With an 0-8 won-loss record at the halfway point of this NFL season, the only grade that can be given to the Buffalo Bills, obviously, is a failing one. Here is an in-depth look at the current state of the team, and the progress, or lack of, in each area:
Front Office
April of 2010 was the first draft that can be directly attributed to Buddy Nix’s regime as general manager of the team. At this point, it’s tough to give the front office much credit for a good draft, since the biggest contributor among rookies on the roster has probably come from undrafted free agent receiver David Nelson. First round pick C.J. Spiller should eventually develop into an impact player, but he’s still learning the ropes. One pick, seventh rounder Kyle Calloway, was cut in preseason, and 3rd rounder Alex Carrington made the roster but has been de-activated most of the season. Nix deserves some credit for taking a flyer on Shawne Merriman. Whether he has any impact or not, the move shows at least the front office is looking for help wherever they can find it. A couple of other late additions to the roster, LB Akin Ayodele and OL Mansfield Wrotto, have seen significant playing time and made contributions also. The Bills’ roster, because of the team’s record and lack of talent, is going to be a work in progress through the remainder of the season.
Coaching
Failing grades for everybody here. Coach Chan Gailey set the team back by starting Trent Edwards and Marshawn Lynch at the beginning of the season, even though both had lost their starting jobs last season. Defensive coordinator George Edwards installed a 3-4 defense, and it failed miserably as the team has little quality at the linebacker position. The defense left behind by the Dick Jauron/Perry Fewell regime was a “Tampa 2”, bend-but-don’t break style, but at least it was a competent scheme that the players were comfortable in. I was never a big fan of that “Tampa” scheme, because it wasn’t very aggressive. I can remember fans in the stands calling the Bills’ “cover 2” scheme the “cover zero” since it seemed as though none of the players ever had the direct responsibility of covering anyone. There were a lot of players standing around in their “zones” while opposing receivers ran to the open areas and made easy receptions for big gains. That being the case, I actually applaud the move to install a 3-4, more aggressive scheme. I just feel they overestimated the talent on the roster and their ability to play the scheme effectively, and maybe could’ve made a slower transition. The experiment of moving defensive linemen Chris Kelsay, Aaron Maybin and Chris Ellis to outside LB spots hasn’t worked. Ellis was cut, Maybin hasn’t been able to get on the field, and Kelsay has looked lost. On offense, the scheme Gailey is using is a vast improvement over past years. He has shown aggressiveness in his play calling, even taking shots down the field in critical situations late in games, where in past years Jauron would’ve been passive, looking to get into field goal range and get ties rather than going for broke. Those plays haven’t connected, as QB Ryan Fitzgerald has missed open receivers a number of times, but the “go-for-it” mentality will win over the fans.
Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick deserves a passing grade since taking over for Trent Edwards, who flunked out of school. He has taken control of the offense and rejuvenated the team’s passing game, spreading the ball around to all the receivers and producing touchdowns in a lot of games, rather than field goals. He has also ranked near the top of the league in QB ratings since getting the chance to play full time. However, his report card must include some notes from the teacher, such as “needs to work on improving accuracy” and “must eliminate costly interceptions”. His play has been a boost to the team, but the fact is that he has yet to lead a late-game comeback, and instead has thrown interceptions in a couple situations when he had chances to bring the Bills back.
Running Back
The highest grade at this position goes to fullback Corey McIntyre. He is a solid blocker, makes positive plays in the few opportunities he gets to run the ball or catch dump-off passes, and is one of the team’s toughest special teams hitters. He apparently is also a positive voice in the locker room. Fred Jackson has been steady, but his play slipped in the last couple games. The Bears stuffed the Bills’ running game and Jackson also had a fumble. C.J. Spiller hasn’t been the spectacular player everyone expected, but he’s still solid and makes some positive contributions in most games. He has also had at least one costly fumble. The production of both backs hasn’t been eye-opening, but part of the reason for that is that the offense has been featuring the passing game more.
Receivers
A+ grades to all 4 receivers who the Bills have used – Stevie Johnson, who is developing into a star, Lee Evans, who still gets the bulk of the double coverage from opponents yet has been productive, Roscoe Parrish, who has been reborn in Gailey’s system, but now is lost for the year with a hand injury, and David Nelson, who has made the most of limited opportunities in 4-receiver sets. Donald Jones has been a good special teamer, and now must pick up the slack for Parrish and contribute on offense. Tight ends David Martin and Jonathan Stupar haven’t been spectacular but at least get passing grades. Shawn Nelson has not lived up to his potential at all, and obviously his 4 game drug suspension didn’t help his cause.
