Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick thinks the NFL lockout could hurt the Bills more than other teams in the league.
Fitzpatrick and about 30 of his Bills teammates spent the past week in Western New York practicing on their own to help prepare for the season.
Since the Bills have a very young group of wide receivers and running backs on offense Fitzpatrick believes they need more time to work together.
"The amount of youth that we have there and even at running back with C.J. everybody is looking for those guys to make a huge jump from there rookie year to there second year and without this offseason stuff it makes it hard, so I think we will be a team that will be hurt more than others."
This will be the first time in Fitzpatrick's NFL career that he begins the season as his team's starting quarterback. This offseason he's taken a leadership role. Earlier this spring he organized a week of workouts for his receivers and running backs back at his home in Arizona.
This past week at the player organized workouts Fitzpatrick ran most of the drills with the offense.
Second year receiver David Nelson agrees that the offense needs more time to practice together.
"Trying to ride the momentum we had toward the end of the year, went 4-4 the last eight games. Training is crucial, especially being together and building that chemistry together."
It's not just the Bills offense that needs to practice. The Bills have a young defense still working to make the transition to a 3-4 scheme. Buffalo also added seven defensive players in the draft. Top pick Marcell Dareus, linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and safety Da'Norris Searcy all attended the workouts this week.
Safety Jairus Byrd says the team workouts can help with their development. "Last year we were young we got a new system put in, and now is the time you take the big leap. This is a small step but it's helping."
Linebacker Reggie Torbor says the defense can't allow the lockout to hold them back. "We will find a way. We're not the only team going through this, everyone has to deal with it."
Fitzpatrick says if the lockout continues he will plan another workout with his offense back in Arizona and the team will look to regroup again in Western New York later this summer.
WGRZ