AFC East player rankings
Tags: AFC East, Andy Levitre, Brian Moorman, C.J. Spiller, Eric Wood, Marcell Dareus, Ryan Fitzpatrick
ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker is listing his top 40 players in the division. So far he’s counted down from 40 to 21 and there are a handful of Bills players on the list.
Here’s the rundown of who has appeared on the AFC East Top 40 player list from the Bills.
Below is where the Bills are currently ranked from 21-40:
- No. 38 P Brian Moorman
- No. 32 RB C.J. Spiller
- No. 29 QB Ryan Fitzpatrick
- No. 27 C Eric Wood
- No. 25 DT Marcell Dareus
- No. 23 OL Andy Levitre
Bills WR hoping to hook up w/Fitz
One of Buffalo’s newest receivers, David Clowney, who is profiled on the home page at Buffalobills.com today, is going to be in Buffalo on a permanent basis starting next month. He’s hoping he can connect for some on the field time with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
“I’m going to be here. I have to report here March 1st,” Clowney told Buffalobills.com. ”Once I’m here hopefully Fitz will be up here and I’ll have the playbook all ready so I can get a jump on everything. Everybody else knows all the plays so hopefully Fitz will be up here and can help me out and make sure we’re on the same page for how he calls plays and so forth.”
Being a deep threat in the passing game, Clowney likes the fact that Fitzpatrick doesn’t hesitate to air it out.
“He’s not shy at all and I love it,” said Clowney.
Clowney is also encouraged by the fact that Buffalo’s most popular offensive set is the 4 WR, 1 back formation.
“For a receiver that’s heaven,” he said. ”At the end of the day by the grace of God I’m going to be here and I’ll be doing everything possible to help myself and help the team. At the end of the day I want to win and when we win I want to be a part of it.”
Fan Friday 2-10
Tags: Anthony Spencer, Buddy Nix, Chris Hairston, Courtney Upshaw, Demetrius Bell, Fan Friday, pass protection, Pierre Garcon, Robert Meacham, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Vinny Curry
Let’s get to another week of your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net. Keep them coming!
1 - Hi Chris,
Thanks, as always, for your helpful, informative coverage of our team. Setting injuries aside, it appears to me that the Bills have a potentially powerful offense. But no matter how good an offense is, it will not overcome a weak defense—note the Packers. Consequently, although I’d love to see the team improve at left tackle, I think it would make the most sense to focus the draft (and free agency) on acquiring a real pass rusher, help at linebacker, and perhaps a defensive back, with a good wide receiver as another priority. My belief is that if you dramatically improve the defense, given the potential excellence of Williams, Dareus and Kelsay, the team has an opportunity to go to the playoffs. I don’t suggest disregarding offensive tackles, but the priority, I think, should be on the defense. I’d appreciate your thoughts. Thanks.
Pat Courts
CB: I think the Bills front office has made it clear that improving the pass rush is the top priority this offseason. Where they choose to address it is the question. It could be free agency or the draft or both. The price for a proven pass rusher in free agency can get cost prohibitive pretty quick, but there might be a free agent or two that makes sense.
A guy I think would make a lot of sense is Dallas’ Anthony Spencer. Not a guy that’s going to cripple your cap like Mario Williams or possibly even Cliff Avril knowing there will be a line of teams knocking on his door. Spencer is coming off a down season, but has pass rush ability and would likely benefit with a move back to weakside DE in a 4-3 defense instead of OLB in a 3-4 (where he played in Dallas).
That’s where Spencer lined up in college at Purdue and would likely welcome an opportunity to play there again. Without production through the roof the past couple of years he might also be reasonably priced.
So I would anticipate that Buffalo will have that need thoroughly addressed by the time the draft is over and done with in late April.
2 - Hello Chris,
I listen to all of you radio appearances and appreciate all of your coverage on the website and just want to say thank you.
My question is: How you feel about Buffalo taking a guy like NO’s Robert Meachem or NYG’s Domenik Hixon in Free Agency? I see a relatively moderate price tag and a lot of upside. My rationale being that the Bill’s love small price tags that could return big dividends and there is also a proven track record that comes along with them. Other guys I like are INDY’s Pierre Garcon or Anthony Gonzalez who have a little size and hustle to them. INDY is rebuilding so I think we could get them relatively cheap. What are your thoughts? Do you think any of these could be a possibilty in the offseason?
