Rex Ryan has a man-crush on Tyrod Taylor.
The Buffalo Bills head coach couldn’t have been happier with the debut of new starting quarterback Taylor, who shined while leading the team to a 27-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1.
Speaking with reporters about his favorite new quarterback, Ryan was effusive in his praise about Taylor, noting his ability to make plays with his legs.
“At the end of the day,” Ryan said, per The Buffalo News. “this guy’s got some magic to him with his legs.”
Obviously, Taylor’s ability to run the ball gives Buffalo an added element on offense, and it’s one offensive coordinator Greg Roman is familiar with utilizing, thanks to his time in San Francisco with Colin Kaepernick. On Sunday, his new project quarterback ran for 41 yards on nine carries.
Taylor was equally impressive as a passer, completing 14-of-19 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and no turnovers.
Ryan gushed about Taylor’s overall game, noting his dual-threat skills as particularly dynamic.
“He beats you with his arm,” Ryan said. “He’s smart. You can’t trick him. I mean, it’s hard to trick him. Obviously, he has that added dimension with his legs. You know, he’s great. He’s got a great feel for it. … The great ones, they just got that presence. He has a presence to him.”
It’s easy to proffer praise after a brilliant performance. However, it’s important to point out Indianapolis’ defense isn’t exactly known for shutting down opposing offenses, and the Bills played at home in Week 1. It was the perfect opportunity for Taylor to have a big game, and he didn’t disappoint.
With New England coming to town on Sunday for Week 2, Taylor will have another opportunity to showcase his talents. It will be interesting to see what kind of comments Ryan has for his quarterback if he ends up struggling against Bill Belichick’s defense, which wouldn’t be surprising.