The Buffalo Bills need a quarterback.
About that, there is no question.
New Bills head coach Rex Ryan though, has assembled an offensive group of potent run-first weapons that excel at spreading the defense horizontally which may, as far as this is actually possible, be able to assuage the lack of a true franchise-caliber signal-caller - not having a quarterback will continue to separate the Bills and the rest of the AFC East from the Patriots though, about that, there also is no question.
Despite the lack of a franchise QB, the addition of former Patriots, Chiefs and Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel immediately upgraded the game's most important position for the Bills and provides the team, along with their other offseason additions, namely running back LeSean McCoy, receiver Percy Harvin, tight end Charles Clay and guard Richie Incognito, a stronger-than-fighting chance for the 2015 season.
Does it also afford them the glorious and wholly symbolic title of 'Most Improved Offense in the NFL?'
"NFL Media analyst Bucky Brooks has outlined the reasons to expect new coordinator Greg Roman's offense to spark a legitimate playoff run this season. Minus a reliable quarterback, Roman will orchestrate a run-centric offense with McCoy, bruising lead blocker Felton and savvy veteran Fred Jackson. The 49ers ranked eighth, fourth, third and fourth in the past four years under Roman," writes Chris Wesseling of NFL.com, who slots the Bills at No. 1 in his list of most improved offenses.
"In Harvin and Sammy Watkins, Roman has the benefit of two explosive weapons to draw up creative misdirection runs and gadget plays that will frustrate defensive coordinators. Throw in tight end Charles Clay and possession receiver Robert Woods, and the Bills might have more weapons than any offense in the league."
Indeed, if Roman's power-running juggernaut he created in San Francisco is the expected goal for the Bills and Ryan - and it certainly seems to be - Buffalo should easily be capable of improving on last season's mediocre offensive output, which saw the team finish 25th in the NFL in rushing yards and 18th in passing yards.
Really, the only question that remains for the Bills and their currently constructed offense, as Wesseling notes, is whether or not all these horizontally dangerous weapons can also find a way to stretch the field vertically.
Watkins and Harvin shouldn't have a problem there; it will simply be a matter of whether or not Cassel can get the ball to them in a timely and accurate fashion.
While 'Most Improved' does not necessarily translate to 'Expected To Be At Or Near The Top Of The League,' it certainly seems that Ryan has taken some major steps to lay the groundwork for that "bully" he talked about building at his opening press conference.
Luckily for Buffalo fans, with a defense positively overflowing with talent the Bills offense won't be tasked with winning many shootouts. If they can do just enough to put Buffalo ahead most weeks, Ryan and his complex defensive schemes should be able to do the rest.
