What are your ideas to fix the Bills' running game for next year?

[Logic]

Perhaps it's too early for some to start talking about next season. If that's the case for you, I understand.

As for me, I'm already excited about the potential of the 2021 Buffalo Bills.

It was quite clear watching last night's game -- and watching the entire season unfold, really -- that the Bills could DESPERATELY use a good run game. 

The question remains, though: Just HOW do you go about addressing the running game? Buffalo recently spent third round picks on Singletary and Moss. I doubt they're ready to give up on either of them, nor should they. The Bills usually only dress three running backs on game day, with the third being a special teams contributor. Neither Singletary nor Moss contribute much on special teams.

So what do you do?

Do you draft another running back? If so, you'd probably better draft one earlier than round three. If Singletary and Moss aren't getting it done, what makes you think another third round or later running back will?

Are you willing to part with such premium draft capital for a running back? Do you focus on replacing a guard or two, or the center? What do you do? 

Knowing how aggressively Beane attacks roster weaknesses, and how much McDermott values the run game, I trust that Buffalo will actively seek to address this problem. But in the meantime, how do YOU suggest we go about it? This question does not seem to have any easy answers.

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Logic

[Call_Of_Ktulu]

3 new interior O-Lineman, New RB and the running game coordinator from the 49ers. That should improve our running game dramatically. Moss is the only keeper on our current depth chart.

[JOSH HUFF]

I really like Najee Harris, he can move a pile and catch a ball like a WR.  I think he will be around, late 1st round

[BullBuchanan]

It comes down to talent. Step 1 is finding a RB capable of being #1. You do that next year. The year after that, you replace Morse with someone that can run block.

[ALLEN1QB]

Is this you Sean McDermott

[Nextmanup]

Hopefully they don't dedicate much in the way of resources to a "running game."

 

Run plays, except in very specific situations, are just a wasted down.

 

 

[Success]

Good thread.  I'm sure whatever I think is a few levels below Beane's thinking, but I don't think we're that far.  Moss is a really good start, imo - it hurt us more than we think not to have him yesterday.  He was starting to make a real impact, and he is so much better at the LOS than Singletary.

 

I want so badly for Singletary to work out, but it might be time to move on, in whatever form that takes.  He's becoming consistent at all the things you don't want consistency in - getting 2 yards on most carries, and making mistakes.  That game could have been so different if he holds on to that ball.  Keeping your eye on the ball until it's caught is a RB 101 kind of thing.

 

I thought Yeldon was impressive last night in both the pass and run game, and it made me wonder why we didn't use him more all season.  Where Singletary can't break the 1st tackle at the LOS, Yeldon consistently turned it into a few more yards.

 

I think most of the offseason work & draft has to be defense this year - but if they like a back in the 1st couple of rounds, they should make that a priority.

 

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

3 new interior O-Lineman, New RB and the running game coordinator from the 49ers. That should improve our running game dramatically. Moss is the only keeper on our current depth chart.

The run game coordinator for the niners is the new OC for the jets iirc.  
 

I agree with the rest. It’s a lot of change and I don’t think that we’ll see 3 new interior OL......but I’d like to.  
 

We I do believe we need a big upgrade at RB.  Maybe a trade back from 30 if we had 3 2nd rd picks, use one on Kenneth Gainwell or Javonte Williams.  

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

The offense needs to run more plays from under center.  Just seems like if Allen is under center, they know we're running it - its very rarely a misdirection or counter, its almost always outside zone or inside zone.  The run game needs to be overhauled, and if the offensive linemen can't execute it then they need to be replaced.

[Logic]

3 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Hopefully they don't dedicate much in the way of resources to a "running game."

 

Run plays, except in very specific situations, are just a wasted down.

 

 

I understand this line of thinking, but I respectfully disagree.

I'm not suggesting that the Bills should run the ball more often next year. I AM suggesting that they need to be able to run it more EFFECTIVELY. 

Run volume/frequency and Run effectiveness are not the same thing. 

