It would be easy and even convenient to look at the Jeff Quinn era and label his hiring a mistake.

What's the problem? Must be the coach.

University at Buffalo football is 4-17 since Quinn's arrival, with two of those wins over lower Football Championship Subdivision teams. Once again, the Bulls rank at or near the bottom in a slew of meaningful statistical categories. Their performances fluctuate with maddening inconsistency, with solid starts ceding to sorry finishes, and sorry starts nearly erased by the occasional frantic flurry.

But does the fault rest with Quinn and the coaching staff? Or does UB's ongoing mediocrity (and sub-mediocrity) speak to the continued difficulties in getting this program on its feet? Remember, UB has produced one winning record since entering the MAC in 1999 -- the title season of '08.

Quinn -- and his assistants -- have a history of success. It would be absurd to suggest they lack the knowledge and ability to put a winning team on the field. But they're up against what all coaches have been up against in UB's modern Division I era -- the challenge of recruiting talented players to an area with a bad-weather rap that can't begin to touch the football tradition of most schools within its conference. It's not an easy sell, and it's made all the more difficult by New York State's relative scarcity of Division I recruits.

Are better days/years ahead? Perhaps. Here's an assessment of where the Bulls stand on this bye weekend:

The offense

Quinn has run the no-huddle spread throughout his career, but it's increasingly evident it requires 11 players and a coaching staff in synch to make it hum. On occasion the Bulls have found the zone. Just as often they look lost. Delayed play calls come in from the sidelines. The offensive line breaks down. A receiver can't shake free of press coverage. It's no one thing.

Bringing in fifth-year senior quarterback Chazz Anderson lent leadership and stability, but next year the Bulls will find themselves right back where they were a year ago -- with inexperience behind center. So should they begin to transition and get sophomore backup Alex Zordich some playing time? Not if Anderson gives them the best chance a victory. Closing the season with a win or two is vital to this program's psyche.

Beside, it's freshman Joe Licata, not Zordich, who fits the prototype of a no-huddle spread QB. Which isn't to say Zordich won't win the job. He had a solid training camp. But Licata has the best arm out of the QBs on the roster.

Season-ending injuries to receivers Terrell Jackson and sophomore Alex Neutz will hamper the offense the final three weeks while providing a window into what's on the horizon. Jackson and current starters Marcus Rivers and Ed Young all graduate at a position that has been a disappointment, particularly when it comes to yards after the catch.

Sophomore running back Branden Oliver is a legitimate workhorse back, but fumbles the last two games create concerns he's fatiguing under the immensity of the workload. The offensive line still has to improve, and it stands to reason that it should with four starters coming back next year. Red-shirt freshman Andre Davis (Cheektowaga) in particular has outstanding potential at right guard.

The defense

The adage holds true. You have to be able to stop the run.

UB ranks 11th in the conference in rushing defense and correspondingly 12th in scoring defense. The Bulls haven't held the opposition under 30 points in any of the last five games.

The transition to the future already has commenced on the defensive line, with sophomore Colby Way having supplanted senior Gordon Dubois at right defensive end. That leaves nose guard Richie Smith, linebacker Fred Branch and converted safety Josh Copeland as the only senior starters.

Standout linebacker Khalil Mack hasn't been the dynamic presence he was over the season's first half. Freshman Cortney Lester and sophomore Najja Johnson have been reasonably strong and bode well for the future. The same goes for inside linebacker Lee Skinner, a freshman who leads the team in tackles.

The thought was Jaleel Verser would be a more impactful linebacker, particularly with Mack receiving so much attention. It hasn't happened. Nor has Steven Means been a steadily disruptive force at defensive end.

Special teams

A disaster. Twice the Bulls have gone away losers when they should have been in OT.

UB ranks last in kickoff and punt returns, and last in field goal and extra-point percentage. Punter Peter Fardon couldn't make the transition from punter to dependable place kicker, and missed extra points against Ball State (blocked), Northern Illinois (wide left) and Miami (wide right) were killers and inexcusable at this level. In retrospect, it was a major mistake to give him the job with no track record.

The loss of Jackson has hurt the return game. But come on. The Bulls went from Jackson to Ed Young (two muffs) to Lester (one muff) to Devon Hughes to Neutz on punt returns. And now, presumably, they're back to Hughes. When the special teams struggle this badly it's an indictment of the depth on the roster.

What awaits

The Bulls play their final road game Saturday at Eastern Michigan, a team that's risen from the ashes this season. Then they close with MAC East home games against lowly Akron and Bowling Green (coached by former Lew-Port QB Dave Clawson).

The process of trying to stablize the program continues.

bdicesare@buffnews.comnull