Buffalo Bills: State of the Franchise, Ryan Fitzpatrick Extension and Much More

I voted on NFL.com for the Pro Bowl today, and for the first time in a while I didn't feel like a Buffalo homer when I cast my digital ballot for a few Bills players.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson and George Wilson were those guys, but you probably figured that out already.

After agonizingly experiencing a Sunday without Bills football, I guess I kind of lost track of the excitement this team has brought every weekend this fall, and what their start means for a shot at the playoffs. 

I've been waiting (the better word is probably "excited") to write this, with most of the "State of the Bills" pieces being published in the last week or following the loss to the Giants. 

Boy, am I glad I held off until now. 

My goal is to be as in-depth and comprehensive as possible, but not solely dwell or reflect on the past—forward thinking is always a good practice...

What I've Learned So Far: Offense

The Bills are a good team. 

Not a great team, not an elite team, not a team in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes, not a laughing-stock. 

They've shown life, giving fans a belief that they can compete every time out. 

Is there a game you look at on the schedule and think "Buffalo's getting blown out in that one"?

I don't.

Where to begin with this team?

Ryan Fitzpatrick

I'll start with Ryan Fitzpatrick, the heady quarterback that has been the focal point in a handful of national media human-interest stories and the recipient of countless interview questions about Harvard. 

I like to think of him as a system quarterback, but not in the conventional sense. 

When you hear "system quarterback," you think of an average signal-caller that does enough in a certain offensive system to give his team a chance at victory. 

Fitzpatrick is a system quarterback in the way he and Chan Gailey have grown together as seemingly one brain on Sundays. It seems like they know what play to call, where the blitz is coming from, and which wide receiver will come open—when this linebacker is drawn to this decoy on this fake. 

Fitzpatrick is unusual for this day and age in the NFL where athleticism rules more than ever, even at the quarterback position; he makes plays with his mind, not necessarily with his legs or rocket arm. 

It's his greatest strength, but can also haunt him. 

His quick decision making and ability to anticipate where a receiver will be has led to tremendous efforts against the Chiefs, the second half against the Raiders and Patriots, and the first half against the Eagles. 

But below-average touch on the deep throws have been critical in both losses. 

Will Fitzpatrick improve and become Aaron Rodgers-esque with his finesse game for the last 10 games?

No.  But you better believe he will continue to learn under the tutelage of Gailey and sharpen everything that has to do with where and when to throw the football. 

His weak arm is his biggest limitation, but it's not so poor that he can't fit the ball into tight windows.

Don't forget, Bills fans, that all quarterbacks make bad throws. Did you watch Joe Flacco on Monday Night Football against the Jaguars? How about Philip Rivers this season?

Just because those guys were first-rounders it seems they get a pass, but when Fitzpatrick under-throws a receiver or misses wide, he's just a bad quarterback from an Ivy League school. 

Stupid.

Chan Gailey

We've seen Gailey's offensive genius come to life with Fitzpatrick, Fred Jackson and others this season. Like his quarterback, he's not afraid to take a chance and is ready to take the heat if his shot down field is intercepted. 

I like that in my coach. 

The receivers are "system" guys, too, each with their own strengths. 

More importantly, they've surprisingly shown a versatility Gailey must have spotted and appreciated prior to the Lee Evans trade. 

They all can play in the slot, move to the outside, aren't afraid to go over the middle, can stretch the field, work well against man coverage, and can find soft spots in the zone. Effectively.

However, physically, none are incredibly talented.

The injuries to Roscoe Parrish and Donald Jones have been big, there's no doubting that. Jones displayed the speed to worry defensive coordinators and we saw how much Gailey liked Parrish last season. 

I haven't had one complaint about any game plan thus far. 

Gailey has recognized his opponents' deficiencies and done everything in his power to exploit them, while understanding the limitations his offense still has. 

The Eagles game plan was the best illustration of that. 

Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson has been the backbone.

Fitzpatrick becomes that much more dangerous when the Bills have established the run and have that pesky screen game in their back pocket. 

Jackson is playing at an All-Pro-level and he will continue to be the focal point of the offense for the remainder of the season; a true throwback runner who's being utilized in many ways, reminiscent of Thurman Thomas. 

On that note, how about the offensive line?

Offensive Line

A close second to Jackson for team MVP. 

They came into the year with extremely low expectations and have pass-protected like the New England Patriots and creating some major holes for Jackson. 

They have definitely jelled as a unit and their backups have performed admirably, though I can't wait for Kraig Urbik and Demetrius Bell to return. 

A lot of their stellar play has come from the quick passing game implemented by Gailey, but they deserve some respect. 

In today's NFL that's all about offense, offense, offense, the Bills have shown through six games that they have the offense to play with anyone. 

Scary Sidenote

Please, give me more C.J. Spiller. I don't care how Fred Jackson is playing out of his mind, but Spiller will allow Buffalo's feature back to be fresh in those final few games and eventually has to break a long-one, right?

If the first-round pick from a year ago isn't used more, we could be looking at the 2010 draft class as one of Buffalo's worst in a while. Think about it. But that's another whole article.

What I've Learned So Far: Defense

Stopping the run

The defense has been far more inconsistent than the offense.

It all starts with their inability to stop the run. 

They'll penetrate the gaps on first down, force a quarterback to throw the ball away on second down, then get gashed for 20 yards on a draw play on 3rd-and-long. 

