BILLS QBs since the JIM KELLY era

Ryan Fitzpatrick started 52 of a possible 64 games in his four seasons in Buffalo. Threw for 80 tds against 64 picks....

Fred Jackson was the Bills' leading rusher in three of Fitzpatrick's first four seasons. C.J Spiller the other. Top receiving threats were Terrel Owens in his last season and Stevie Johnson; who is the only Bill WR to record three straight 1,000 yd seasons...Ryan Fitzpatrick was efficient at times and appeared to be among the best QB's Buffalo has had in the last 20 years. He will be remembered as an overachieving 7th rounder, who resurrected his journeyman career there.
Adept at game management and improvisation. Well liked in Buffalo.  
Starting record of 20-33 in Buffalo. Played under coaches Dick Jauron, Perry Fewell and Chan Gailey. 

He is still going in 2015, leading the Houston Texans. Had a career best 

95.3 passer rating last season.

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 Drew Bledsoe remains ranked 10th all time in NFL career passing yards. He played 14 years.  

The former NE Patriots #1 pick started all 48 games in three seasons in Buffalo. A heralded free agent in 2002 following 9 seasons in NE, including a SuperBowl trip in 1996 with Bill Parcells,

To his credit, the 2004 squad finished 9-7 despite a 1-5 start, many wins coming in dominant fashion. Bledsoe's big flaw in western NY was a terrible 2003....especially given the talent around him. The line was a problem also. The team finished 6-10 and he produced by far the lowest yards per game total and Qb rating of his career. The 4-time pro bowler was sacked a league high 49 times that year.

Consider his leading backfield mate Travis Henry's numbers in 2002 and 2003:
2002- 325 carries 1,438 yds 4.4 avg. 13 tds
            43 catches 309 yds  1 td   11 fumbles

2003- 331 carries for 1,356 yds 10 tds

		28 catches 158 yds 1 td  7 fumbles

Willis McGahee 2003 stats:

284 carries for 1,128 yds 3.8 avg. 13tds

Eric Moulds' 2000 numbers: 

100 catches

1,287 yds

12.9 avg. 10tds

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FANS thought Doug Flutie should have never been sat for that now infamous "freak loss" to Tennessee in the 1999 wild card playoffs. His record as a starter with Buffalo (from '98-'00)
was an impressive 21-9. The man knew how to command an offense and had an impressive knack for imrovisation; something he displayed at his many other stops in the NFL and the CFL also.
He threw 47 tds against 30 ints for the Bills.

Todd Collins. 7-10 record. 16-19 TD-int ratio.

Buffalo's second round pick (45th overall) in 1995.  Played in Buffalo from 95-97, starting 4 games in two seasons behind an aging Jim Kelly, vying for PT with Alex Van Pelt. To be fair, Collins' QB rating was comparable to Jim Kelly's in his three starts in 1996. Kelly threw for just 14 tds against 19 int's that year, his final season. 

In 1997, his lone as the unquestioned leader of the Bills offense, Collins threw for just 2,300 yds, with 12 touchdowns and 13 picks. The team lost six of the last seven games in Marv Levy's final season.  

A year prior, the future looked bright for Collins' future with the Bills. He played well in his last action of the season with the Bills up by 14 in the 3rd qtr of week 12, against a would be 1-15 Jets team led by Frank Reich. 

Following that game Buffalo, again in Kelly's last season, was positioned at 9-3 and a strong contender for the AFC title. Darick Holmes and Quinn Early were the leading rushers and receivers behind also aging vets Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed. Both HOFs barely eclipsed 1,000 yards. 

Buffalo went on to lose three of four to end the season and lost to the expansion Jaguars in the wildcard round 10-7. This was the last hurrah for the dynasty that appeared in four straight SuperBowls. 

 Collins produced a 69.5 rating at the helm in 1997. The team finished 6-10. 

