Chan Gailey Has Not Done Enough as Buffalo Bills’ Head Coach

No one expected new head coach Chan Gailey to turn the Buffalo Bills into playoff contenders right away, but there was at least supposed to be some sign of improvement and, so far, it’s been hard to find one.

After three weeks, the Bills are dead last in offense and 22nd in defense. They also recently released Trent Edwards, who started the season off as the team’s starter. He was benched in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick before the Bills’ Week 3 game against the New England Patriots, and apparently was not going to be given a chance to retake his spot.

But Fitzpatrick has shown time and again he’s not a starter. As a backup to come in and keep your team afloat for a few weeks, he’s a great option, but as a starter he’s below average.

Things looked good for him at the start of the Patriots game as he racked up nearly 250 yards through the air and two touchdowns, but finished the game off by throwing two very costly interceptions against New England’s 27th-ranked defense.

So what exactly gave Gailey the impression that he didn’t have to find a quarterback before the season? Did he not look at any film of the guys already on his roster? If he had, he likely would have come to the conclusion that neither was good enough and needed to be replaced.

And with guys like Marc Bulger and Derek Anderson floating around in free agency, it would have been very easy to find a replacement for at least a year or two while he drafted and developed a guy for the future.

Gailey did next to nothing in free agency to address the Bills other areas of need (for instance, everywhere) and cannot stick to a plan for the season. All the flip-flopping is a sure-fire way for a head coach in his first year to get fired. Owner Ralph Wilson is going to need to have a feeling that the team is at least on the way up for him to keep Gailey around for a second year, and I just don’t see what would give Wilson that feeling.

There’s time to turn things around, but this is essentially the same team as last year so there’s no reason to think they’ll be any better. In fact, outside of C.J. Spiller getting better as the year goes on, they might be less talented than they were in 2009.

Donte Whitner recently said he’s sick of the Bills being a laughingstock of the league, but if he wants that to change any time soon he better be hoping Bill Cowher is looking for a challenge.