Bleacher Report Debate: Can Ryan Fitzpatrick Lead Buffalo Bills to Prominence?

After adding Mario Williams in free agency, the Buffalo Bills are as close to contending for the AFC East crown as they possibly could be, all things considered.

But despite the fact that their front four might be the best in the NFL, the quarterback position will ultimately determine whether they are contenders or pretenders.

Ryan Fitzpatrick faltered down the stretch last year, albeit due to a fair number of injuries to himself, Fred Jackson and the rest of the team. But can he be counted on to put it all together in 2012, or will it all come apart?

To debate the topic, we bring in B/R Bills featured columnist Chris Trapasso, who can also be found on Twitter. You're the guest, so I'll let you start us off.

Chris: With Fitzpatrick, you have to take the good with the bad. He'll dart a handful of short-to-intermediate throws after making a correct and quick decision, then he'll force a few wobbly throws into traffic. 

Chan Gailey is fully aware of Fitzpatrick's shortcomings and should know that the Bills won't be able to compete for a playoff spot if his quarterback is slinging the ball all over the field. 

While Gailey loves the four- and five-wide sets from the spread, they should be relying on Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller throughout the entire course of a game. 

As seen with Spiller's emergence late in the 2011 season, the Bills need an offensive attack that features the running game more prominently. 

That, in turn, would alleviate pressure on Fitzpatrick, and the team wouldn't be forced to lean on him in critical situations. 

Fitz is more than a game manager because of his gunslinger DNA, but he'd serve the team better if his attempts stay below 35. 

If Gailey tempers Fitzpatrick's role in the offense, without completely hindering his strengths (which are his smarts and quick release), he can certainly be counted on in 2012.  

Erik: Fitzpatrick is not a top-10 quarterback. That's obvious and irrefutable. Balance in the offense, though, can help him get there. It's interesting you mention 35 as the magic number, because I think it's actually 30. The Bills only won two games last year when Fitzpatrick exceeded that number—and they were both in the first three games.

If the onus falls on Fitzpatrick, the Bills aren't going far.

Just as important as the balance in the offense, though, are their opponents. With that in mind, one look at the Bills' schedule for next season should have both Gailey and the Amish Rifle pretty trigger-happy. They face six formidable defenses from last year: the Jets twice, the Dolphins twice, the 49ers and the Texans. 

Beyond that, cupcakes: the Patriots twice, Jaguars, Titans, Chiefs, Rams, Seahawks, Colts, Browns and Cardinals. It's hard to predict these things based on last year, but it's harder to imagine a majority of those teams turning things around dramatically from last year.

As cliché as this will sound, though, his job will be easier if the Bills can stay healthy. Those injuries were a big part of their downfall last year, and it's hard to win any division—much less the AFC East, dominated by one of the best quarterback-head coach combinations in the NFL—if your team can't stay healthy.

Chris: You've astutely pointed out two aspects of a season that dramatically affect a quarterback's play.  

Blaming injuries for a sharp decline in productivity seems like the easy way out, but they were a major factor in Fitzpatrick's downturn. 

Losing his center Eric Wood and especially running back Fred Jackson were clearly major blows to Buffalo's offense. 

I feel that Fitz tried to force the issue far too often with both of those players out of the lineup. Yes, around 30 throws a game may be more reasonable but, like you said, the stoutness of the opposing secondaries he faces should dictate how often he throws the football. 

As I pointed out earlier, C.J. Spiller may be the key to all of this. If Spiller can pick up a good chunk of yardage on four to eight carries a game, it will significantly increase the chances Gailey relies on the running game and will keep Jackson fresh in late-game situations. 

However, it's important that Fitzpatrick's Favre-esque quarterback mentality isn't erased. As crazy as that sounds, I truly believe that. I'm fine with his willingness to take chances. Interceptions happen. But sometimes the big plays that have been absent from the Bills offense for so long come when Fitzpatrick lets it fly. 

He makes more plays with his feet than people think and has a great chain-moving wide receiver in Stevie Johnson. David Nelson is an imposing and reliable slot option, too. 

Just give me more balance and the biggest X-factor of them all—health. 

Erik: I don't think bringing up health is a cop-out in the case of the Bills. Most quarterbacks would have played poorly with that many injuries, but not many would have played as well as Fitz did in the first seven games with a healthy roster.

As far as the "Favre-esque" mentality, it doesn't need to be erased but it needs to be tempered. As much as injuries played a role in his play, there were some throws that just made you scratch your head, especially down the stretch when the Bills went 1-8. I'm fine with him taking chances, but it can't cost them games as it did in that stretch.

And I think you inadvertently bring up another caveat of a solid season for Fitzpatrick: another threat at receiver. Many mock drafts have the Bills taking Notre Dame wideout Michael Floyd, and if that happens, the Bills pass attack will look a lot like last year's but on steroids. With Floyd, Johnson, Nelson, Scott Chandler and a balanced dose of the running game...hoo-boy, watch out!

Chris: Floyd's my favorite prospect for the Bills at No. 10, although I wouldn't be against a trade back. 

If Buffalo drafts Floyd, their receiving corps would go 6'2'' (Stevie Johnson), 6'3'' (Floyd), 6'4'' (Marcus Easley, unproven) and 6'5'' (David Nelson). Add in 6'7'' tight end Scott Chandler, and you've got one of the more physically imposing receiving contingents in the NFL.

I'd be cool with that. 

Floyd would be the first big-bodied downfield threat the Bills have had since Eric Moulds. He'd unquestionably make Fitzpatrick's life easier.  

Erik: I agree with virtually everything you just said, and with that, I think our debate has drawn to a close.

I'd like to thank Chris once again for joining me in this debate, and I hope that I can catch up with you again soon for another topic.

For the readers, be sure to check back at the AFC East blog often for more debates on a wide range of topics across the AFC East and your favorite teams.

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