ThunderGun
04-03-2013, 03:30 PM
http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42942/260/tape-review-buffalo-bills
The Offense: Despite featuring one of the sport's most electric players in C.J. Spiller, the 2012 Buffalo offense was one of the most plain attacks in the league due to inept quarterback play. Head coach and play-caller Chan Gailey ran the closest thing to a college spread offense as you’d find in the NFL. The Bills routinely used four- and five-receiver sets. The offensive line, especially the interior, was super athletic, which allowed Buffalo to be proficient in the screen game. There just weren’t enough weapons outside, and sometimes it was hard to figure out what was going through Gailey’s head.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick: The 30-year-old cannot drive the ball down the field or outside the numbers, holds onto the ball too long, makes bad reads, and throws the least-effective deep ball in the league. Fitzpatrick routinely short-hopped throws on basic pass patterns. It looked like he needed to put all of his power into simple ten-yard routes. The arm strength just isn’t there. Fitzpatrick also had a special knack for turning the ball over at the worst times, killing his team. One example of this whole summation of flaws occurred in Week 7 versus the Titans. Up 34-28 late in the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick targeted Donald Jones 15 yards down the right sideline and badly underthrew the pass. Jason McCourty picked it off with ease, setting his team up at the 50-yard line with 3:00 to go. Nate Washington later caught the winning touchdown. In Week 10 at New England, "FitzMagic" recreated another horrific ending to a game the Bills were in position to win. Down by six on the final drive, Fitzpatrick threw a back-breaking, mind-numbing interception in the end zone to Devin McCourty. The pass wasn’t even near his intended receiver. ... When Fitzpatrick didn’t turn the ball over, the Bills were 4-0. They went 5-1 in games that Fitzpatrick didn’t throw an interception. … Fitzpatrick was released this offseason and is now the backup to Jake Locker in Tennessee.
Running Backs
C.J. Spiller: Spiller is one of the most electrifying players in the league with homerun ability every time he touches the ball. Spiller’s lateral agility is second to none. He possesses elite burst, acceleration, and elusiveness. Spiller’s jitterbug style gives linebackers nightmares, and he’s a chore to tackle in the open field. A ten-yard touchdown run in Week 6 versus the Cardinals made Kerry Rhodes, one of the league’s better safeties last season, look foolish as Spiller broke Rhodes' ankles. In Week 13 against the Jags, Spiller broke off one of his better runs of the year. A stretch run designed to the right was bottled up, so Spiller jump-cut and shuffled back behind the line all the way to the left before shooting upfield for an untouched 44-yard score. … The 25-year-old possesses natural hands in the pass game, but his blitz pickup skills need work. Spiller turned dump-offs and check-downs into monster gains on a regular basis. … Although Gailey’s creativity allowed Spiller to get into space, the old-timer often criminally underutilized his Ferrari back. New coach Doug Marrone’s offenses at Syracuse finished with more rushing than passing attempts in each of his four seasons at the university, and Spiller should finally take over lead-back duties in 2013. His fantasy potential is through the roof.
Fred Jackson: Jackson is the one-cut back and steady veteran complement to Spiller, but Gailey trusted F-Jax too often in 2012. The 32-year-old was never healthy after spraining his LCL in Week 1, and his season ended in Week 14 after Jackson sprained his MCL in the same knee. … Jackson isn’t going to make many guys miss and is a back that will lower his head instead of trying to run around a defender. That particular running style made him the Bills' go-to back in the red zone. Spiller touched the ball just six times inside the opponent’s ten-yard line all season. Unfortunately, Jackson had a bit of a fumbling issue in scoring position. He fumbled at the one-yard line against the Patriots in a game the Bills went on to lose by six points. He also lost a fumble at the 14-yard line in Week 14 against the Rams. Buffalo lost that contest by three points. … Like Spiller, Jackson is a tremendous pass-catcher. In Week 4 against the Patriots, he split out wide left, drawing Jerod Mayo in single coverage. Jackson roasted Mayo down the sideline for a 34-yard gain on third-and-three. In the same game, Jackson picked up 16 yards on a third-and-15 screen play to the right, setting up a Donald Jones touchdown. Jackson’s ability to pick up the blitz is what gave him a leg up over Spiller on passing downs. … Jackson has missed 12 games over the last two seasons, and his longest run of 2012 was just 15 yards.
