Football Outsiders: The Bills' Running Game Now a Problem - for Their Opponents

[Coach Tuesday]

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2022/bills-diverse-run-game-problem-playoffs

 

"The Bills did not have the benefit of that kind of variability on offense for most of the year. Josh Allen being a cyborg with a crew of good pass-catchers was more than enough to put together an effective offense anyway, but it was clear that a portion of the team's volatility could be chalked up to an uninspired run game. They did not have that weapon in their arsenal for most of the year. That doesn't look to be an issue anymore."

[YoloinOhio]

 

[Royale with Cheese]

5 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

That is incredible that he leads the NFL is YPC...that's nuts.

[billsfan1959]

3 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/film-room/2022/bills-diverse-run-game-problem-playoffs

 

"The Bills did not have the benefit of that kind of variability on offense for most of the year. Josh Allen being a cyborg with a crew of good pass-catchers was more than enough to put together an effective offense anyway, but it was clear that a portion of the team's volatility could be chalked up to an uninspired run game. They did not have that weapon in their arsenal for most of the year. That doesn't look to be an issue anymore."

 

I do not think it can be overstated how important it is that they have all of their linemen healthy, playing in position, and having some continuity playing together for a few games now. Dawkins is back to the form we all expected this year, Brown has continued to improve, and Bates has been just what has been needed at LG. With both Bates and Williams playing well at guard, Morse has been able to step up his game as well.

 

Those 5 have played together in only 4 games; however, in those 4 games the offense averaged 427 YPG, 194 rushing YPG, 35 PPG, and went 4-0.

 

It couldn't have come together at a better time.

 

 

[hemma]

27 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

That is incredible that he leads the NFL is YPC...that's nuts.

 

I think all the kneel downs are included.  If so, the avg is understated by a bunch.

[folz]

Great article with gifs to really dissect some of the run plays. The Bills finally figured out what they do best in the run game. Pulling, misdirection, etc. Using Bates and Gilliam as the hammers...just awesome. Those two guys have made a big difference. And Daboll is dialing it up now. Some of the formations are very interesting. On the 3rd-and-1 Singletary conversion, this is what the line looks like (from left to right): Knox, Bates, Morse, Williams, Brown, Dawkins, Doyle.

 

Knox slides off the line to the left (taking his man out of the play), Bates pulls to the right, Morse and Williams seal the left side (basically, Morse is now your left tackle), Gilliam comes from the backfield to seal the right side, with Brown, Dawkins, and Doyle at the point of attack. The play is for Singletary to run between Dawkins and Doyle or Doyle and Gilliam, but not before a pulling Bates crashes through the hole first. Singletary rides up behind Doyle, Bates, and Gilliam for an easy first down. 

 

So, basically, you have 5 Tackles at the point of attack (yes, Bates and Williams are both playing Guard in traditional sets, but really, the first position for both of them in their careers has been Tackle), Dawkins and Spencer Brown (your LT and RT in traditional sets) are lined up next to each other, and then you basically have Morse playing left tackle. Very creative...using our players to their strengths.👍

Edited January 20, 2022 by folz

[Nextmanup]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

Hey some of us have been begging the Bills to use more planned Josh runs from the very beginning!

 

Josh running is STILL the most dangerous thing we do; I've written the here 100 times! 

 

Most folks here seem to oppose this, saying he will be injured.

 

 

[Dr. Who]

5 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Hey some of us have been begging the Bills to use more planned Josh runs from the very beginning!

 

Josh running is STILL the most dangerous thing we do; I've written the here 100 times! 

 

Most folks here seem to oppose this, saying he will be injured.

 

 

Nearly everyone is okay with Josh running in a playoff game and late season games that are crucial. Folks are concerned if you make that a regular feature throughout the season the risk of injury and the shortening of Josh's career are increased. It's not a ridiculous worry.

[The Wiz]

Allen would ask opposing players for their shoes after the game but most of them lost them on the field when he ran.

[NewEra]

25 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

Hey some of us have been begging the Bills to use more planned Josh runs from the very beginning!

 

Josh running is STILL the most dangerous thing we do; I've written the here 100 times! 

 

Most folks here seem to oppose this, saying he will be injured.

 

 

I agree if:  “josh running” includes josh scrambling outside the pocket, buying time with the option to run or pass.  It puts the coverage in a pickle. Do we go tackle the Ferrari dump truck or maintain their coverage assignments. Pick your poison boys!!

[DollaBills]

1 hour ago, Nextmanup said:

Hey some of us have been begging the Bills to use more planned Josh runs from the very beginning!

 

Josh running is STILL the most dangerous thing we do; I've written the here 100 times! 

 

Most folks here seem to oppose this, saying he will be injured.

 

 

Now is when we unleash him like that. Buffalo all the way this time

[HappyDays]

26 minutes ago, Gene1973 said:

They can still do better than Singletary at RB1 in the offseason IMO.

 

They can, but his performance late in the season has made it a much less vital need. I would still like a speed back that they trust to hold onto the ball.

[Doc]

2 hours ago, hemma said:

I think all the kneel downs are included.  If so, the avg is understated by a bunch.

 

Good point.  I checked and he had 12 kneel-downs for -11 yards (one was for no gain).  That means he ran 110 times for 774 yards.  That's 7.0 YPC.

[pennstate10]

2 hours ago, folz said:

Great article with gifs to really dissect some of the run plays. The Bills finally figured out what they do best in the run game. Pulling, misdirection, etc. Using Bates and Gilliam as the hammers...just awesome. Those two guys have made a big difference. And Daboll is dialing it up now. Some of the formations are very interesting. On the 3rd-and-1 Singletary conversion, this is what the line looks like (from left to right): Knox, Bates, Morse, Williams, Brown, Dawkins, Doyle.

 

Knox slides off the line to the left (taking his man out of the play), Bates pulls to the right, Morse and Williams seal the left side (basically, Morse is now your left tackle), Gilliam comes from the backfield to seal the right side, with Brown, Dawkins, and Doyle at the point of attack. The play is for Singletary to run between Dawkins and Doyle or Doyle and Gilliam, but not before a pulling Bates crashes through the hole first. Singletary rides up behind Doyle, Bates, and Gilliam for an easy first down. 

 

So, basically, you have 5 Tackles at the point of attack (yes, Bates and Williams are both playing Guard in traditional sets, but really, the first position for both of them in their careers has been Tackle), Dawkins and Spencer Brown (your LT and RT in traditional sets) are lined up next to each other, and then you basically have Morse playing left tackle. Very creative...using our players to their strengths.👍

Nice post.

 

But Bates' natural position isnt tackle.  He played tackle his final two seasons at PSU out of neccessity.

 

Bates is a guard or center.  Look at his arms vs Brown or Doyle.

 

 

[Simon]

9 minutes ago, pennstate10 said:

Nice post.

 

But Bates' natural position isnt tackle.  He played tackle his final two seasons at PSU out of neccessity.

 

Bates is a guard or center.  Look at his arms vs Brown or Doyle.

 

 

 

The Bills have tried him at OT a couple times and it did not go well. At all.

He's a good ballplayer but he simply cannot play Tackle in this league.

[Bookie Man]

How about yards after contact? It's crazy how many tackles he breaks.