While I agree that the modern NFL is all about passing, and that the Bills should continue to be a pass-first team going forward, they have to at least BE ABLE to run the ball when needed. The two Super Bowl participants are the perfect example. Both the Chiefs and Bucs are pass-first teams, but both of them can run the ball with effectiveness when needed. 

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

I think letting Morse walk and moving Feliciano to Center long term with Boettger and Ford would be an improvement running the ball. We also will look to bring in a back with speed.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

Hand the ball off sometimes 

[T master]

Upgrade some players on the O line and get a true complimentary RB that is different from Singletary or Moss . I was not really impressed with Moss as this years choice i thought a AJ Dillon would have been a much better choice because he is a big powerful back which you need in the red zone .

 

Singletary i think this year was hurt by not getting as many carries and i think it showed in his production this year because he went backwards from his rookie year . 

 

But they definitely need to up grade the position i just hope they don't see Moss as the fix . Weldon was a much better option yesterday than either Moss or Singletary were this season as far as both in the run and passing game .

Edited January 25, 2021 by T master

[MJS]

I think it is job #1 for Beane and Daboll this off-season. Daboll needs to change up the scheme. Beane needs to add a dynamic back. I doubt we will be able to wholesale change the oline, so we need to find a way to make it work with the guys we have, for the most part.

 

The run game was not a huge issue last season. They weren't great, but they were better.

[Royale with Cheese]

I think the reason why the staff likes Felciano at center is because he gets more push in the run game.  I think adding that beef up front, maybe bring in a vet guard to compete with Ford for the LG spot.  I think Boettger he solidified the RG spot. 

 

I think we move on from Singletary.  I think they like Moss and I agree now we need a RB with speed who is a one cut and go.  

[Comebackkid]

Really the difference between Singletary this year in Singletary last year is the o line. Last year they could still run block more or less and pass blocking was atrocious.   This year they retooled the o-line but at the expense of run-blocking. So we either need people on the o-line that can do both effectively or an elite running back

[JOSH HUFF]

2 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Hopefully they don't dedicate much in the way of resources to a "running game."

 

Run plays, except in very specific situations, are just a wasted down.

 

 

Need more balance.  Singletary was not good enough this year.  Moss was the better back in my opinion.  Draft Najee Harris

 

[Thurman#1]

Figure out whether Morse's problems are only temporary.

 

He has been very good for most of his term here, but not lately. 

 

And spend more time with the OL on run blocking. We just don't appear to have a group that this year was a tough group on run blocking. Our OL was very good pass blocking, but not very good run blocking. Getting Ford back, at guard, should help. But they probably need one more interior DL, not to mention figuring out RT in terms of whether or not we can afford to keep Daryl Williams. If we don't, it doesn't look like his replacement is on our roster.

 

Run blocking is often a lot about mindset. Didn't appear we had that this year, we were mostly devoted to keeping Allen upright, with some good reason behind that.

 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by Thurman#1

[texasjute]

Work hard with smart people in genetics and see if we can clone or recreate Thurman Thomas.

 

Seriously, I think this system needs a back who is  a true threat in the screen and short passing game to explode with YAC. Bring the defenses up to think about that more and that opens up more for our downfield receivers. The thing about Thurman was he phenomenal at catching but also had to be respected as a straight backfield runner. Where do we find one of these?

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

I do wonder if Daboll (and maybe Allen too) got too infatuated with the early season success of the passing game and just kind of forgot about the running game to some extent.  How much did they practice it, did that also drop off some, maybe not a conscious decision but might have been the result.  That result trickled down to time spent working in run blocking too.

 

Assuming they resign Williams and Mongo, let Morse go, resign Ike and Bates as backups.  Draft an interior lineman fairly high to become starting guard, maybe they start year off with Ike starting, but by late October rookie takes over.  I'd also draft another lineman maybe around the 5th round or so to develop

 

There have been some good RB's drafted in 3rd round so not impossible.  K Hunt, A Kamera, David Johnson before injured