NFL Preseason Week One: AFC East Pros & Cons
Written by Adrian Gregory Glover // August 13, 2012 // Feature, Lists, NFL // No comments
The first round of preseason games are just about in the books. At this stage of the process teams are looking at under-the-radar prospects to find gems that can add depth to their rosters while rolling out their base packages and formations to get their starter’s feet wet.
You can’t read too much into anything but there are some interesting things to keep your eyes on in the AFC East.
Buffalo Bills:
Bottom Line: The Bills appear to be taking evolutionary steps towards becoming a legit player in the AFC. Coach
Pros: Chan Gailey is finally making a serious effort to integrate the gifted C.J. Spiller into his offensive scheme and he’s allowing his QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to call his on plays and match-ups on the field.
Fitzpatrick’s one of the more cerebral players in the league and allowing him to diagnose on-the-fly might not be a bad idea.
Defensively, the secondary lead by rookie Stephon Gilmore is playing at a faster tempo. With various levels of talent taking the field, the Bills showed their depth on this side of the ball by holding the Redskins to seven total points.
Cons: Like it was said before allowing Fitzpatrick to take charge might be a good idea. If this experiment is to work, the Harvard graduate’s physical tools will somehow have to catch-up with his mental strengths.
Against the Redskins, Fitz made a few wonderful reads yet could not execute what he was going for. In particular, his inability to put a better touch on an overthrown ball to WR Derek Hagan cost the Bills a big play.
WR Stevie Johnson took some of the heat off his QB’s miscues when he told the Washington Post that the offense as a whole has to play better. “We’re the ones (starters) so we’ve got to play like ones,” Johnson said. “It’s only so long before it’s going to be Week 1, when we’ll be going out there and playing against the Jets. So let’s get it going.”
Neither Tyler Thigpen nor Vince Young looked as if they really are hungry to make any noise thus far.
The Bills defense made RG3 look great by giving up a big pay day to WR Pierre Garcon.
