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The Buffalo Bills have now completed another dismal losing season, and it’s time to grade them as an organization, from top to bottom. The grade has to be a failing one when a team wins just 4 of 16 games, but we’ll also take into account how the team has progressed in certain areas and how well, if at all, they’ve positioned themselves to further progress next year.

Front Office

The 2010 college draft was the first for the current front office, and it produced no major impact contributors for this season. C.J. Spiller shows some promise, but overall was a disappointment. He has the talent to be a star player in the NFL, but has a lot to learn to get there. The same can be said for Torell Troup and Alex Carrington, future defensive line hopefuls. Linebacker Arthur Moats, by season’s end, was the team’s most productive draft choice. Marcus Easley, Ed Wang and Danny Batten weren’t able to contribute anything, due to injuries. The team got a lot of mileage out of their crop of undrafted free agents, mainly receivers David Nelson, Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt. General manager Buddy Nix gets kudos for not being shy about shaking the bushes to try to find useful players, as the club added new players almost every week during the season, and took a long shot by signing Shawne Merriman as a possible future playmaker for the defense. That has to be the top priority for the front office this off-season – finding impact defensive front seven players to improve the pass rush and stop the run. The club will have the third overall pick of the college draft, and the second pick of the second round (34th overall), as well as an extra 4th round pick from the Marshawn Lynch trade. They have to get all those picks right in order for this team to climb to new heights next season, and perhaps add a couple of playmaking free agents as well.

Coaching Staff

Despite the dismal won/loss record, the coaching staff, after some early miscalculations, managed to get the team playing competitive football the second half of the season. Head coach Chan Gailey opened the season with Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch in the starting lineup, despite the fact both had lost their jobs the previous year. The team also attempted to switch the defense to a 3-4 scheme, with disastrous results. By season’s end, the Bills were playing as a “multiple front” defense, according to Gailey. Overall, despite the 4-12 record, the Bills’ coaching staff enters next season as stable and experienced as it has been in a decade, and appears to have a clear plan as to where it wants to take this team.

Here is a player-by-player evaluation, by position, of the Bills’ roster:

Quarterback

Ryan Fitzpatrick – in my opinion, Fitzpatrick, after taking over as starter, showed enough promise to give the coaches and front office confidence that he can lead the team into the future. He has plenty to improve upon, mostly revolving around ball security issues, but clearly showed he can run a competent offense. Although plenty of Bills’ fans still seem to think the team needs to find that elusive “franchise” quarterback, I think they can do fine sticking with Fitzpatrick, who is only 28. To use Bills’ historical references to make a point, he is never going to be another Jim Kelly, but he could be another Jack Kemp.

Brian Brohm – his play in the season finale was extremely disappointing. He looked indecisive and slow to react to pressure, a lot like Trent Edwards looked when he played here. If the Bills decide to hitch their wagon to Fitzpatrick, Brohm may be the wrong guy to keep as a backup. They might be better off trying to sign a veteran, a short-term guy like a Todd Collins.

Levi Brown – he has the physical tools to be the “young” QB to keep on the roster to develop for the future, but made a lot of mistakes in the few chances he got to play, in preseason and the finale. The coaches, who see and analyze his development in practice each day, should have an idea how much of a future he has, and that answer will come next year, when he either makes the roster again or is cut.

Running Backs

Fred Jackson – he is the best back on the roster right now, but with the team likely to want to expand Spiller’s role next season, he likely will have to prove himself again when the season rolls around. I see him remaining as the team’s lead back, with Spiller making more contributions in the passing game.

C.J. Spiller – he had a few dynamic moments but still has to learn the ropes of what it takes to be a dominating player in the league. He should have a much greater impact in the offense next season.

Quinton Ganther – if he is on the final roster next year, it’ll be strictly to contribute on special teams.

Corey McIntyre – a leader on the offense and in the locker room, he has already signed an extension and should be the starting FB next year again.

Jehuu Caulcrick – the local product was a roster fill-up signing late in the season, and probably doesn’t figure in their future plans.

Wide Receiver

Lee Evans – there is talk that he may be let go as the team rebuilds with younger players. Hopefully that won’t be the case as the offense is better with him on it. Evans is a quality veteran who opponents have to account for, and his lack of huge numbers means next to nothing, as Evans has never been about statistics.