Nick W,
Hammondsport, NY
CB: I think the biggest upside comes with Garcon and as such he’ll command the biggest price tag. Now Colts owner Jim Irsay has publicly stated that Garcon and Mathis are two of their free agents that they intend to re-sign. Knowing Reggie Wayne is probably out the door at 33-years old, Garcon could be enticed by that knowing he’d be the top target in Indy. Of course he also might be playing with a very talented, but nevertheless rookie QB. Does he want to go through a growing pain year?
Garcon can run and is freakishly strong on the ball, fitting Buddy Nix’s description of needing a guy that’s open even when he’s not open. Best of all he’ll turn 26 just before the 2012 season. So I’d put him at the top of your list. What I like best about him is he had 70 catches last season without Manning.
Meacham offers the most speed. He runs a 4.4 flat and has 20 touchdowns over the past three seasons. That’s a pretty good number knowing Drew Brees spreads the ball around. He’s got the size the Bills are looking for at 6’2” 217. It’s just hard to definitively say he could take a leap in production as the team’s number 2 in Buffalo. That being said I think he’s a worthwhile risk and would welcome the chance to be a weekly number two instead of fighting to be the number three in New Orleans.
Domenik Hixon is a guy I’m not a big fan of. Only runs a 4.7 and is coming off a major knee injury. He might be even slower now and isn’t a physical guy on the outside. Anthony Gonzalez is another smaller guy. Super smart, but can’t stay healthy.
3 - Chris,
Last year most of the draft gurus were predicting that the Bills would draft the top rated outside linebacker, Von Miller. This year its OLB Courtney Upshaw. How does Upshaw compare to Von Miller?
LeeD
CB: Upshaw’s game is totally different than Miller’s. Miller is a pure pass rusher whose game is based on speed and quickness. Upshaw’s game is all power and strength. He’s not slow, but he’s not going to blow past guys off the ball. He’s going to drive them back into the QB or knock them on their wallet. Miller is probably more athletic, but Upshaw is a better all-around player in terms of playing the run and the pass.
Some teams even think he could be an OLB in a 3-4. I think that might be possible on the strong side, but I think he can handle DE in a 4-3 even though he’s only 6’1” and change. He’s just so thickly built I think he could hold up at the line.
4 - Hi Chris,
Really enjoy your coverage of the team. My question is: how much better do you think Fitzpatrick can be if he had more time in the pocket? The line played well this year, but I’m convinced the lack of sacks was more due to Fitz’s ability to get rid of the ball quickly. Is improving at LT a higher priority than another stud WR (assuming Stevie stays)?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
Ryan
Ramsey, NJ
CB: Thanks for the kind words. With respect to protection for Fitz you’re right, Chan Gailey’s offense is largely a timing attack. Oftentimes Fitz would get rid of the ball in less than two seconds by design. I think Chan likes using Fitz’s ability to diagnose defenses quickly to their advantage and get the ball in the hands of the playmakers as quickly as possible.
Now I suppose if you added a true deep threat to the passing game in free agency this offseason the team might be more inclined to further solidify the left tackle spot to improve protection that much more to allow more time for those deep routes to develop.
I asked Buddy Nix about whether he feels he has a defined answer at left tackle knowing Bell and Hairston flip-flopped all year due to injury. This was his initial answer, and his answer to my follow up question.
“Demetrius Bell has got all the tools. He’s got the good feet. He’s a good athlete. He’s what you look for at left tackle. The problem with Demetrius is injuries. He started the first four games for us and gets hurt. He missed eight and comes back and plays three and he ends up hurt again. He was rehabbing last year the whole year couldn’t practice all week. All those things enter into it.
“Chris Hairston I think can be a really good left tackle. He’s a rookie. It’s going to take him a little bit. He got some good experience this year. So we at least have a couple of possibilities at left tackle and those are the two. With his length and all that with Chris Hairston, he’s a smart guy and can be a left tackle and play over there and be serviceable for us. Demetrius it remains to be seen. We’re going to try to re-sign him. He’s up.”