 KYLE ORTON 7-5 Record. 19 tds -10 ints

Kyle Orton's leading rusher in 2014 was Fred Jackson, with just 525 yards, Jackson also led the team in receptions, while rookie receiver Sammy Watkins nearly reached 1,000 yards in a spectacular debut. Playing for his 5th team in 9 seasons, Orton threw for 3,018 yards, 18 tds and 10 int's; posting a career best 87.8 rating.

J.P Losman

 

led the team for one season (2006), exactly 10 years after the legendary Jim Kelly made his departure. Losman has the distinction of being an afterthought as a first round pick (22nd overall) in a draft that included Ben Roethlisberger,
Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.

He didnt see the field in his 2004 rookie season, but played frustratingly mediocre, while going 1-7 as a starter and throwing for 8 tds and 8 picks in '05.  To his credit Losman did prove durable in starting all 16 games in his 3rd season. His TD to INT ratio improved from 19-14 and the team finished 7-9.

Third year pro Lee Evans was the lone receiving threat in '06 and put in his best work as a pro with 82 catches for 1,292 yds and 8 tds. The Bills finished 27th in offense and 28th in rushing and passing, respectively. An at then end of his road Peerless Price had just 49 catches and 402 yards, but still was the team's second best options in the passing game.
Over the next five years, Losman went on to win just 2 of 9 starts before retiring with the Dolphins in 2011 at age 30.

KELLY HOLCOMB

had a record of 8-16 in his six yr. career with 4 teams. His best work was done with Buffalo in 2005. That year he started 8 games going 4-4. 

 Kevin Kolb 

Kolb started for two games in place of the injured Donovan McNabb during the 2009 NFL season for the Eagles, and earned NFC Player of the Week honors following his week 3 performance against the Kansas City Chiefs. Following McNabb's trade to the Washington Redskins in April 2010, Kolb became the starting quarterback for the Eagles. However, after suffering a concussion in week 1 against the Green Bay Packers, Kolb was replaced at quarterback by Michael Vick. Vick suffered a rib cartilage injury in week four and Kolb was named the starter. When Vick returned after week eight, Kolb was relegated to a backup role. Kolb was traded to the Arizona Cardinals on July 28, 2011, in exchange for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 

Kolb agreed to a two-year contract for $13 million with the Bills in 2013. On August 24, Kolb suffered a severe concussion in a preseason game against the Washington Redskins. He was placed on injured reserve on August 30. Kolb was released in March 2014. Never having played a regular season down for Buffalo. Kolb remains retired. 

BILLS QUARTERBACKS going into 2015

MATT CASSEL ...likely starter 2015 

Matt Cassel never started a game at USC. Yet in his second year as a pro he helped lead the 2012 Patriots to an 11-5 finish in the year remembered most for Tom Brady's absence. One of the few teams in league history to miss the playoffs with 11 wins; the year prior they finished 16-0 and the schedule did them no favors.

He brings with him to Buffalo a 96-70 td-int ratio and the following accolades through his 10yr career with the Pats, four seasons leading KC and the last two largely ineffective with Minnesota.

• Pro Bowl (2010)
• AFC Champion (2007)
• 2× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (2008)
• AFC Offensive Player of the Month
  (November 2010)
• FedEx Air Player of the Week (Week 15–2013)
• Back to back 400-yard games (2008)

EJ MANUEL. 6-8 record. 16-12 td-int. ratio. 

Another high round draft pick in the mold of Trent Edwards and JP Losman? Looking more bust than boom in his first two seasons? The jury is still out as Manuel comes into his third season having started just four games a year ago. The talent is there. He remains a huge x-factor. Unpredictable. A 78.3 QB rating so far isn't bad. Not necessarily a big threat in the rushing attack. He should have every opportunity to win the starting job from Matt Cassell in 2015. 

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 <<<<<Chris Simms is on the Bills roster for 2015 and is expected to compete to be the 3rd QB option with Tyrod Taylor, an athletic QB, who has less pro experience. 

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Rob Johnson , the Jaguars in exchange for the Bills' first and fourth round picks in the '98 draft. Johnson was immediately named the starting quarterback after signing a five-year, $25 million contract. First-year Bills' head coach Wade Phillips proclaimed Johnson's arrival as the start of a "new era" for the franchise. This all happened following just 1 start in 3 seasons in expansion Jacksonville. He also started and won the final two preseason games in'97. 