Stevie Johnson – he was without a doubt the breakthrough player of the season for Buffalo. That being said, he still has plenty to improve on – mostly, as with Fitzpatrick, ball security issues. Hopefully his stellar season doesn’t lead to a prolonged contract holdout next year, which happens a lot with low-round players who emerge like Johnson.

Roscoe Parrish – a dynamic player whose career was resurrected when Gailey was hired. He was having a great year prior to being injured and lost for the season.

David Nelson – he was probably the most productive rookie on the roster this year, and seems to have the attitude that will lead to continued improvement in his game, and even more responsibility in the offense next year.

Donald Jones – another undrafted free agent, Jones became a valuable member of the offense when injuries got him lots of playing time this season.

Naaman Roosevelt – got his opportunity to play at the end of the year, also due to injuries to receivers, and like Jones, showed some promise. He should enter training camp next year confident that he can expand his role in the offense also.

Paul Hubbard – practice squad player who was activated for the final game, and probably has no chance to make the team next year.

Marcus Easley – he was injured in training camp and never got a chance to show off his game. He will be a “wild card” in camp next year among the receivers, and adds even more depth to a corps that was surprisingly deep this year.

Tight Ends

Jonathan Stupar – he was the starter most of the season, pretty much by default rather than performance. He did make a few plays along the way when he was involved in the offense, but the team could upgrade this position.

Shawn Nelson – this was a lost season for him, between his four game suspension and his battle with migraines. Unless the coaching staff sees some kind of potential in him, he may not survive on the roster going into training camp. If they do keep him, 2011 will be a make or break year.

Scott Chandler – he was a late season roster addition who excels at blocking in the run game, and should get a long look in the 2011 preseason.

David Martin – a stop-gap signing for this season, he probably won’t be back next year.

Scott Caussin – another guy signed off the street who is a long shot to make next season’s roster.

Offensive Line

Eric Wood – one of the few Bills first round draft picks of recent years who isn’t a bust. He played well at his natural college position – center – to end the season and the coaches may decide to move him there next year.

Andy Levitre – he has settled in nicely at one of the starting guard spots and played pretty well, although he had some penalty problems toward the end of the season.

Demetrius Bell – according to Gailey, Bell played through an injury all year and wasn’t able to practice all the time, and also couldn’t work out in the offseason. He should be solid at left tackle for years to come once he’s healthy enough to begin strength training.

Geoff Hangartner – he was doing a decent job as the starting center before winding up on injured reserve, and should be a starter somewhere on the line when the dust settles in training camp next year.

Erik Pears – he was a late season pickup and Gailey claims he was playing well at right tackle when he got his chances.

Cordaro Howard – an undrafted rookie who played under Gailey in college, Howard looks to be a backup at best.

Mansfield Wrotto – he moved into the starting spot at right tackle after being signed during the season, and played pretty well also before getting hurt.

Kraig Urbik – he was plucked from the Steelers’ practice squad and showed some signs of possibly being a guy who could develop into a servicable player also.

Ed Wang – he never got a chance to show what he could do in his rookie year this season due to injuries, but should be one of the candidates to earn a starting job at either guard or tackle next preseason.

Chad Rinehart and Colin Brown are 2 more linemen signed by the front office as they combed the bushes all season looking for useful players who can help the team improve. There are plenty of candidates on the roster now to be able to build a consistent, strong line even if they don’t add more prospects in the draft.

Kickers

Rian Lindell – he was his usual consistent self, and the Bills will most likely stick with him next season.

Brian Moorman – he did not have his usual stellar season this year, and although he’s still a solid punter the club could bring in some competition for him in training camp next year.

Defensive Line

Kyle Williams – he played at a Pro Bowl level all season. The Bills are solid with him at the nose tackle position going into next year.

Marcus Stroud – he has probably played his last game as a Bill. The one lasting memory I have of him is chasing Ben Roethlisberger, not the most fleet QB around, on a scramble and looking very old and slow while doing it.

Dwan Edwards – he was the big free agent signing of 2010, and played solidly although he certainly isn’t a dominant player. The Bills would do well to keep him at a starting end spot on next year’s defense. He would probably be more of a playmaker if the club’s linebacking corps were improved.

Torell Troup – he earned some playing time in his rookie year and showed some flashes, but still has a long way to go to become an impact player.

Alex Carrington – pretty much the same story as Troup. He showed flashes of talent at times, but didn’t play his way into the lineup until injuries forced the team to use him.

Spencer Johnson – he is a useful front line rotation player who was a good free agent signing when he was brought here from Minnesota.