Follow up question: Will those two options keep you from seeking a better option there?
“We’re going to draft a tackle if we can. If there’s one there is what I mean. If there’s one there that we think can play we’re going to draft a tackle. You can never have too many tackles. You can move a guy, now you can have exceptions to this, but it’s easier to move a guy from tackle to guard than guard to tackle obviously. So we draft tackles, we’re in pretty good shape at guard and center.”
5 – Chris,
First off great work covering our Buffalo Bills in the offseason. Every year you do a supreme job of getting information to Bills fans all over the nation and for that, thank you. My question is regarding the nature of our first two picks in the upcoming draft. I understand our primary need is to draft a player who can help our pass rush which I couldn’t agree with more. I agree with it so much that i was wondering what is the possibility of the Bills addressing their pass rush needs in both the first AND second round. I have been doing scouting of my own on defensive prospects and have seen Vinny Curry, DE from Marshall showing up on alot of up and coming lists. He is a fine physical specimen who has a whole college career of success (albeit in the FCS) and seems to have a tremendous upside. I think its safe to say if he was in the BCS he would be a first round pick. So Chris what do you think of Vinny and the possibility he last until the Bills second round pick.
Thanks So Much, GO BILLS!
Taylor – Gillespie, IL
CB: Glad you enjoy our coverage of the team. Thanks for your readership and viewership. Vinny Curry had a good week at the Senior Bowl. He’s a high motor guy with good strength and power. I don’t see him as all that different from Courtney Upshaw in terms of skill set, he just isn’t quite as powerful as Upshaw.
The knock on him is he doesn’t have the elite speed to beat NFL tackles around the corner with regularity so some teams don’t see him as a true RDE. A lot of scouts are projecting him to left end because he’s strong enough to hold up over there and offers enough pass rush ability to be productive down the line.
Some do have concerns that his pass rush repertoire is limited, which is what drops him to a second-round prospect. But if he tests well at the Combine he could move into the top half of round 2 because you know what you’re going to get from him every snap.
Fred staying in town
Bills RB Fred Jackson, who is patiently waiting on a new contract with Buffalo, is going to be in town for just about the rest of the NFL offseason.
There will be a few short trips made here and there with his wife, but other than that Jackson is going to be training in Buffalo this winter and spring
“Yeah I’m going to be here the whole time,” Jackson told Buffalobills.com.
Last offseason with the lockout keeping players away from One Bills Drive the players organized some workouts of their own. Knowing OTAs won’t get going until mid-May at the earliest, Jackson said there is a chance that some of the offensive players could get together again this offseason prior to formal team workouts.
“I talked to Fitz about that after we did it last year and we liked it,” said Jackson. ”We may do something. There’s always a possibility. I know guys like to do it and felt we got something out of the work we put in. There’s nothing set in stone, but it’s always a possibility.”
The players feel the time they spent working on their own away from the team facility last offseason served them well at the start of the 2011 season when they sprinted out to a 3-0 start.
Lee spoke with Fitz
Bills new QBs coach David Lee did speak with Ryan Fitzpatrick by phone after being hired and enjoyed the conversation. But before Lee can help make Fitzpatrick a more effective quarterback he’s got to master Chan Gailey’s offense.
“I had a real good visit with him,” said Lee. ”Don’t know when I’ll get to see him you know we got these new rules and they get to stay away from us for a long time but I’m not ready to see him yet anyway. I don’t enough about him or the offense to help him out right now.”
As we profiled in our home page story, Lee is known as a master technician when it comes to quarterbacks.
Fitz played with cracked ribs
There were a lot of theories as to what exactly was the reason for the slip in Ryan Fitzpatrick’s play for the Bills last season. It began in the second half of the season after their shutout win over Washington in Week 8. WR David Nelson provided a previously unknown reason why Fitz battled accuracy issues in the second half of the season, which were a contributing factor to a seven-game slide out of playoff contention.
Nelson said Friday at the Super Bowl site in Indianapolis that Fitzpatrick sustained cracked ribs in the Washington game after taking a vicious, but legal hit, from London Fletcher.
