 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick |
Going into 2011, there is no doubt who will be starting under center. But that doesn't mean the season is going to be free of a quarterback controversy. Quite the opposite. Eyes will be glued on Ryan Fitzpatrick's every movement on the field, as fans and the media hope to answer the question on everyone's minds: Is he the Bills long-term answer?
It's a debate that's been ongoing since the mid-point of last season, thanks to Fitzpatrick's surprising improvement and inspiring leadership. Some believe he can become a successful NFL star with more skill around him on the roster. Others (such as myself) are skeptical of his maddening inconsistency and "low-ceiling" in the talent department.
So what must Fitzpatrick do in 2011 to prove his doubters wrong? I've listed five things the veteran passer must accomplish to shut up his biggest critics:
#1: Keep the Bills in the playoff race for most of the season
Yes, football is a team sport. But having a top quarterback is the most important factor in whether a team consistently wins or loses each week.
Look at some of the teams that make the playoffs every year: New England, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Diego, Philadelphia, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans. All have good/elite quarterbacks. Now check out the NFL Draft. The majority of teams with a top-ten pick have questions at quarterback.
Can you imagine a Peyton Manning or Tom Brady led team missing the playoffs? Put Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger or Philip Rivers on any team, and they would at least be in the hunt for a wild card spot.
Chicago plus Jay Cutler = NFC Championship Game. Arizona minus Kurt Warner = Top 5 draft pick. It's not a coincidence.
Maybe Fitzpatrick played better than his Bills predecessors on the field. But a 4-12 record (4-10 with him as the starter) was even worse than what we got from J.P. Losman or Trent Edwards led squads. If Fitz is the guy destined to win us a Super Bowl someday, he's got to keep us in contention through Christmas.
#2: Win games against the NFL's top teams
It happens every year.
The Bills wipe the floor with a couple of the NFL's cellar dwellers, raising everyone's hopes that they've finally turned the corner. But when a playoff-caliber squad comes to town, it's a different story. Buffalo either gets slapped silly (see Weeks 16-17 last season) or finds a heartbreaking way to collapse in the game's final quarter (see Weeks 7-8 and 12).
That has to change in 2011. At some point, the Bills have to start proving they can do more than "hang" with the good teams. They have to start beating them. And as the team leader, it's up to Fizpatrick to lift his team to that next level.
Sure, our veteran quarterback looked like a star against the Bengals defense last year. But a few weeks later, the offense scored three points as New England extended its winning streak against us to a whopping 16. Fitzpatrick himself contributed five turnovers (two fumbles, three interceptions) and no touchdowns.
Winners step up in big games. The pretenders are exposed. Which one is our quarterback?
#3: Lead Buffalo's offense to finish in the top half of the league
Our offense has been pathetic for a long time. And while the Fitzpatrick-led version seemed a lot better to the naked eye, the numbers didn't really support that belief. In 2011, the Bills finished 28th in points scored, 25th in overall yards and 24th in passing yards.
Fitzpatrick's individual statistics ranged from average to poor:
· 230.8 yards passing per game (16th in the NFL)
· 23 total passing touchdowns (tied for 13th in the NFL)
· 57.8 completion percentage (27th in the NFL)
· 81.8 quarterback rating (22nd in the NFL)
After exploding against Cincinnati in Week 11, the Bills failed to score 20 points in any of their last six contests.
Now, we all know that Buffalo isn't a team full of offensive superstars. But it does have one of the NFL's top offensive minds calling plays in head coach Chan Gailey. It has talent at running back with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller. Wide receiver is supposedly a strength of the team. The offensive line is clearly improving.
If Fitzpatrick is truly the answer, that kind of skill should be enough to move the ball and put up points on a regular basis.
#4: Maintain a touchdown-to-interception ratio closer to 3:1
If Fitzpatrick has a glaring weakness, it's in remaining consistent from throw to throw. One minute he's rifling a bullet between defenders with astounding accuracy. The next, he's floating uncatchable ducks 15 yards above the receiver's head.
In 2010, he finished with 23 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions and five lost fumbles. It was the first time in his six NFL seasons that Fitzpatrick finished with more scores than turnovers.
After watching "Captain Checkdown" run the offense, Fitzpatrick's gunslinger mentality was a breath of fresh air. But he's got to find balance in his game. Touchdowns are awesome. Turnovers are a killer.
#5: Have the team fighting for him by season's end
The support for Fitzpatrick was strong enough this offseason to convince Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey to pass on a quarterback in the draft. The players are backing him too.
But would the story be the same if Andrew Luck was available instead of Blaine Gabbert? How about Matt Barkley and Landry Jones instead of Jake Locker and Christian Ponder?
Fitzpatrick is only 28 years old and entering his seventh NFL season. This isn't going to be about age. It's going to be about his play and whether he gives the team its best chance at winning a championship in the long-term.
Everyone in the organization knows he's currently the best quarterback option on the roster. They might also agree that this year's crop of rookie passers was a poor one. But that kind of support won't be there forever, unless Fitzpatrick steps up his game.
When 2011 is over, he can't leave a sliver of doubt that he's the man going forward. If the organization is contemplating taking a quarterback in the 2012 draft, then Fitzpatrick has already lost.
No comments:
Post a Comment