Grading the Bills’ Offense Through 9 Games This Season

Nov 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
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Sep 27, 2015; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay (85) stiff arm Miami Dolphins player during a game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Charles Clay has failed to meet expectations this season and has been almost invisible. He will need to have a good end of the season if the Bills want the playoffs.

  • What I Like: size, ability to get open, good hands, big-body is good for blocking, can line up in a plethora of formations, red-zone threat, has the potential to be a top tight end in this league
  • What I Don’t Like: injuries have kept him limited, hasn’t put up anything close to expectations, invisible at times, should be a bigger part of this offense — especially with a mobile QB like Tyrod Taylor, needs to bring in more of his targets
  • 2016 Receiving Statistics: 29 receptions, 46 targets, 283 yards, 9.8 average, 0 TD,11 first downs, 3 catches 20+ yards.
  • 2016 Fantasy Points: 

Charles Clay simply hasn’t been living up to expectations this season and only has seven games left to turn it around. Each week, we hear about how good of a matchup he has, but he hasn’t been able to bring in his targets.

Ravens work out veteran tight end Charles Clay, per report
Ravens work out veteran tight end Charles Clay, per report

Ebony Bird

  • 4 options if Panthers TE Ian Thomas goes down with injury Cat Crave
  • Carolina Panthers training camp: 3 questions at the TE position Cat Crave
  • 4 Free agent targets as Dallas Cowboys start training camp NFL Spin Zone
  • LA Chargers: Charles Clay is a better option than David Njoku Bolt Beat
  • New England Patriots: 5 Free agents to sign before training camp NFL Spin Zone
  • Clay’s 46 targets is second on the team behind Robert Woods (56) — who had 13 targets vs. Seattle. He has been one of Tyrod Taylor‘s favorite targets, but Clay has only brought in 29 of the 46. To make matters worse, the Bills haven’t found a way to utilize his red-zone ability and has resulted in Clay producing zero touchdowns so far this season.

    11 of his 29 catches have gone for first downs and 3 of them were catches of over 20 yards, but his average yards per catch is below 10. Clay will need to step it up and start to turn his opportunities into production.

    Having a productive Clay would do wonders for this offense. We already know how stellar the running game is and how versatile they are with the playcalling when rushing the ball. If Charles Clay can prove to be a bigger threat to teams, start to bring in more catches and score some touchdowns, then it would open the field up for all the other receivers.

    When you don’t produce, teams don’t worry about you as much. When you start to draw attention, it’s make the quarterback’s job much easier. The Bills’ running game keeps defenses guessing all game long — that’s what we need from our passing game too.

    Clay and Anthony Lynn have seven games to figure it out a way to get him more involved. Tyrod has proven that he can find him, now it’s time to start converting.

    Schedule