“A lot of people don’t know, but Fitz, during the Washington game, actually cracked a couple of ribs,” said Nelson. “So after that he was playing hurt.”
Fitzpatrick finished the game and did not miss another start the rest of the season, but the Bills won just one of their last 10 games.
Dareus on leadership
Tags: Fred Jackson, Kyle Williams, Marcell Dareus, Ryan Fitzpatrick
While injuries were largely chalked up as a main reason for Buffalo’s slide out of playoff contention in 2011, Marcell Dareus said it was the leadership they lost to injury that perpetuated the slide which went seven games.
“The locker room felt different,” Dareus said in a SiriusXM NFL Radio appearance Thursday. ”I can’t even explain it because I had never been through it. We tried to keep that fire going, but without our leaders in there like Kyle Williams. When he got hurt he went back home and he wasn’t there and then Fred Jackson went down. Those are our two captains and when those guys were gone it made it harder.”
Ryan Fitzpatrick called Jackson the heart and soul of the team, so his loss took a lot out of the Bills in terms of talent on the field as well as emotional leadership. Sensing a void in leadership, Dareus became more vocal himself down the stretch including some pre-game speeches.
When asked about whether he intends to take on more of a leadership role in 2012, Dareus didn’t shy away from it.
“I’m going to try my best,” he said. ”I lead by example, but with our captains down I felt like we needed a voice of reason in the room. So I stepped up and did the best I could for whoever was willing to listen and whoever was willing to follow.”
Fitz’s win vs. N.E. next on Top 10
Tags: Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Top 10 Performances of 2011
Ryan Fitzpatrick’s Week 3 performance in the comeback win over New England is the latest installment of the Top 10 Performances of 2011 and we’ve got a special guest to break the film down for us.
Bills head coach Chan Gailey was kind enough to sit down with Buffalobills.com and provide insight on why Fitzpatrick was able to orchestrate a 21-point comeback effort and consistently beat the blitz of the Patriots in the thrilling 34-31 victory, one of just three defeats suffered by New England in the 2011 regular season.
Fitz: We weren’t ready for success
Tags: 2011 season, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sirius NFL Radio
Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick appeared on Sirius NFL Radio Wednesday and was asked why the team faltered in the middle of the season with a seven-game losing streak that took them from first place in the AFC East to out of the playoff race in the span of two months.
“I guess we weren’t ready for it yet,” Fitzpatrick said. “We weren’t ready to be able to accept the fact that we were playing well and playing as the team that was on the top (of the AFC East).”
During their 5-2 start Bills head coach Chan Gailey did caution his team more than once that sometimes handling success is every bit as hard as dealing with adversity. In Fitzpatrick’s opinion the team struggled with their new found success and unfortunately slid back into their inconsistent doldrums. Then they were unable to dig their way out of the hole they created leading to a 6-10 finish.
Fitz is hopeful that the team learns from their mis-step with success come 2012.
“I think we take it as a learning experience and we try to move forward,” Fitzpatrick said. “This is a team that I think is going to get better and better. We have some stability, just in terms of the coaches are there, with the systems in place for another year, and we’ve got a lot of the same players, so we’re hoping that that stability really helps us.”
Fitz’s QBR numbers
ESPN came out with a new QB ranking formula that takes into account more of the situational aspects within a game when plays by a quarterback are made and weights them accordingly. It’s called Total QBR (QB rating) as it tries to modernize an effective means of rating quarterback play that goes beyond the seemingly outdated passer rating. Here’s how Fitz rated on ESPN’s system this past season.
Ryan Fitzpatrick ranked 18th in the league in Total QBR with a figure of 51.2. Ratings go on a scale from 0-100, so an average score is 50. The highest-rated QB under this statistical metric in the 2011 season was surprise, surprise, Aaron Rodgers. His Total QBR was 85.2 as he narrowly outrated Drew Brees (84.0).
Fitz’s top three performances from 2011 as rated by the Total QBR system were as follows
1 – Week 1 at KC – Total QBR – 86.4 (stats – 17-25 (68%) for 208 yards, 4 TDs)
2 – Week 8 vs. Wash. – Total QBR – 84.1 (stats - 21-27 (77.8%) for 262 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT)
3 – Week 3 vs. N.E. – Total QBR – 83.2 (stats - 27-40 (67.5%) for 369 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs)
Fan Friday 1-13
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Fan Friday, injured reserve, NFL free agency, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson
Time for your weekly questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net. Enjoy the holiday weekend Bills fans!
