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In part 2 of the Buffalo Bills’ season review, we’ll look at the players, by position, on the offense. In past season reviews of the team, it was a little easier to figure on where the players would fit, or what role they might play, the following year, since the coaching staff remained the same. The new coaching staff of Doug Marrone will be a fresh set of eyes looking at the roster, so some players who played significant roles under Chan Gailey may not be good fits for whatever Marrone’s plans are. In evaluating the roster, my comments are what I feel the new staff should see when they check out the film on the 2012 roster. For the most part, not many of the current players’ jobs are safe, as a new coaching staff usually likes to stock the roster with their own people. There are surely talented players on the team, then again, as a group they have failed to turn the corner and become a consistent winner. Here’s my assessment of the offensive roster:

Quarterbacks

The quarterback who leads the Bills in the Marrone era probably isn’t on the roster yet. It became apparent in 2012 that Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t the answer, even though Gailey probably squeezed all he could get out of him. The problem with Fitzpatrick is that he was never able to correct the penchant he had for turning the ball over. He had his moments where he looked as though the team could win with him. He threw 71 touchdown passes in his 3 years as a starter, compared to the 37 totaled by Trent Edwards and J.P. Losman the 3 seasons prior to him becoming the starter. However, he also threw 54 picks in that time. I wouldn’t have a problem with Fitzpatrick remaining the starter next year until the coaches groom his replacement. I still think he can be a competent starter if the team’s defense improves and if Marrone features a running game in his offense. Backup Tyler Thigpen is most likely through, since he was on the roster mainly due to his allegiance to Gailey. He never showed much anyway, and the third-stringer, Tarvaris Jackson, never had a chance to play at all, and is a free agent, so his return is unlikely also. If the Bills decide to cut ties with Fitzpatrick, there’s a chance they could re-sign Jackson to help groom the new QB. His experience level and career stats are close to Fitzpatrick’s.

Running Backs

Marrone’s top priority has to be to find a way to get emerging star C.J. Spiller more touches, even if it means parting ways with, or reducing the workload of, Fred Jackson. Spiller and Jackson are good complementary backs, as their styles aren’t quite the same. I’ve always thought Jackson’s style resembled that of Thurman Thomas, while Spiller has a touch of O.J. Simpson in him. In 2012, Spiller became the team’s top offensive weapon, while Jackson didn’t exactly shine, battling nagging injuries and fumbling problems. Since Jackson has a contract that pays him like a top back, the Bills may have to let him go and try to find a suitable replacement in the draft. Backup Tashard Choice is another Gailey favorite, but he did the job when called on and should get a fair chance to make the roster. Both fullbacks on the roster, Corey McIntyre and Dorin Dickerson, are free agents, so their return is questionable, although McIntyre has been a valuable special teamer.

Receivers

Stevie Johnson, like Spiller, is a potent offensive weapon that Marrone has to maximize in his plans for 2013. Johnson has put together 3 straight 1,000+ yard receiving seasons and cemented his place as the team’s top pass catcher. What Marrone needs to do is find ways to tone down Stevie’s antics and get his focus on track as far as consistency. He has developed a reputation for making spectacular catches, then mixing in inexplicable drops. The return of David Nelson from injury will improve the receiving corps, but the rest of this group could use an upgrade. T.J. Graham showed some promise, and hopefully a fresh start under the new staff will help him. Ruvell Martin is strictly a special teamer, and backup tight end Lee Smith had his ups and downs, mixing in a few catches with some dumb, costly penalties. Donald Jones and Marcus Easley have had trouble avoiding injuries, and starting tight end Scott Chandler suffered a knee injury late in the year that could keep him sidelined well into the 2013 season, so the receiving corps will likely need some off-season shoring up.

Offensive Line

This unit is one of the team’s strengths, and a top off-season priority has to be re-signing guard Andy Levitre, who is the most consistent, and maybe the toughest, member of the line. The rest of the starters are solid – center Eric Wood, guard Kraig Urbik, and left tackle Cordy Glenn, who has a great upside. Starting right tackle Erik Pears missed a lot of the 2012 season with injuries, and he may be pushed next year by Chris Hairston and Sam Young. As for depth, the Bills have 2012 draft pick Zebrie Sanders returning from injury, along with off-the-street free agents signed late in the year with an eye toward 2013, including David Snow, Thomas Welch, Andrew Jackson, Keith Williams, Chris Scott and Adam Grant. Yeah, I’ve never heard of any of them either, but the Bills have shown a knack for uncovering some gems with their free agent signings so you never know.