Too many big plays at inopportune times. 

I was hoping when George Edwards was brought in last year, he'd help the defense on misdirection plays. 

That hasn't happened.  Buffalo is horrible on counters, reverses or any play that start on one side of the field and ends in the other. 

That's all about discipline to me and it needs to be fixed. 

Now. 

Secondary

The secondary has caused turnovers, actually a lot of them (12 INTs, six fumbles). But as we all figured, they don't come in groups of three or four every week. 

Allowing over 450 yards a game every Sunday won't cut it and I don't care what era of football they're playing in. 

The zone coverage has been nothing short of "soft" while Drayton Florence and Leodis McKelvin are either flagged for pass interference or getting burned when shifting to man coverage. 

George Wilson has excelled as an all-around safety this year, but like many players on this team, has some shortcomings. 

He isn't the fastest last line of defense and isn't necessarily the best athlete at the position.

Jairus Byrd has been great one game, then over-pursues and is caught out of position the next. I know he's not playing center field anymore like he did as a rookie, but I'd like to see him in on more deep pass breakups and occasionally reel in an interception. 

Too much to ask?

If Terrence McGee stays healthy and Aaron Williams returns, this group should be fine, but not if they have to cover for five seconds every play.

Linebackers and Pass Rush

The linebacking play has been light years ahead of last season. Nick Barnett isn't making the Pro Bowl this year, but he has brought a impactful, hard-hitting linebacker to the team that can get from sideline-to-sideline and make plays within the five yards of the line of scrimmage. 

Paul Posluszny couldn't do that. 

Andra Davis is still a solid run-stuffer in the twilight of his career, but is inept in coverage. I'd like to see more of rookie Kelvin Sheppard who looks to have potential as the other inside linebacker in the 3-4. 

In summation, all the problems have come from the lack of a pass rush. 

What else is new, right?

Consistently getting to the quarterback changes everything, and right now the Bills simply cannot apply pressure. 

They need to send multiple blitzers to even hurry the opposing signal caller, which puts too much burden on their cornerbacks.

If they don't get a spark from this unit in the final 10 games, they'll continue to give up a lot of points and lose games in spite of great play from the offensive unit.

Just like the rest of the league, injuries haven't helped this team, and they've been magnified due to the lack of overall depth.  

Moving Forward

The Bills should beat the Redskins on Sunday. Period. (How bad does it stink that his meaningful game is in Toronto? The last three years it hasn't really mattered. Now it does.)

Washington is starting John Beck, they're without Chris Cooley, Trent Williams, Santana Moss and Tim Hightower. 

What more could you want? 

I don't want to call this a "measuring stick game" but if Buffalo is really a playoff-bound team, this needs to be a "W."

It'll be interesting to see how the defense plays in this one. 

Washington is easily the least explosive team they've played to date. If they make John Beck look like Tom Brady or allow Ryan Torain to average something like six-yards-per-carry, Buffalo could be in for another collapse. 

On offense, I have faith in the game plan that will be set forth by Gailey. Fitzpatrick has had time to not only think about, but work on his intermediate and deep passes, and don't be surprised to see a few new wrinkles. 

We'll see what this team is really made of after the game in Toronto

How do they matchup with the Jets? The Chargers? The Titans?

It's not worth my time or yours to run down the schedule and predict what they'll do against each team, but getting to nine or 10 wins before that season-ending game in Foxborough would be in the team's best interest, don't you think? 

Is it doable? Yes.

Will it be a stroll in the park? Certainly not. 

Reaction to Recent News

Shawne Merriman

Shawne Merriman, done for the year. Maybe done as a Buffalo Bill. 

I'll try to make this relatively short and sweet. 

Buddy Nix took a risk last year, and took an even bigger one—albeit not huge— this season. Say what you want about Merriman's leadership, or his recruitment of Barnett and Kirk Morrison—the experiment with the star-crossed player was a failure. 

He was brought in to bolster one of the league's worst pass rushes and he had one sack as a Buffalo Bill. 

With Merriman, I think the same as I did about when Evans was traded: not the end of the world. 

It gives the young, hungry players a chance to show their stuff.

On that same note, Torell Troup's play with Kyle Williams on the sideline is far more important than Merriman's presence. 

Troup must occupy interior offensive lineman to create space for the playmakers on Buffalo's defense. 

Don't be surprised to see Marcell Dareus move inside, too. 

Contract Extensions

As far as the Fitzpatrick contract extension goes, I'm fine with paying him like Matt Cassell or Kevin Kolb.

He's got some solid football ahead of him.

Even if Buffalo is able to draft their dream franchise quarterback in the next few years, they won't have to pay the youngster a ridiculous amount of money he hasn't earned because of the new CBA ,and that player will fall into the ideal situation learning the intricacies of playing the position with Fitzpatrick as a mentor.

Sign him. 

Get a deal done for Freddy, too.  

Conclusion

I'm just ready to watch some relevant Bills football when it starts getting cold up here in Buffalo. 

I don't mind the weather, having lived through it my whole life, but scraping the ice off my car on a frigid December morning wouldn't be as bad knowing the Bills were in a meaningful game that weekend.

I'm expecting them to take me on the classic wild ride every Sunday. 

I'm strapped in.

The defense has to show me something and I'm pumped to see if those offensive players will continue to justify my Pro Bowl ballot.