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Bills RB Situation (1 Viewer)

zamboni

Footballguy
While it may not be the most desirable situation, there is value to be had here.

Heading into this year, Fred Jackson still looks to be the clear-cut guy, although the coaching staff has been talking about getting Spiller much more involved. Obviously, his high draft selection has a lot to do with it.

Positives for Fred are that he does everything well (if not spectacular), and protects Fitzpatrick. Negatives are that he is no spring chicken - does he start to break down?

So what are the thoughts as to how the load is divided between Fred and Spiller - and does rookie Johnny White also become a factor?

 
Spiller will get a lot more chances there than he deserves. It's up to him to do something with it...
Agreed - just trying to figure out how many carries vis-a-vis Fred. Figuring 10-12 touches a game for Spiller, maybe 8-10 carries. But I imagine short-yardage/clock killing (if there is any) will stay with Freddie.
 
Spiller will get more chances to prove himself however I think a lot of those chances will come on unusual formations like the Wildcat. Brad Smith brings a lot to the table in terms of versatility and I think Spiller will benefit because of it. Jackson will likely be the primary ball carrier on regular formations but his touches will go down due to the Brad Smith/Wildcat factor.

 
I think the Brad Smith signing, if anything, means that the Bills will get the ball in Spiller's hands as the primary RB more often. With Smith on the roster, the team has another/better option as a KR, a role that Spiller primarily filled last year. I'd be surprised if part of the motivation on signing smith wasn't so that they could move Spiller into a more primary ball carrier mode.

The team has been trying to push Fred Jackson out of the starting RB role for 3 years now. I have no reason to think they'll do something different this season.

 
I think the Brad Smith signing, if anything, means that the Bills will get the ball in Spiller's hands as the primary RB more often. With Smith on the roster, the team has another/better option as a KR, a role that Spiller primarily filled last year. I'd be surprised if part of the motivation on signing smith wasn't so that they could move Spiller into a more primary ball carrier mode.The team has been trying to push Fred Jackson out of the starting RB role for 3 years now. I have no reason to think they'll do something different this season.
True but the reason they have yet to replace him as the starter is because he continues to produce.
 
Freddy will start showng signs of age and wear by mid/late season. Buff will realize long before than that Spiller isn't a bellcow and is best used as a compliment/change of pace back. Johnny White will emerge from obscurity to be the primary runner for the Bills. What he does with that opportunity will determine his long term future in Buffalo.

In other words, by years end its White's job to lose. Stash him now if you have the room or be ready to get into a bidding war for him right around mid year or so. Just my .02

 
'nysportsfan said:
'adrenaline said:
'djmich said:
Johnny White sounds like a good stash at little cost.
I agree, he's a more complete back than C.J. & FJax is at that dangerous age.
Is this true? I'm not really vested in anyone here, but I find it hard to believe that White is a more complete back than Spiller.
Good question. A year ago Spiller was drawing comparisons to Marshall Faulk. McCoy's stock had dropped after his rookie season... does the light go on for Spiller too? An interesting situation that I'll have to monitor although our rosters are probably too small for this flyer.
 
I see White maxing out as a Kevin Smith or Tim Hightower type of RB. In other words, he can be a starter, but not a good enough of one to convince the team not to draft someone else. All around RB, yes, but rarely makes it past the 2nd level of defense.

 
'nysportsfan said:
'adrenaline said:
'djmich said:
Johnny White sounds like a good stash at little cost.
I agree, he's a more complete back than C.J. & FJax is at that dangerous age.
Is this true? I'm not really vested in anyone here, but I find it hard to believe that White is a more complete back than Spiller.
He may not be as fast as C.J. but he runs with more power. He did run a 4.50 at the combine which is faster than Ingram, Williams, Leshoure & Thomas. He is a good receiver & a decent pass blocker.
 
'nysportsfan said:
'adrenaline said:
'djmich said:
Johnny White sounds like a good stash at little cost.
I agree, he's a more complete back than C.J. & FJax is at that dangerous age.
Is this true? I'm not really vested in anyone here, but I find it hard to believe that White is a more complete back than Spiller.
Good question. A year ago Spiller was drawing comparisons to Marshall Faulk. McCoy's stock had dropped after his rookie season... does the light go on for Spiller too? An interesting situation that I'll have to monitor although our rosters are probably too small for this flyer.
Sure sounds like it :thumbup: . I read this over the weekend:
PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) - Fast as C.J. Spiller might be, it turns out there's some things the Buffalo Bills running back learned he can't outrun.

For starters, there were the preposterously high expectations he had entering his rookie season last year. As a first-round pick, Spiller truly believed he wouldn't miss a beat at the NFL level in matching the prolific production he enjoyed at Clemson.

Man, was he wrong.

