Edwards the Bills’ scapegoat

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Ryan Fitzpatrick announced as Bills new starting QB

The Buffalo Bills’ anemic offence is undergoing reconstructive surgery.

On Monday, first-year head coach Chan Gailey is hoping to patch things up by announcing quarterback Trent Edwards will be taking a spectator’s seat for the foreseeable future in favour of Ryan Fitzpatrick.

“We’re looking for a spark,” Gailey told buffalobills.com.  “We’re looking for something that gives us a new look, a new thought process, some new play on the field.  We’re looking for the right combination.  We haven’t found that yet.”

Off to a 0-2 start, the 58-year-old is hoping the switch can spark a resurgence in the air attack, currently ranked dead last in the NFL with just 120.5 yards per game.

Ironically, Fitzpatrick, who led the Bills to a 5-4 record last season in 10 games, has a career completion percentage of 57.8, slightly less than Edwards’ 60.9.

However, Buffalo completed just three passes for over 50 yards last season, all thanks to the arm of Fitzpatrick, perhaps signs of a deeper cohesion between the new starting pivot and the receiving corps.

“There’s some chemistry there because this isn’t my first time stepping in with them, which I’m excited about,” Fitzpatrick told the Associated Press.  “The good part is that there are pieces in place to get it done.”

One of those pieces will have to be the underachieving Lee Evans, who has only four receptions for 69 yards this season and is coming off his third career game in which he was held without a catch.

Although some of the blame for Buffalo’s scoring woes falls on the arm of Edwards, the team as a whole has only amassed 17 points in their first two contests.

Running out of breath

Their rushing attack hasn’t exactly run laps around the competition either.

Ranking 23rd in yards per game and managing just one touchdown, the ground game should certainly share part of the blame.

C.J. Spiller, the team’s first round draft choice this year, ran for just 26 yards on five carries against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.  Starter Marshawn Lynch had a more productive day, running for 64 yards on 17 carries.

The new-look offence will have to be in sync against their AFC East rival New England Patriots this upcoming Sunday, a team who has won eight straight at home against Buffalo dating back to 2001.

The Buffalo Bills’ anemic offence is undergoing reconstructive surgery.

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By: Rod Perry
Posted: Sep 21 2010 8:20 pm
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