BUffalo Bills Off Season To Do List: Can the Bills win with Fitzpatrick?

Buffalo Bills off Season Check List

2011 Outcome            (6-10)

The Buffalo Bills came roaring out the gate and started the season 5-2.  The Bills signed Fitzpatrick to a costly extension andBuffalofans were talking post season.  The Bills would lose 8 of the next 9 games.  Fitzpatrick’s lack of arm strength was exposed, the lack of weapons doomed the offense, and the lack of a pass rush made the defense toothless.  The Bills have some major improvements to make in 2012 if they are to start lessoning the gap between them and the Patriots.

Coach Seat Temperature

Gailey will get one more year to show he belongs.  The Bills did show improvements in year 2 of his tenure but injuries hurt and the lack of depth doomed their season.  It is unknown if the Bills will retain OC, Curtis Modkins, and/or DC, George Edwards, due to the lack of productivity.  I would think with the plethora of good young DC possibilities the Bills might want to upgrade the DC spot.

2011 Draft Class Rating        (B+)

In time this class will really help the defense.  With the Bills defense lacking effective veteran players the impact of this class was minimal.  Marcell Dareus appears to be a Pro Bowl talent.  Aaron Williams and Kelvin Sheppard are future starters at CB and ILB.  The rest of this class has very effective depth written all over it.

2010 Draft Class Rating        (D)

This class missed for the most part.  CJ Spiller appears to be turning the corner on being a huge weapon at RB.  Troup and Carrington appear to be misses in Round 2 and 3 on the DL.  The rest are either cuts or mediocre depth players.

2009 Draft Class Rating        (C+)

If the Bills would only have hit on their first pick this class would have been a Home Run.  Maybin is showing some talent but on a different team.  Eric Woods and Andy Levitre are very good Offensive Lineman.  Jairus Byrd is a sound  Free safety who has very good ball skills.  The rest of this class has some Special Teams standouts and cuts.

Current Needs

Offense: WR, TE, RT, RG

Defense: DL, OLB, ILB, CB

Current FA

Steve Johnson:  Johnson has talent but is a perennial head ache.  Still, if the Bills let Johnson walk they are in major trouble.  Johnson has good size and the ability to get deep but lacks concentration on and off the field.

Scott Chandler:  Chandler is not a starting TE but is a very sound backup who is a terrific blocker and a weapon in the red zone.

Demetrius Bell:  Bell was showing the ability to become a borderline franchise LT but multiple knee injuries have his future in jeopardy.  The Bills are in a tricky situation but if they can get him to agree on a 2 year deal the Bills should jump on this. 

Current Mock

1. Courtney Upshaw                 OLB               Alabama

2. Dwayne Allen                       TE                    Clemson

3. Billy Winn                             DL                  BoiseState

4. James Michael Johnson         ILB                 Nevada

4. Jeff Fuller                             WR                 Texas AM