The Offense: Despite featuring one of the sport's most electric players in C.J. Spiller, the 2012 Buffalo offense was one of the most plain attacks in the league due to inept quarterback play. Head coach and play-caller Chan Gailey ran the closest thing to a college spread offense as you’d find in the NFL. The Bills routinely used four- and five-receiver sets. The offensive line, especially the interior, was super athletic, which allowed Buffalo to be proficient in the screen game. There just weren’t enough weapons outside, and sometimes it was hard to figure out what was going through Gailey’s head.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Fitzpatrick: The 30-year-old cannot drive the ball down the field or outside the numbers, holds onto the ball too long, makes bad reads, and throws the least-effective deep ball in the league. Fitzpatrick routinely short-hopped throws on basic pass patterns. It looked like he needed to put all of his power into simple ten-yard routes. The arm strength just isn’t there. Fitzpatrick also had a special knack for turning the ball over at the worst times, killing his team. One example of this whole summation of flaws occurred in Week 7 versus the Titans. Up 34-28 late in the fourth quarter, Fitzpatrick targeted Donald Jones 15 yards down the right sideline and badly underthrew the pass. Jason McCourty picked it off with ease, setting his team up at the 50-yard line with 3:00 to go. Nate Washington later caught the winning touchdown. In Week 10 at New England, "FitzMagic" recreated another horrific ending to a game the Bills were in position to win. Down by six on the final drive, Fitzpatrick threw a back-breaking, mind-numbing interception in the end zone to Devin McCourty. The pass wasn’t even near his intended receiver. ... When Fitzpatrick didn’t turn the ball over, the Bills were 4-0. They went 5-1 in games that Fitzpatrick didn’t throw an interception. … Fitzpatrick was released this offseason and is now the backup to Jake Locker in Tennessee.
Running Backs
C.J. Spiller: Spiller is one of the most electrifying players in the league with homerun ability every time he touches the ball. Spiller’s lateral agility is second to none. He possesses elite burst, acceleration, and elusiveness. Spiller’s jitterbug style gives linebackers nightmares, and he’s a chore to tackle in the open field. A ten-yard touchdown run in Week 6 versus the Cardinals made Kerry Rhodes, one of the league’s better safeties last season, look foolish as Spiller broke Rhodes' ankles. In Week 13 against the Jags, Spiller broke off one of his better runs of the year. A stretch run designed to the right was bottled up, so Spiller jump-cut and shuffled back behind the line all the way to the left before shooting upfield for an untouched 44-yard score. … The 25-year-old possesses natural hands in the pass game, but his blitz pickup skills need work. Spiller turned dump-offs and check-downs into monster gains on a regular basis. … Although Gailey’s creativity allowed Spiller to get into space, the old-timer often criminally underutilized his Ferrari back. New coach Doug Marrone’s offenses at Syracuse finished with more rushing than passing attempts in each of his four seasons at the university, and Spiller should finally take over lead-back duties in 2013. His fantasy potential is through the roof.
Fred Jackson: Jackson is the one-cut back and steady veteran complement to Spiller, but Gailey trusted F-Jax too often in 2012. The 32-year-old was never healthy after spraining his LCL in Week 1, and his season ended in Week 14 after Jackson sprained his MCL in the same knee. … Jackson isn’t going to make many guys miss and is a back that will lower his head instead of trying to run around a defender. That particular running style made him the Bills' go-to back in the red zone. Spiller touched the ball just six times inside the opponent’s ten-yard line all season. Unfortunately, Jackson had a bit of a fumbling issue in scoring position. He fumbled at the one-yard line against the Patriots in a game the Bills went on to lose by six points. He also lost a fumble at the 14-yard line in Week 14 against the Rams. Buffalo lost that contest by three points. … Like Spiller, Jackson is a tremendous pass-catcher. In Week 4 against the Patriots, he split out wide left, drawing Jerod Mayo in single coverage. Jackson roasted Mayo down the sideline for a 34-yard gain on third-and-three. In the same game, Jackson picked up 16 yards on a third-and-15 screen play to the right, setting up a Donald Jones touchdown. Jackson’s ability to pick up the blitz is what gave him a leg up over Spiller on passing downs. … Jackson has missed 12 games over the last two seasons, and his longest run of 2012 was just 15 yards.