July 31: First practice

Aug. 17-18: Joint practices with the Browns at St. John Fisher College.

Aug. 25: Camp ends

–Team strength: Defensive line.

The Bills have three Pro Bowlers up front in Mario Williams, Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus, and the fourth man, Jerry Hughes, is coming off a 14-sack season. The Bills can generate pressure with these four, but they will be augmented by the blitz packages that Rex Ryan likes to use, so this group could be even more effective.

–Breakout player: Cornerback Stephon Gilmore.

The 2012 first-round draft choice has been a solid performer in his first three seasons, but he could really blossom in Ryan’s defense. There’s a lot of pressure put on the cornerbacks in this scheme, and Gilmore will be expected to be a lockdown cover man in the mold of Darrelle Revis. He probably won’t be that good, but he has the size and skillset to approach Revis’ effectiveness.

–Work in progress: Offensive line.

Last year, Buffalo’s offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL. Right guard Erik Pears and the left guard merry-go-round of Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson and Kraig Urbik was simply woeful, and that brought down center Eric Wood as well. Left tackle Cordy Glenn regressed in his third year, and rookie right tackle Seantrel Henderson was barely average. The Bills signed Richie Incognito to play left guard, drafted John Miller in the third round and immediately plugged him in at right guard, and 2014 second-round pick Cyrus Kouandjio put together a solid offseason and will go to training camp ahead of Henderson at right tackle. If this group comes through and can excel in Ryan’s well-advertised power running game, the quarterbacks should find a new level of comfort in the passing game.