Played in the NFL for parts of 9 seasons with 5 teams.

A member of the Bills for parts of four seasons, ultimately he finished with a 9-17 record there. He will always be remembered as the guy the coaching staff started over Doug Flutie during the height of Flutiemania, in the Music City Miracle against Tennessee in '99. Buffalo's last playoff appearance. 

 A 3rd-round pick for Buffalo, Trent Edwards was to be the QB of the future in Western, NY. From 2007-2009, Edwards posted a mediocre 14-16 record in Buffalo, putting up modest numbers on a team that never could muster any consistency despite showing flashes. He was eventually replaced by a more effective Ryan Fitzpatrick. Trent Edwards started one more game over the next three seasons and was out of the league by 2012.  

ALEX VAN PELT 

Played 9 seasons in Buffalo. He started 11 games total, winning 3. 

Buffalo Bills 2015: 5 Questions Heading Into Training Camp

The Buffalo Bills have the most pressing questions surrounding them this season; facing the prospect of stretching their playoff drought to 16 years.

How quickly will Coach Ryan make an impact?

Blue collar gritty town, blue collar eccentric coach... seems like a really great match going into the season. Can Ryan's tough quirky demeanor find favor in a locker room full of fresh faces?
Remember that out the gate, Ryan brought two Jets teams to the AFC championship, led by Mark Sanchez and Shonn Greene his main weapons. His defenses drew comparison to those who played under his father in Philadelphia and Chicago a generation ago. Frankly, Ryan led squads have been the only opposition to New England during their historic 15-year run of AFC East and NFL dominance, even knocking them out of the playoffs one year. Now, Ryan has arguably his most talented team to date, on both sides of the ball. He becomes Buffalo's 7th coach since 2000.

Is this they year they make the playoffs?

                                Franchise hero Jim Kelly tells team, "Get the Bills back in the playoffs"

After making the playoffs 10 out of 12 seasons from '88-99, the Bills remain in a historic drought, 15 years and counting. Winning 9 games last season has many believing the franchise to be on the upswing. A 3rd ranked defense a year ago led to Buffalo's first winning season since narrowly missing the playoffs in 2004. I attended the season finale then at Ralph Wilson Stadium, as the Bills lost convincingly to a 14-1 Steelers team that sat its starters (including unbeaten rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger).

The Bills' 2014 season was different, highlighted by a late season run that included an impressive gritty home win over Green Bay and against mighty New England in week 17. An off season of eye brow raising signings on offense undoubtedly has the Buffalo faithful thinking big. New owner Terry Pegula is a fan favorite in the area. There are obvious big shoes to fill following the passing of iconic team founder Ralph Wilson. It can be said that Buffalo surprised some people last season, but with some "experts" arguing the Bills are a top 10 contender, it is doubtful they will sneak up on anyone this season. The AFC is as strong as it has been in years and the AFC as a whole may be improved. The biggest question mark the team faces this season is undoubtedly quarterback play; largely expect to be among the league's worst. Stay tuned.

          BILLS RECORD the last 15 seasons

2014: 9-7 
2012-2013: 6-10
2011: 6-10
2010: 4-12
2009: 6-10
2006-2008: 7-9
2005: 5-11 
2004: 9-7
2003: 6-10
2002: 8-8
2001: 3-13
2000: 8-8

Will the numerous free agent acquisitions on offense pay off?

Mccoy joining the Bills is huge of course, as it is rare that a top offensive free agent lands
in Buffalo. When was the last time a high profile skill position player went to western NY?
Think Drew Bledsoe in 2003.

McCoy joins a long list of really productive Bills RB's over the last decade (Marshawn Lynch, Willis McGahee, Travis Henry). Out is the explosive but inconsistent and injury prone CJ Spiller.