1 - Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for keeping us continuously updated. I have a question regarding Fitz: I still think he can be a top 10 QB — he reads things quickly, unlike some of our past QBs who perhaps had better physical attributes. But he has to be more consistent and cut down on the turnovers. To me, a top QB knows when to throw the ball away and go on to the next play, especially on 1st or 2nd down. I don’t recall EVER seeing Fitz do this. Do you know whether it is something that has been brought up to him, or whether they work on it in practice?
Thanks, Ray P.
CB: You’re right Fitz rarely throws the ball away, but in the words of Chan Gailey it’s a fine line that you walk with your quarterback. You want him to be aggressive, but you also want him to understand when to pick his spots. I think later in the season when Fitzpatrick’s interceptions became more numerous he was trying to compensate for the loss of talent around him. It’s my contention that he felt he had to try and make more plays. That led to him taking more chances in the passing game than he had earlier in the season. Eventually it’s going to come back to bite you. Like Buddy Nix and Gailey have both said, if they surround him with a deeper talent base and build a better defense on the other side of the ball, it will help to take the playmaking burden off of Fitz, thereby making him a more efficient and less turnover prone QB.
2 - Hey Chris,
Just one question. With the season now coming to an end for Buffalo I believe one of the topics on most Bills fans minds is our free agents and none seem more important than Stevie Johnson. Do you see any scenario where Stevie doesn’t get re-signed? He seems very adamant about staying here and it would seem crazy for the Bills to let him go.
Thanks again for all the good work! GO BILLS!
Korey
Ashville, NY
CB: Thanks for the kind words. I think the Bills recognize their quarterback is a better player with Johnson on the roster and I think Johnson realizes he’s a bona fide number one receiver here, which might not be the case in several other places. I’m going to remain optimistic that a deal get done especially in the wake of Buddy Nix’s comments this week that the end zone issues are behind them.
3 - Hi Chris,
Many thanks for keeping Bills fans informed over the course of the season. Your insight into many of the happenings often clears up things for those of us on the outside. Look forward to receiving your continued reports as this season comes to an end and we move into 2012. With that in mind what do you see the Bills going for in the early draft rounds? I expect them to continue to build on the defense as well as continue to get “bigger” in the draft. Also any free agents you feel they may go after?
Again many thanks.
Bryon B.
Plattsburgh, NY
CB: Glad you appreciate our coverage of the team on Buffalobills.com. Early rounds I see the Bills addressing their pass rush in the form of a defensive end because I’m of the belief that the defensive scheme will lean more heavily toward the 4-3. I see offensive tackle getting addressed early along with outside linebacker and cornerback.
4 - Chris,
Thank you for keeping us “Texas” folks updated on our Bills! Do you think that with the early season success, that free agents are more apt to sign with Buffalo? Will Buffalo have to continue the trend and pay above market value? It seemed that several of the newer veterans did some politicking to get other free agents to think about signing with the Bills. Your thoughts on this?
Seeing hope for 2012.
Kevin S. in Keller, Texas
CB: I could see the early season success being used as a selling point on behalf of the club. Chan Gailey tells it like it is to prospective free agents when they come and visit. He doesn’t sugar coat things. Players appreciate straight talk instead of ‘pie in the sky’ propaganda. Though the final record did not show it I think the Bills can convince some free agents that this team is on the upswing.
You’re right that Shawne Merriman did successfully recruit Nick Barnett and Kirk Morrison. Hopefully there will be others.
I think the Bills still view free agency as a process by which they can supplement their roster to fill holes. It’s not seen as the primary means of building a team. Knowing that’s the case I anticipate the Bills may make one notable impact signing along with a couple of tier 2 free agent type acquisitions. Buffalo’s front office typically does not like to get into bidding wars with other NFL clubs to sign players. They target specific players, contact them early in the process and hope to get a deal consummated as quickly as possible before other suitors come calling.
