Inside The Enemy Camp: Buffalo Bills

Welcome to our Chiefs/Bills game preview. We try to do a post every week where we go “Inside The Enemy Camp” to scout the Chiefs next opponent.

I spoke with Paul Mill over at Buffalowdown, Fansided’s Bills blog. Here is what he had to say.

AA: I will start out with the Chan Gailey connection. Chan was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs under Herm Edwards. Chiefs fans most remember him for the remarkable work he did with QB Tyler Thigpen that made a horrible season somewhat fun to watch.

I’ve always thought Chan has never gotten a fair shot at being a head coach. With the Bills being 0-6, what are your impressions of him so far? do you think he is a bum or that he is trying to turn around the franchise the right way?

BLD: It’s tough to judge a guy only 7 weeks into the season, and my verdict isn’t out yet with Chan Gailey.

But I will say that I really like how Gailey is a no nonsense type of coach. Even going back to earlier in the year, Gailey was working this team hard during training camp and the preseason , something that players weren’t use to under the Dick Jauron regime, and the hard work is finally starting to show out on the field.

More after the jump.

AA: Since I have mentioned Thigpen, we might as well move on to another QB nobody seems to think very much of in Ryan Fitzpatrick. He has had a couple of good weeks lately. What are our impressions of him? Do you think he can be the long term answer or is Chan just making the best of what he’s got?

BLD: Ryan Fitzpatrick has been an absolute beast over the past four games. He has thrown for 11 TDs over those games while having a passer rating of being slightly over 102.0. His play and command on the field has
finally bought excitement back to Bills football.

Now, although he has been playing outstanding football, I don’t think he is the long term answer for the Bills. Let’s remember that the Bills are still 0-4 during the games Fitzpatrick has started, and in the end, that’s all that really matters. And I think a lot people (including myself) are really excited over Fitz because 1) He is
finding a way to throw the ball down the field and 2) Look at the QBs we had to put up with over the past few seasons (Trent Edwards, J.P Losman).

And yes, I believe part of Fitzpatrick’s success is Coach Gailey getting the most out of his players on the field. Little used Steve Johnson and Roscoe Parrish are finally seeing the field under Gailey, and together they are helping out Fitzpatrick in the passing game by using their own unique skills to get open, taking the load off of Lee Evans.

AA: A lot of people were really excited about CJ Spiller coming out. Though he has seen flashes, he doesn’t seem to be getting the touches he needs to really produce in Buffalo. What is the story with him?

BLD: This seems to be a question that I get week after week and it’s really a touchy subject for me. If there is one thing I don’t understand so far in the beginning of the Chan Gailey era, it’s why aren’t they giving CJ Spiller more touches during the game? With so many holes to fill, the Bills took Spiller 9th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, and he has yet to see the field on a consistent basis. It seems like Spiller is confound to kick returns, and to spell relief for Fred Jackson.

Gailey has a reputation for making the most out of his talent (i.e Roscoe Parrish), so perhaps in due time Bills fans will see a heavier dose of Spiller, but for now I am dumbfounded as to why he has been handcuffed so far in the Bills offensive game plan.

AA: Other than the first game where the Bills defense only game up 15 points, the unit has been terrible relinquishing 34, 38, 38, 36 and 37 points to opposing offenses. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel or is this the worse defense in the league?

BLD: Coming into the season, as I mentioned before, one of the strongest units on this Bills team was suppose to be their secondary. But so far this season, the Bills have been getting lit up on the field by the opposing team’s running and passing attack, which led to the Bills franchise record of most consecutive games of letting up 30+ points.

And to understand why the Bills defense is so bad is quite simple. Think of it as a domino effect. The Bills defense is just about dead last in the league at stopping the run, so they try to fill the box with 8 men, leaving the secondary wide open for any play action play calls.

Also, the Bills aren’t having much luck at getting to the quarterback. When you can’t hurry up the QB, that gives the wide receivers time to break lose from the secondary which seems to be happening in ever game so far this season, leading to he onslaught of points being scored.

Aaron Maybin was drafted 11th overall in the 2009 NFL draft to solve the Bills pass rush problems, but so far Maybin has recorded 0 sacks in his young career, and was even a healthy scratch last week against Baltimore.

AA: Finally, what is your prediction for Sunday’s outcome?

BLD: The K.C Chiefs have been playing very competitive early so far this season, but I think the Buffalo Bills are due for an upset win, and I believe a few trick plays designed by Coach Gailey on Halloween will put the Bills on top in a close game decided by a field goal.

Bills: 27 Chiefs: 24