John McCargo – he becomes an unrestricted free agent and the Bills can’t be rid of him soon enough. He was another first round draft bust.

Kellen Heard – a late season signing that the front office must see some potential in. He was obviously signed with an eye toward helping the team in 2011.

Linebackers

Paul Posluszny – he is a free agent, and it’ll be interesting to see how hard the team works to re-sign him. He is probably the only veteran linebacker on the roster who resembles a starting lineup caliber player.

Akin Ayodele – he is one of a number of backup type players on the roster at the position, even though he started for half the season. His play was good enough that he should be considered as a guy who can be a useful backup next year.

Chris Kelsay – he never looked comfortable at linebacker all year, often over-running the play or missing tackles or just generally looking lost on the field. The front office gave him a contract extension so they must see something in him, but in my mind he is nothing more than a backup, and a backup at defensive end at that, where he seems to be more comfortable.

Aaron Maybin – he is looking more and more like yet another first round bust. In his post-season press conference, Gailey described his position with the team as “on the outside looking in” which doesn’t bode well for him going into next season.

Arthur Moats – by season’s end, he looked like the most polished rookie on the defensive side of the ball, earning his way onto the field and making impact plays each week. If he continues to develop at his current pace, Moats should be penciled in at one of 4 LB spots going into training camp next year.

Pierre Woods – a 5 year veteran signed late in the year after being released by New England, he was a stop-gap guy due to a heavy amount of injuries at the linebacker position, and probably won’t be back next year.

Danny Batten – one of 7 LBs to wind up on injured reserve, Batten is a guy who, like Marcus Easley, never got a chance to show what he brings to the table. He should get every chance to do that in training camp next year.

Antonio Coleman – an undrafted rookie, he showed some promise before getting hurt. The fact that he earned his way onto the field as an undrafted rookie, while Maybin could not, speaks volumes about what the coaching staff thinks of him.

Andra Davis – a veteran brought in who didn’t do much on the field before getting hurt. He probably won’t make the final roster next year.

Keith Ellison – he is a free agent and in his time here has been a useful backup and special teams player, but it won’t be a big loss if he doesn’t return.

Shawne Merriman – this is a big gamble by the front office, but really if he doesn’t pan out they can just cut their losses. If he returns to his Pro Bowl form the team will have added a much needed playmaker to their defense.

Reggie Torbor – he fits the same category as Ayodele and Davis – they are all stop-gap type of players, and the team should be looking to find better options for next year.

Defensive Backs

Jairus Byrd – he had a bad case of the sophomore jinx this year after an outstanding rookie season, and hopefully the interception he had in the finale is a sign of better things to come next year. The defensive staff needs to find ways to put Byrd, a ball-hawking safety, in better positions to make plays next year.

Donte Whitner – he is a free agent who appears to have played his last game for the Bills. Gailey called his status “tenuous”. Whitner never played to the caliber of player he should have been, being a top 10 draft pick, and although he wasn’t a total bust, the team could replace him and wind up with a better defense.

George Wilson – also a free agent, the Bills would be well-served to re-sign him and insert him into Whitner’s spot. Wilson played the position well during his time here, and has made many more plays in limited playing time than Whitner.

Bryan Scott – he is a versatile and valuable member of the defense and special teams, and another reason why it shouldn’t be a big priority to re-sign Whitner.

Terrence McGee – he has to find a way to avoid nagging injuries and stay on the field. If he can do that, he can be a solid fixture on the defense as a starting cornerback.

Drayton Florence – another free agent, and although the team should try to sign him, it won’t be a big loss if he walks. They should definitely not overpay to bring him back.

Reggie Corner – a good backup who, like a lot of the other young secondary players on the roster, would look a lot better if the team could somehow develop a better pass rush.

Ashton Youboty – another good young backup who has had trouble avoiding nagging injuries. I believe the fact that the Bills’ secondary players keep getting banged up is because the front seven has been so weak, especially stopping the run, that the smaller DBs wind up having to make an inordinant amount of tackles.

Leodis McKelvin – like Whitner, he was a high first round draft pick, and hasn’t played like one. Although he’s not a total bust, he is one of those guys who makes 2 bad plays for every good one. Next year should be a make or break season for him also.

Jon Corto – listed as a defensive back on the roster, the local product is strictly a special teams player, and contributed mostly penalties and negative plays on those special teams this year. He is a long shot to be on the final roster next season.