5 - Chris:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of putting players on Injured Reserve especially late in the year? I am curious as to why the Bills didn’t put certain players on IR late in the year when they knew the player/players were unable to play the rest of the year?
Thanks!
Joe Badaszewski
Blasdell
CB: You’re right that Kraig Urbik and Demetrius Bell, who both suffered knee injuries (torn meniscus), remained on the active roster for the final week of the season. With one game to play however, the need to subtract three players from the active roster and place them all on injured reserve to put it simply was unnecessary. Buffalo I-R’d TE Mike Caussin who had an even more serious knee injury and promoted OL Mike Jasper from the practice squad.
The Bills had a starting O-line at New England in Week 17 of Hairston, Levitre, Brown, Rinehart and Pears with Sam Young and Jasper on the bench. You usually only dress seven linemen for a game at the most anyway, so there was no need to I-R them with one game left in the season.
Fan Friday 1-6
Tags: 4-3 defense, Fan Friday, Fred Jackson, hurry up offense, Ryan Fitzpatrick
Alright Bills fans, the offseason is underway. As a reminder Buddy Nix is scheduled to address the media on Monday. We’ll have full coverage for you on Buffalobills.com. Now to your questions from AskChris@bills.nfl.net.
1 -Hey Chris,
I hate that I’m looking at the draft already but what do u think is the most important position we should be looking at in the upcoming draft and if RG3 was available could he be drafted by us?
CB: I think with all the momentum that Robert Griffin III is entering the draft process with he’ll be long gone when the Bills pick 10th. A lot of prognosticators have him pegged for Cleveland at 4th overall. I’m not convinced he’s a fit for that West Coast offense knowing he makes very few plays in the pocket. I think the Bills should stay the course with Fitz and get a pass rusher first at 10 and go from there. If not then an end the debate left tackle prospect that starts from day one.
2 -Hey Chris,
Thank you for your time and dedication in all you do for us Bills fans.
My question is in regards to the 3-4 defense vs the 4-3 defense for the Bills moving forward. As most are aware, in order to run a successful 3-4 defense it is imperative to have a great NT and a pass rushing OLB that can consistently get to the QB. While we have the former in Dareus, we lack the latter, which is arguably the hardest to find, whether it be FA or the draft. In addition, with Kyle Williams being our best defensive player, while certainly adequate due to his tenacity, he is not an ideal fit for the NT or 5-tech positions.
With that said, it occurs to me that the 4-3 defense affords the Bills to have both great defensive tackles on the field, in their ideal positions, at the same time. Furthermore, it would seem to me that it would be easier to find a 4-3 DE (ie Quenton Coples or Whitney Mercilus) than a 3-4 OLB, that may take longer to teach how to play the position.
If the Bills were to make the transition at this stage, in my opinion I don’t think there would have to be too much a tranformation, personnel-wise, because #1- the Bills run out of 40 fronts quite often, and #2- unlike the Tampa 2 defense that was run under Dick Jauron, which required smaller faster players, this new 4-3 defense would take on a more traditional form where bigger bodies are used (which is mostly what we have now).
I just feel that the 3-4 defense requires so many solid linebackers, of which we clearly do not have. The strength of the 4-3 defense, however, is the defensive line, where the Bills have plenty of solid depth and talent.
My question to you is, wouldn’t it make sense to focus on the strengths of the defense instead of constantly searching and hoping you find what you are looking for?
Thank you again,
Matt, Kingston NY
CB: A well thought out query. All I will say is that with Wannstedt now the defensive coordinator I’m pretty confident you’ll get your wish. And if it does come to pass I would envision Merriman as a pass rushing DE with a draft prospect or two on the way in as well.
3 - The Bills teams of the early 90s that went to 4 straight Super Bowls had great success with the “hurry up” -or “no huddle” offense, as devised by Ted Marchibroda and run by Jim Kelly.
Fitz does seem a bit laid back -slow on the draw. I don’t see why Gailey won’t try it.
Lee D
CB: They did try it in the season finale and it worked quite well against a leaky Pats defense as they rolled up 21 points in the first quarter.
