If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

[kelly2reed4six]

If Fitz comes out of these next 6 games having played great, competitive football and pulling in a winning record (we'll say 4-2 with two of those wins against the phins and jets or patriots), are you all in for next year or do you still want QB with our 1st pick?



Let's assume that the Jets and Patriots are both playing starters when we play them as well, as they likely will be playing for the division title.

[Buffalo Thriller]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

No, if that is the case we draft nothing but defense

[TigerJ]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Well, for starters, I have no illusions about my feelings having any effect on what happens in the draft. Secondly, my support of the Bills as a fan is not conditional on whatever player personnel moves the Bills make. Bottom line, my feelings aren't very important. If the Bills continue to start Fitzpatrick next season, I'll still be a fan and hope he does well and the Bills win.

My concern has been that Fitzpatrick has periods of time during most games that his passing is erratic and off the mark. My fear is that sometimes that could cost the Bills a win. If the Bills were to win half of their remaining games or better, that would suggest either Fitzpatrick is playing well enough that those concerns won't seem to have much merit, or the team is playing well enough around him to overcome any lapses in his play that he might have. Either way, it would make me more comfortable about Fitz continuing to start next yeear, but as I stated earlier, my comfort level really isn't much of an issue anyway.

[BillsFever21]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Well, for starters, I have no illusions about my feelings having any effect on what happens in the draft. Secondly, my support of the Bills as a fan is not conditional on whatever player personnel moves the Bills make. Bottom line, my feelings aren't very important. If the Bills continue to start Fitzpatrick next season, I'll still be a fan and hope he does well and the Bills win.

My concern has been that Fitzpatrick has periods of time during most games that his passing is erratic and off the mark. My fear is that sometimes that could cost the Bills a win. If the Bills were to win half of their remaining games or better, that would suggest either Fitzpatrick is playing well enough that those concerns won't seem to have much merit, or the team is playing well enough around him to overcome any lapses in his play that he might have. Either way, it would make me more comfortable about Fitz continuing to start next yeear, but as I stated earlier, my comfort level really isn't much of an issue anyway.

Does every QB throw a perfect pass every time or never throw some bad passes? Not saying he is Tom Brady or a future franchise QB but every QB are going to have bad throws during a game or stretches of bad games.

By that logic then Manning is terrible. He threw 3 INT's last week against the Pats with the last one a horrible pass which sealed a victory for the Pats.

[SquishDaFish]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

If he does I would be happy with him starting but still want the young QB to groom behind him but I wouldnt care where as long as its in top 3 rounds.

[Night Train]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

As Allen Wilson of the News said, I'm not drinking the Fitz Kool-Aid just yet.

The NFL has seen backups have some good short term success in the past, only to return to earth after several games of film were available to opposing D coordinators. I love his grit and all out fearless effort but I'm not blind to his shortcomings.

His several ducks a game will cost us against good teams. That INT he tossed against Cinci in the first half...a good team would have converted that and put us away.

It's Detroit and Cinci we defeated and I'm still well aware of that. I've seen big stats from many QB's on losing teams but the key is to produce in clutch moments against GOOD teams.

Here comes a good test this weekend. Eyes wide open.

[justasportsfan]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Does every QB throw a perfect pass every time or never throw some bad passes? Not saying he is Tom Brady or a future franchise QB but every QB are going to have bad throws during a game or stretches of bad games.

By that logic then Manning is terrible. He threw 3 INT's last week against the Pats with the last one a horrible pass which sealed a victory for the Pats.

Manning has won a sb. He's a hall of famer. He's proven. Our goal is to win one and the question is, can Fitz's erratic passes every now and then in critical times take us to the promise land?

[Jan Reimers]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Unfortunately, things are never as black and white as some would try to make them on here. I've seen, "If Fitz does well in our next six games," or "If Fitz beats the Steelers," over and over, but it really isn't that simple.

You have to look at the totality of his career, his physical abilities, his ability to beat good teams in meaningful situations, etc. and not just one or a handful of games in a lost season.

The only things that are clear regarding Fitz' improved play is that we can be selective in drafting a QB - we no longer have to reach out of desperation - and we have a decent guy at the helm to allow the more rational development of a young QB.

Fitz may still be the long term answer, but that depends on more than this game or the next 6.

[BigZ]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

I agree with most of what's been said. I don't think anyone would call Fritz a "Franchise Quarterback". He may be our best serviceable QB in a long time but remember how good Bledsoe looked for a short streak of games.

If we have the chance to pick up a good QB in the draft, we need to do it.

Personally, I like the idea of trading down for 2 first round picks with one of them being on the defensive side and the other being Cam Newton!

[JCBills]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Plenty of QBs around the league will have the same type of lapses in accuracy almost every game, and you don't see those teams in a rush to replace their signal callers. Fitz's seem to come when he's trying to pull the team back into the game, our defense hasn't really helped him much at all. Guys like Cutler, E. Manning, Flacco, and so on throw similar head-scratchers. A good amount of them have top shelf D's to back them up and keep them out of huge deficit situations, something Fitz hasn't had the luxury of.

[dasaybz]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

If Mallet or Luck is sitting there when it is our turn to pick, how do you pass on them? This will be a very tough call for the Bills front office this year.

[Saratoga Slim]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

If Mallet or Luck is sitting there when it is our turn to pick, how do you pass on them? This will be a very tough call for the Bills front office this year.

I don't think you pass on Luck.

To me it seems like the bust factor is higher when there are questions about a QB's intelligence, dedication to football, or maturity. You look at the young QBs that are succeeding, and they're uniformly smart leaders who are totally focused on football (Ryan, Bradford, Flacco, Sanchez etc).

I like Mallett's skill set, but something about him makes me a little nervous as a top 10 draft pick.

If Fitzy is still playing like he is now at the end of the season, and we have a top 5 pick, then the only QB I'd want is Luck.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

i would say even if he just plays the way he has been playing and we are competitive and win maybe 2 games/3 games then we should stick with fitz.

our d, specifically our front 7 is horrible, its the worst in the league. plus this is a whole new coach, qb, system etc.

give me 2 games and just keep playing the way hes playing and i will be excited about next year

[Mr. Pink]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

If for some reason the Bills finish out the year 6-2, including the last 2 wins, QB isn't a huge priority. Some O-line, some D-line, LB and a shutdown corner would be in order in this draft.

No one should expect playoffs next year, so if Fitz doesn't step it up or has a huge regression next season, then you draft the QB to replace him.

Of course if we go 2-14 to 4-12 then I'd say QB should be a priority.

[TigerJ]

Re: If Fitz comes out of the next 6 games with a winning record.....

Does every QB throw a perfect pass every time or never throw some bad passes? Not saying he is Tom Brady or a future franchise QB but every QB are going to have bad throws during a game or stretches of bad games.

By that logic then Manning is terrible. He threw 3 INT's last week against the Pats with the last one a horrible pass which sealed a victory for the Pats.

I agree that most QBs have an occasional off target pass, and bad games. I know it's my subjective opinion, but it does seem to me that thus far in his Buffalo career, Fitzpatrick has had some lulus, and some of them have come at very critical times.

I did see that Manning had a terrible game, though that is pretty unusual for him.

We are all entitled to our opinions, and I have stated that it does not affect my status as a Bills fan. I will not "defect" if the Bills choose to make Fitzpatrick their starter long term. Fitzpatrick will prove me wrong, or he'll prove me right. I will be just as happy, actually more so, if I'm wrong.