When most people think of Buffalo Bills’ second-year quarterback Nate Peterman, they wince at the thought of him throwing five interceptions in his first NFL start. Peterman made his debut against the Los Angeles Chargers last year and tossed five picks in the first half. Tyrod Taylor took over in the second half. With Taylor now with the Cleveland Browns, Peterman has a decent shot at redeeming himself and winning the Bills’ starting job.
According to CBS Sports, Peterman performed well in Bills’ Mini-Camp last week. Here is why Peterman deserves another chance at being Buffalo's first-string quarterback.
Peterman’s first NFL game is not all his fault
When Bills’ coach Sean McDermott decided to pull Taylor in Week 11 of the 2017 season and have Peterman start, the rookie was thrust into a high-pressure situation. Buffalo was barely holding onto a playoff berth with a 6-5 record. Peterman’s first game was played on the Los Angeles Chargers’ turf. The Chargers had top of the line pass rushers last season, which made the job harder for the newbie quarterback.
Defensive ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram upped the pressure on Peterman. While five interceptions are bad, one pick bounced off a wide receiver’s hands. Another pick resulted from Buffalo’s offensive line missing a block. One thing is clear, a quarterback should not be judged by one game.
Quarterback growing pains are expected
Growing pains are a natural part of a quarterback’s development. However, Peterman appears to have taken a step forward with his mini-camp performance. According to the CBS Sports, the former Pitt Panther went 11 for 13 on his passes last Tuesday and threw a touchdown. He has been sharing first-team reps with A.J. McCarron, a former Cincinnati quarterback Buffalo signed during the offseason.
The Bills also drafted Josh Allen seventh overall in the draft. Known for his great athleticism and incredible arm strength, Allen’s accuracy is something that has many sports analysts and fans skeptical. When looking at Allen’s completion percentage on ESPN, he connected on only 56 percent of his passes during his last two seasons at Wyoming college. In contrast, Sports Reference listed Peterman’s completion percentage at 61 percent during his junior and senior year at Pitt. Both Peterman and Allen have a quick release on the ball.
With the quarterback competition still a three-way race between Peterman, Allen, and McCarron, Peterman can steal the job if he does well enough in training camp this summer. May the best man win.