The reason they didn’t turn to it more in the 2011 season was because their defense was so subpar. When you run a hurry up or no huddle offense you need to have at least a decent defense because you’re going to go three-and-out on occasion. Even if you score you’re scoring quickly and putting your defense back out there that much faster and at times for more possessions per game with that offensive approach.
Knowing Buffalo’s defense this past season set a record for most yards given up in a season in team history, imagine if you sped up that process and put the defense out there even more with a hurry up attack? Doesn’t sound all that wise to me.
I do think Fitz is good in that style of attack, but until the defense has proven itself as an improved unit then it’s not a prudent approach on offense.
4 -Chris,
I know that Freddie is seeking an extension to his contract that runs out after the 2012 season. What do you think the chances he gets extended, say 2 years on top of next year, more guaranteed $ or signing bonus? Do you feel he is worth that? I know he is a young 30, but you know what they say about running backs over 30. It seems he and CJ would make a great combo for the next few years, I just don’t know if I see it happening. If you factor in Fred’s injury, I think it makes it more difficult. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league and I don’t see our front office taking the risk.
If they do offer an extension, what do you think the $/#’s should be? What’s fair in your mind? And…will CJ “share” more reps or be relegated back to a back-up? He looks too explosive to be kept off the field.
Thanks,
T.
CB: I’m pretty confident the front office will take care of Fred and sooner rather than later. He’s grossly outperformed his current contract. More importantly he’s the heart and soul of the team. If you don’t do right by the most respected guy in the locker room it’s going to cost you more in there than it will in the team’s wallet.
I think you’re not far off with your guess. I’d expect a two or three year extension on top of current deal with some good faith up front money to show appreciation for what he did this past season when he was a league MVP candidate before getting hurt. Fred’s injury was also a fractured fibula, something one can easily come back from. Cracked bones are a lot better than torn ligaments.
I believe C.J. will be worked in a bit more, but I still see Fred as the feature back in 2012 with C.J. getting his extra touches out wide as a receiver. He impressed me out there and he’s at his most dangerous in space anyway.
5 -Hi Chris,
Thanks so much for keeping us continuously updated. I have a question regarding Fitz: I still think he can be a top 10 QB — he reads things quickly, unlike some of our past QBs who perhaps had better physical attributes. But he has to be more consistent and cut down on the turnovers. To me, a top QB knows when to throw the ball away and go on to the next play, especially on 1st or 2nd down. I don’t recall EVER seeing Fitz do this. Do you know whether it is something that has been brought up to him, or whether they work on it in practice?
Thanks, Ray P.
CB: I think Fitz fell victim to a number of things this season. Loss of talent due to injury, a deterioration of his mechanics in the middle of the season and the pressure to make more plays when key playmakers were lost to injury.
All that being said you are right that Fitz rarely throws the ball away. He doesn’t take a lot of sacks because of it (he was the least sacked starting QB in the league this past season), but he did throw the most interceptions (23). Though I can think of 5 INTs off the top of my head that came off tipped passes, it’s still too many. Part of that was forcing the ball, part was inaccuracy (e.g.: Giants game) and part was receivers not making a play.
When Fitz feels supported by a successful ground game or when the team is up on the scoreboard he generally takes less risk. At least one of those things was not happening during the seven-game losing streak and it put more pressure on him to make things happen. Fitz is at his best in a balanced offense. If they have to lean too much on the passing game that’s where he sometimes gets in trouble.
Fitz shaves!
Tags: Ryan Fitzpatrick
It took until a day after the season ended, but Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick is a clean shaven man. Here’s the proof.
Fitz had been growing a beard since the last preseason game in August and was looking a lot like Grizzly Adams. No word on whether the beard will be grown again for 2012.
Where Fitz ranks best
Tags: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Heading into Sunday’s season finale Ryan Fitzpatrick still ranks pretty high in several statistical categories for quarterbacks.
Admittedly Fitz had a rough stretch during Buffalo’s seven-game losing streak and is tied for the league lead in interceptions with 19, but here are some other areas where Buffalo’s signal caller is among the top 10 QBs in the game.
Fitz ranks seventh in pass attempts, which doesn’t sound like a worthwhile stat category to measure a quarterback until you look at completion percentage. Fitz has the ninth-best completion percentage in the league (62%). Naturally the more passes a quarterback throws, the harder it is to maintain a high completion percentage, but he’s done it behind only QBs like Brees, Rodgers, Brady, Romo, Stafford and Roethlisberger.