Perhaps the opposite of flashy, the always steady Fred Jackson returns for his 10th season, a rarity for an NFL running back. Quietly, he actually has moved up the Bills all time rushing ranks and now only trails legends OJ Simpson and Thurman Thomas. The league's oldest back a third straight year, it's easy to imagine a scenario in which Jackson excels in a limited role behind the explosive McCoy. 

        RB Fred Jackson returns for a 10th season in 2015. He ranks third in team history in carries, yards and Tds 

The passing game gets a tremendous boost as well with the addition of FB turned TE Charles Clay. Blue collar and durable, it'll be interesting to see how he is utilized in a Bills system which traditionally has had tall plodding blocking TE types. Interestingly, Dustin Keller put up similar numbers in NY under Coach Ryan, as Clay has the past two seasons in Miami. It's not a stretch to think Clay can have the most productive overall season by a TE in team history. Pete Metzelaars' 1993 season (69 rec, 609 yards, 4tds) currently holds that distinction, while the departing Scott Chandler had the most yards with 655 yards in 2013. Clay could be a receiving threat out of the backfield ala Tom Rathman also so look for that. Larry Centers comes to mind when thinking what an ideal season from Clay could look like statistically.

Will Percy Harvin be lining up in the slot or out wide opposite Sammy Watkins? A super interesting and potentially great combination, how and if these two can stay healthy major question marks. Can Harvin having burned out his welcome quickly with two teams already, mesh with the personality that Ryan offers? Hmmm. It could decide how the offense gels.

Guard Richie Incognito made headlines a few seasons ago in the wrong way. However his addition to the Bills team could actually be of as much significance as any skill player. He brings a tenacity and veteran toughness that will certainly be welcomed in western New York. 

Who will man the offense?

                                      From l. to r.; QBs Jeff Tuel, Tyrod Taylor, Matt Cassel & EJ Manuel 

With the offense fully loaded, it ultimately will come down to line play, and how well EJ Manuel progresses. I don't think anyone is viewing a Matt Cassel-led attack as ideal, as he comes to Buffalo as the latest in the long line of journey men QBs and disappointing draft picks in Western, NY.
It is believed Manuel will be given every opportunity to take the leading role, but recent history (his and the franchise's)
suggest Cassel will likely win out. He is in the mold of solid, heady QB's Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kyle Orton who over the last five seasons have been the lone highlights in a revolving door for signal callers there.
Given the pieces in place, it is likely the offense may be in better hands under the likes of Cassel, in terms of game management and minimizing mistakes. He is tough and has been fairly durable but is by no means considered elite. Remember Ryan almost two Super Bowls with Mark Sanchez, so hey, you never know. The super athletic project Tyrod Taylor and inexperience Matt Simms round out the depth chart for now.

Will the Bills defense remain elite?

All-time great front four? l. to r.: Hughes, K. Williams, Dareus and M. Williams have combined for a whopping 80.5 sacks the last two seasons.

Heading into the season, it is hard to imagine this unit taking a step back following back to back seasons of dominant play. The front four are all pro bowlers and all made the NFL's top 100 players list. Ends Mario Williams and Jerry Hughes for a combined 47 sacks the last two seasons. That is an eye popping amount period, yet even more impressive considering tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams have tallied 33.5 sacks from the interior!
That's 80.5 sacks from four players, over two seasons. Right.
Backing up the line is an unheralded group of backers that are even more nameless given the departure of Kiko Alonzo. Youngsters Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown remain relative unknowns who played admirably to many observers last season. Manny Lawson is a veteran combo end/backer who figures to rotate prominently again.

In the secondary, keep a watch on starting CB and 8 yr Leodis McKelvin who ended 2014 on IR. Stephen Gilmore has been really good his first three seasons and is described as an aggressive hitter, and disciplined cover man. Duke Williams and Aaron Williams are back as the starting safeties. Both are athletic and solid tacklers, while Duke has just one pick in two seasons; Aaron Williams had four picks two seasons ago, proving he an be a playmaker.

Its also hard to see the Bills defense improving on their performance of the past two seasons, but something similar may be enough to get them to the playoffs this season. A lot will depend on the further development of a young secondary and linebacking core.