Offensive Line
There hasn’t been a game yet this year in which the Bills haven’t been dominated on both sides of the ball in the trenches. The offensive line has looked much better since Fitzpatrick became the starter at QB, but the run blocking isn’t very good. I believe the players on the line are guys that can be building blocks for future years, except for the right tackle spot. Center Geoff Hangartner is steady, and high draft picks Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, the guards, will only get better with experience. Left tackle Demetrius Bell doesn’t get a lot of notice on game days, which in an offensive lineman’s case usually means they’re doing a decent job. Cornell Green, the starter at right tackle before getting hurt, looks more like a Langston Walker-type stopgap player than a long term answer. Cordaro Howard hasn’t played very well in his opportunites at the position. Gailey recently said he liked the play of Mansfield Wrotto in the spot when he got his chance, but his grade would have to be “incomplete”. The class assignment for this group for the second half of the season should be to show marked improvement in the run-blocking department.
Defensive Line
This group was overwhelmed in early games when playing the 3-4, but is starting to improve as the season goes on. Tackle Kyle Williams is the star pupil here. Spencer Johnson is a solid player even though he doesn’t start, definitely an asset to the defense rather than a liability. Rookie Torell Troup has worked his way into the lineup, but hasn’t had a large impact yet. We’ll hold off on grading him until season’s end. Free agent signee Dwan Edwards has played solidly but hasn’t been the impact player the team hoped he would be. Marcus Stroud hasn’t been terrible, but I don’t see him lasting on the roster beyond this season as the team goes with younger players. John McCargo wound up in the old coaching regime’s doghouse, and now has officially earned his American Kennel Club certification, getting de-activated for almost every game.
Linebacker
This is by far the weakest position on the team, and the main reason, in my opinion, why the defense can’t stop the run or create any turnovers. Paul Posluszny has played better in recent weeks and is probably the only real NFL-caliber starting LB on the roster. All the free agents signed off the street – Reggie Torbor, Andra Davis, Akin Ayodele – and holdovers Chris Kelsay and Keith Ellison, are decent backups at best. Shawne Merriman, if he has anything at all left in the tank, should have no problem getting into a starting role quickly. Aaron Maybin is slowly but surely working his way onto the “major bust” list. Youngsters Arthur Moats and Antonio
Coleman have showed some promise when given a chance. The coaches need to use the rest of this season to find out what they have in those young players, but either way linebacker has to be a top priority in next season’s college draft and free agency period.
Defensive Back
This group hasn’t produced like they did last year. Safety Jairus Byrd has a major case of the “sophomore jinx”, as he has made little impact this season. In preseason and quarterly report cards, I have been highly critical of Donte Whitner as a draft bust, but my opinion of him is starting to change. He is starting to look more comfortable in the new defense and having more impact in games. Leodis McKelvin, on the other hand, is looking like a bust. He can’t seem to cover anybody. Terrence McGee is becoming a china doll type of player. He is always nicked up and can’t be counted on to be on the field. All in all, I believe the troubles in the Bills’ secondary are mainly because the defensive backs have been required to make too many tackles due to the front seven players being pushed all over the field. It has resulted in nagging injuries to the DBs and players like Byrd having to do what they don’t do best, make tackles in the open field, rather than concentrate on using their ball-hawking skills to get turnovers. If the Bills build a solid, physical linebacking corps, their secondary, even with the current players, will automatically become one of the NFL’s best and deepest units.
Special Teams
They weren’t very good early on, but C.J. Spiller has a kickoff return TD and Parrish’s punt returns have been decent. The kick coverage has gradually improved also. Some bomb squad stars are emerging, like McIntyre, Moats and Donald Jones. You can tell Bruce DeHaven’s influence is starting to take hold, and the special teamers are taking pride in their work. Rian Lindell missed the first PAT of his career last week, but overall he has been solid. Punter Brian Moorman has not been his usual reliable self. He’s been OK, but in past years he was always a difference maker, maybe even the team MVP, and hasn’t had that impact so far this season.