Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills' Passing Attack Has Been Solved

Jamming our receivers at the line of scrimage playing physical man-to-man is causing a lot of our passing woes. Casserly pointed it out on his post:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16112140/week-10-thoughts-magic-is-over-for-bills

Also then you have Fitzy trying to jam it into receivers where they have not created any separation. Beating man to man coverage comes with quick hitting slants and drags across the middle. Also beating them over the top which Fitz has been trying to throw (i.e. the 4th down play in the first half), but we don’t have the Dez Bryants at WR to make plays over a CB. Fitz doesn’t throw a lot of back shoulder throws either because his accuracy isn’t that great.

Spiller is about our only speed and did beat his guy long… you just are asking a kid to do something that he hasn’t done probably his whole career and it isn’t always going to work.

I am one of the few people that actually like with Brad Smith comes in the game to take the snaps… I’d like to see more of it and more of him running the read option with Spiller/Jackson, etc. I am just waiting for a few plays where he fakes the run and pulls up and tossing a few too. That will soften up the defense a bit and keep them on their toes… Why do we continue to do the same things when teams know what we are doing week after week.

When the defense disguises coverages and blitzes, he gets in trouble – i.e., the Calvin Pace int last week, and the unblocked blitzers getting home against the Cowboys.

We’re also getting stuffed in our short game. The quick screen to Fred yesterday is a great example – 5 Cowboys read the play and were there immediately. We sent Chandler in motion across the formation to come block, but the Cowboys diagnosed the screen and buried it. They obviously were not worried about us sneaking anything over their heads.

I guess I may be in a minority who thinks we need to use Fred more as a decoy in the passing game. Get him more touches in the run game, but let him draw attention outside in the pass game and go elsewhere. Boy, how nice would Roscoe Parrish be right about now?

Particularly the receivers and O’line. That has to have a significant impact on a teams ability to play consistent football.

You can’t mess around with you left tackle, right guard and slot receiver and deep threat receiver (I think that is what donald jones is) and not see an impact.

Steve Johnson has been playing with a groin injury. A significant injury for a receiver.

A QB will only be as good as his surrounding cast. Fitz’s team mates are banged up or coming back from injury. When he had a full deck he was awesome.

Let’s take a breath and see how this thing pans out.

And that happens to every/our team every year. If only no starter got hurt we’d be awesome. We lack a QB and quality starters/depth at quite a few positions of need. This hasn’t changed since before draft. Remember were re building again:)

we know what he lacks, we know what he brings to the table. we finally have a qb that can win in a 2 minute drill, and dont say he cannot as he did it when the team was healthy. We also know he is raw, it is his first time starting a full season, so basically he is in his sophmore year. He did have a chance in the 2 minute during the Giant game and blew it,so we know he needs help. The great thing is, we know he is our starting qb and will be for the next few years, so we can use those draft picks to get him talent on the wr core (easly and parrish are still on the team however), better TE’s and maybe some CB’s too. Point is, we wont have that QB talk for the next few years when April rolls around and this team can build around him. I mean, last April who thought we would even be having this discussion? Werent people laughing at the though of the playoffs, now we are worried we wont make it, and upset we lost the division lead? If that isnt progress i dont know what is. Go Fitz, Go Bills, Sign Freddie and Stevie to long term deals, get better Eric Wood and D. Bell. 2014 Superbowl vs. Detroit here we come!

While I agree that it was way too early to hand out that type of money to what in my opinion is still an unproven QB, with a lot to prove still. Fitz is smart and definitely a leader, but doesn’t have the arm strength. But in his defense, the Bills have not provided him with the personnel needed to enhance his game. No deep threat at Wide Receiver to stretch the field and too many injuries with free agent castoffs in Donald Jones and Marcus Easley – Naaman Roosevelt, give me a break! Draft a few quality wide receivers that can get open and a tight end that can get open, might be able to see Fitz numbers go up. The only option for Fitz is Fred Jackson and Fred Jackson. It’s time to get rid of Roscoe Parrish as well. Bills need to draft or look at this position in free agency next year. He has no supporting cast!

don’t mean to kick fitz when he’s down. i’ve given the man credit when he’s played well and been critical when he’s played poorly. but all along i have stated i’m unhappy about his contract extension not so much because of the amount of money he is getting. rather because i still don’t believe he is talented enough to take us to championship-contender level. for that we need an elite qb. and i just don’t believe fitzy is or ever will be that.

Fitzz does a lot of good things, but I still wish we had drafted a QB!