He’s also ninth in the league in completions per game (21.6), which speaks more to a quarterback’s consistency, something that Fitz struggled with during the seven-game losing streak. Knowing he had some rough stretches it’s impressive that near season’s end he still ranks in the top 10.
Fitz is also 10th in touchdown passes this season entering the final regular season game with 22. Had the offense not fallen into the tailspin it did through the back half of the schedule one could argue that Fitzpatrick would be flirting with a 30-touchdown season instead of 25.
Fitz not opposed to upping tempo
With their offense in a rut for the better part of the team’s seven-game losing streak, the idea has been raised by outside observers to speed up the tempo of the offense. Some of Buffalo’s greatest success as an offense has been in an up tempo style this season, even at times going no huddle. While one can argue that a two-minute offense often sees softer coverage from an opposing defense at the end of halves and games and that’s why there’s more success sustaining drives, Ryan Fitzpatrick, eager to do just about anything to give the offense a spark, is not against the idea.
“We’ve done a decent job this year when we’ve been in hurry up mode and even not hurrying up, but calling plays at the line and seeing what the defense si giving us and changing the play, that kind of thing,” said Fitzpatrick. ”We’ve been successful at that. At times some of it is because of what the score is, some of it is they’re hanging back trying not to give up the big play. Sometimes we work better as an offense at a higher pace. That’s something we’ll continue to look at and something that maybe has some merit. We’re running out of games here obviously but it’s something we’ve been decent at this year.”
The reason that head coach Chan Gailey has probably not gone up tempo more often this season on offense is probably due to the porous play of his defense, which ranks 26th overall, 29th against the run and 27th in points allowed. A hurry up attack if unsuccessful gives the ball back to the opposition that much quicker, something that they probably would prefer to avoid.
Still, knowing the offense needs to rediscover some of its mojo before the season is over, it might be an option worthy of the risks involved.
Fitz not worried about QB drafted
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick
If the Bills were to draft a quarterback this coming spring, it’s not something that Ryan Fitzpatrick is going to worry about.
When posed the question Tuesday Fitz said his only focus is improving his own play because what the Bills do in the draft is beyond his control.
“It’s just something I can’t worry about,” said Fitzpatrick. ”Just like last year I wasn’t worried about hem drafting a quarterback. I’ve sat down with Chan. I’ve talked to Buddy. We’re trying to get this thing going in the right direction right now. It’s a lot of different things. But the thing I can control right now is me playing better. It’s something I have to do, it’s thru practice, it’s through the communication with the guys in the film room and just going out there and doing it.
“For me my main focus and the thing I’ve learned since I’ve been in the NFL is you have to be able to put all your thought into what you can control. I can’t control any of that, all I can control is making sure my guys are where I want them to be, making sure I’m putting the ball where I want to put it and making sure everybody’s comfortable with whats going on. For me it’s been a process this year. I think I’ve learned a lot and grown a lot and hopefully these last two games we can end it on a good note.”
Talk Bills with Fitz
Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will be on the air live with The Bull, Rich Gaenzler on 103.3 The Edge tonight live on location at Zebb’s on Southwestern Blvd. in Orchard Park at 7 pm.
Fans can join the Bull and Fitz on location.
Question on drafting QB early
Tags: 2012 NFL draft, Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, Ryan Fitzpatrick
As the 2011 season winds down for the Bills the media is already begin to focus more attention on the 2012 NFL draft. Head coach Chan Gailey had a pretty pointed response when asked if the team would consider drafting a quarterback in the first round.
“You can talk to (Bills GM) Buddy (Nix) about that kind of stuff,” said Gailey. ”But I don’t believe that’s anywhere in the thought process.”
Now it’s unclear whether Gailey meant it’s not part of the thought process because there are three games still left in the regular season or it’s not part of the thought process in terms of an early draft need. I would tend to believe it’s the former. Either way based on Gailey’s comment on Monday that he has no questions about Ryan Fitzpatrick as his quarterback, that is probably a more telling answer.