``Guys were telling me that once the season starts everything picks up,'' Spiller recalled with a shake of the head and a laugh this week. ``But you know, as a young guy you kind of wonder if it's really true or not. Well, that's what kind of happened.''

Spiller learned the hard way how quickly even a highly touted first-round pick could go from dynamic to dud.

``Ha, ha, I thought I was back in Death Valley again,'' he said, referring to Clemson's Frank Howard Field at Memorial Stadium, a facility Spiller essentially owned during his senior season. ``But it was a great learning experience. I know what to expect now. I'm definitely excited about having another year to go out there and showcase.''

Spiller has come to training camp determined to put last year behind him.

Listed at 193 pounds, he's 3 pounds lighter than a year ago, but he has noticeably bulked up his upper body. Spiller has also reassessed his expectations, appreciating he needs to be more patient as a runner and understanding that a 4-yard gain is perfectly acceptable at the NFL level.

``I think I was just trying to force it so much, just trying to make the big play,'' he said. ``This year, I believe I've become much more mentally strong. So we'll see if it pays off.''

Perhaps, a cosmetic change will help, too after Spiller swapped jersey numbers with cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Going from No. 21 to 28, Spiller is now wearing the same number he's had since the 10th grade.

``Last year, being 21 just felt different,'' he said. ``Now I'm back to my original number. It may help me play better. It may not. But I still have to go out there and get my job done.''

He's got plenty of catching up to do after a dreadful debut. Spiller managed a combined 14 yards from scrimmage on 11 touches in his only start, the season opener against Miami. Even after the Bills traded running back Marshawn Lynch to Seattle in Week 5, Spiller still had difficulty getting regular playing time behind veteran Fred Jackson.

Spiller finished with 283 yards rushing on 74 carries and 157 yards receiving on 24 catches. His biggest impact came returning kickoffs, where he averaged 23 yards on 44 returns. He scored both his touchdowns - one on a catch and another on a 95-yard kickoff return - in the same game, a 38-30 loss to New England in Week 3.

That didn't come close to matching what the Bills were expecting when they drafted Spiller with the ninth pick. Bills owner Ralph Wilson was so enamored of the selection, he predicted Spiller would provide an immediate spark to what had been a ``dull'' attack.

Spiller was a threat nearly every time he touched the ball at Clemson. The ACC's player of the year as a senior, he finished his four-year college career with 51 touchdowns, including 32 rushing.

Coach Chan Gailey maintains his confidence in Spiller, while noting there is much room for improvement.

Gailey put the emphasis on Spiller to become a better pass blocker and be more responsible in protecting the ball after the player had six fumbles, losing three. Gailey also put the onus on himself, saying he has to do a better job devising plays to get the ball to Spiller in the open field.

``That's where his forte is, having the ball in some area where he can work,'' Gailey said. ``We need him to be a big part of the offense.''

Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said it's unfair to judge Spiller on his rookie season.

``There aren't too many people that can come in their rookie year and just dominate the NFL,'' Fitzpatrick said. ``He's going to be a big impact player this year. He is more confident. I think he's also more calm.''

Spiller has a cool exterior and rarely shows emotion.

There is far more going on below the surface, especially after last year.

``I'm a quiet guy and never really get mad. But it's burning down inside,'' Spiller said. ``I've got the fire to go out and prove everybody wrong to show that I can play in this league.''
 
No reason not to think that FJAX gets the lion share of work again because he simply deserves it. He has no hype, he came from out of nowhere, and the Bills are not a nationally high-exposure team, but Jackson IS the best back on the team so if the coaches play their best players, Jackson is the play here.

I know, not sexy or exciting, but that is my completely unbiased take on it.

 
IMO, this reminds ms somewhat of the NO situation the least few years. Fred Jackson=Pierre Thomas and Spiller=poor man's Reggie Bush.

 
IMO, this reminds ms somewhat of the NO situation the least few years. Fred Jackson=Pierre Thomas and Spiller=poor man's Reggie Bush.
I'm also thinking (hoping?) this could be a redux of Jamaal Charles and his ascent after a disappointing rookie year in KC. Granted he wasn't drafted nearly as high as Spiller was, but perhaps this parallel could work. Thoughts?
 
IMO, this reminds ms somewhat of the NO situation the least few years. Fred Jackson=Pierre Thomas and Spiller=poor man's Reggie Bush.
I'm also thinking (hoping?) this could be a redux of Jamaal Charles and his ascent after a disappointing rookie year in KC. Granted he wasn't drafted nearly as high as Spiller was, but perhaps this parallel could work. Thoughts?
Gailey coached Charles in KC and made the same parallel: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2011/2/25/2012790/jamaal-charles-cj-spiller-chan-gaileyThe one negative is that Charles was never disappointing on the field. He always had a very high YPC and did a lot with the touches he got, just didn't get a lot of touches his first year.

 

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