How to Fix ‘em: Buffalo Bills

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By: Matt Harmon

Year in Review:
             The Bills can’t get it right. They haven’t been to the playoffs since the 1990’s and their head coach/quarterback combinations have been dreadful. The Gailey/Fitzpatrick combination has run its course here as well. Gailey was let go after doing a very poor job, and Fitzpatrick should be released from his ridiculous contract soon enough. The Bills are a big rebuilding project and I don’t see a lot of things to hang your hat on here other than their running backs and defensive linemen. The one thing the Bills do need to make sure they get right is putting a system in place that emphasizes the running game. Chan Gailey was completely irresponsible in his misuse of his most electric playmaker in C.J. Spiller. With Spiller and Jackson the Bills have a set of potential foundation players for their offense and two players with diverse skill sets. The defense has some pieces, a potentially dominant defense and Jarius Byrd (who is a free agent) but it still perfomed poorly. Their performance against the run was epically bad in particular. Just by cleaning house, the Bills will do a lot of good for themselves.

Top Five Team Needs:
  1. Quarterback: No one has been able to have sustained success at this position since Jim Kelly played for Buffalo. Buddy Nix talked at length about his desire to draft a franchise type quarterback, but he doesn’t have a totally promising draft class to do it in this year. Could new head coach Doug Marrone’s former pupil at Syracuse Ryan Nassib be the guy? He may be, but we have seen college coaches bypass their former players in the pros before, so don’t got penciling it in.
  2.  Linebacker: The Bills have a good front line, so why were they so porous at stopping the run? Well their linebacking corps was a massive let down. Nick Barnett looks about done, and Kelvin Sheppard didn’t play well in his second year with the team. I don’t normally like spending big resources at linebacker, but the Bills are in such bad shape it may be a necessity.
  3. Wide Receiver: Stevie Johnson is a good player, but the Bills have had nothing behind him for way too long. I would like to see the Bills use a premium pick on a potential starting receiver. Johnson isn’t known for his deep speed or playmaking ability. Someone with those attributes would be a great addition.
  4. Defensive End: Mario Williams started things out this year looking like he would become the next Albert Haynesworth. But after his mysterious wrist surgery he seemed to turn things around. Mark Anderson however, was a massive disappointment. Further proving that signing Bill Belichick reclamation projects is never a good idea. Anderson may not be brought back, and he is a pass rush specialist at best. A real starter needs to be added here. 
  5. Safety: Jarius Byrd is a total stud. He is a ball hawk and performs well against the run. He is a free agent however, and if the Bills let him get to free agency they can probably kiss him goodbye. Players with a nose for the ball like him get paid big on the open market and a contender would surely love to have him in the fold. The Franchise tag is an option here.

Offseason Moves:
  • Ralph Wilson gives authority to Russ Brandon: This is a smart move. Not only does it put Ralph Wilson in the backseat, it also puts Buddy Nix in a secondary role as a decision maker. I thought Nix deserved to be canned, but they apparently want to keep him around as a bridge to Doug Whaley. It is rare to see an owner give up his control of the organization, even when he has clearly failed the team, but that’s what Wilson did here. A lot of owners could learn from Wilson (looking at you Jerry Jones, Bud Adams). Grade: A
  • Doug Marrone hired as Head Coach: A lot of people were probably scratching their heads at the Bills hiring the Syracuse head coach with a 25-25 record. Well, not me. Marrone has an extensive NFL background and he has that CEO, “running things” personality that the NFL is gravitating towards. Also something that hasn’t been discussed, Marrone was the Saints offensive coordinator under Sean Payton in his first few years. Marrone helped put together the offense that Reggie Bush thrived in, when he wasn’t hurt, and in Buffalo Marrone has a similar, but superior, player in C.J. Spiller. That is a very good match. Grade: A
  • Nathaniel Hackett hired as Offensive Coordinator: Hackett is guy who has NFL experience as a quality control coach under Jon Gruden, and even in Buffalo. He worked under Marrone at Syracuse where he developed an attacking scheme that developed several good young players. Hackett is young and viewed as an up and comer in the league. Grade: A
  • Mike Pettine hired as Defensive Coordinator: This is a great move for both parties. Pettine was wise to turn down a contract extension with the Jets circus and get out of Rex Ryan’s shadow. While the Bills get an aggressive defensive play caller who knows the division well already. Pettine’s multiple front, pressure defense is a good fit here. Grade: A

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