Who decides what RB is on the field for any given play?

[LabattBlue]

About a 1/2 hour ago I heard on WGR(I think it was Nate Geary) that the RB coach is the one who determines which RB is on the field for each play?

 

It didn’t sound right to me.   True or False?

[Alphadawg7]

Just now, LabattBlue said:

About a 1/2 hour ago I heard on WGR(I think it was Nate Geary) that the RB coach is the one who determines which RB is on the field for each play?

 

It didn’t sound right to me.   True or False?

 

I would guess this is different for every team, I don't think there is going to be a specific answer here.  

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

I'm guessing what they are implying is it's already predetermined, when the Bills run plays 12, 25, and 49, this RB is on the field, but when it's 17, and 32, it's a different guy.  So the RB coach here's the play call and then yells to whoever is the correct guy to get onto the field. Like if it's a pass to the RB, likely it would be Cook, at least that was the plan before he fumbled.

[Scott7975]

Not sure.  I would assume that to a certain extent that they have their own packages of plays because they have different skill sets.  For "universal" plays, which they all might be and I might be talking out of my ass, I really dont know who makes that call.

[PrimeTime101]

8 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

About a 1/2 hour ago I heard on WGR(I think it was Nate Geary) that the RB coach is the one who determines which RB is on the field for each play?

 

It didn’t sound right to me.   True or False?

True and false.

 

There are specific running plays for each RB and there are general plays for any RB. The General any RB play Geary Dictates

[clayboy54]

I think that it is decided by Ralph Wilson’s ghost. Maybe it’s the spirits of the Native Americans buried under the stadium. It’s got to be one of those.

[RocCityRoller]

It looked to be by series and/or quarter Thursday night.

 

Moss had a lot of the last drive in the 3rd. When the qtr ended Singletary was back in for the start of the 4th, even though the drive was still active.

 

I wish they would just go with the hot hand and keep that RB in until the RB is gassed or the Bills score.

[Freddie's Dead]

McC:  Should I keep running Moss?

 

[Beck Water]

8 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

I'm guessing what they are implying is it's already predetermined, when the Bills run plays 12, 25, and 49, this RB is on the field, but when it's 17, and 32, it's a different guy.  So the RB coach here's the play call and then yells to whoever is the correct guy to get onto the field. Like if it's a pass to the RB, likely it would be Cook, at least that was the plan before he fumbled.

 

I think that's correct to my understanding.  When the gameplan is installed for the week, each play has players assigned to it with alternatives if the first assigned player is made inactive or is injured (or in the doghouse) for a play.   That call is probably made by both the position coach and the OC when the 53-man is announced and updated each week based on injuries and practices.   As I understand it, during team meetings at the hotels before the game, the plays are reviewed and the players on the field for different formations indicate (raise hand?).

 

So if a player is undergoing medical e v a l, or is injured, or is in the doghouse, a number of people can communicate that to the position coach, OC, and HC and it's the position coach's job to tell the alternate "you're up". 

 

I think these days most teams employ assistants part of whose job is to track these developments in-game and help get the right guys on and off the field.

 

 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

About a 1/2 hour ago I heard on WGR(I think it was Nate Geary) that the RB coach is the one who determines which RB is on the field for each play?

 

It didn’t sound right to me.   True or False?

 

Usually the RB coach although I am sure the OC could overrule him if need be, but that would probably piss off the RB coach as that is technically his responsibility.

 

However I would assume he will go over things with Dorsey in gameplanmimg each week, talk about results from the previous week and decide on any playing time adjustments, certain plays they want a player to be in there for, etc 

 

But then it's up to him how he distributes it on GameDay between the running backs. 

 

So basically it is up to him, but it's done within the framework of what Dorsey/McDermott wants in that regard.

 

This is likely the same with all position groups, not just with RBs

Edited September 10, 2022 by Big Turk

[elijah]

I’m not sure on the answer, but based on the source I would guess there’s atleast a 51% chance it’s incorrect

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, RocCityRoller said:

It looked to be by series and/or quarter Thursday night.

 

Moss had a lot of the last drive in the 3rd. When the qtr ended Singletary was back in for the start of the 4th, even though the drive was still active.

 

I wish they would just go with the hot hand and keep that RB in until the RB is gassed or the Bills score.

I wish they would just give Motor 80% of the carries.  He’s the best rusher by a mile.

[Marv's Neighbor]

2 hours ago, clayboy54 said:

I think that it is decided by Ralph Wilson’s ghost. Maybe it’s the spirits of the Native Americans buried under the stadium. It’s got to be one of those.

Put the cheapest player on the field?

[TBBills]

Sometimes it's me, other times it's Steve Tasker... I guess we are creating a chance to get angry at someone for no reason by wondering who is the one doing it.

[LabattBlue]

I got the impression he was stating that the RB has free reign to substitute RB’s as he sees fit.   He didn’t explain in any further depth. 

[BuffaloBill]

2 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

About a 1/2 hour ago I heard on WGR(I think it was Nate Geary) that the RB coach is the one who determines which RB is on the field for each play?

 

It didn’t sound right to me.   True or False?

 

There has to be some convention with regards to what plays Dorsey is looking to call.  Down an distance has to factor into the equation.

[GunnerBill]

58 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I wish they would just give Motor 80% of the carries.  He’s the best rusher by a mile.

 

Yep. Especially when they are calling 15 or 16 running back rushes. If they are calling 25 runs fair enough lighten his load because I don't think he is a "bellcow" type. The sweet spot for Singletary is about 15-20 carries. And the Bills should lean on him until you start getting towards those numbers. 

[GoBills808]

Typically which RBs are on the field would be determined by different personnel groupings or 'packages' on offense....within each group there are different alignments and formations from which to run particular plays. I don't know who on the Bills is responsible for getting them into different groupings tbh

[RocCityRoller]

34 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep. Especially when they are calling 15 or 16 running back rushes. If they are calling 25 runs fair enough lighten his load because I don't think he is a "bellcow" type. The sweet spot for Singletary is about 15-20 carries. And the Bills should lean on him until you start getting towards those numbers. 

 

You made my point of view even better than me. If Bills running backs are only going to get 15-20 carries a game, Motor should be getting them until:

1) Motor stops being effective. 6 YPC is effective IMO.

2) Cook shows the ability to make splash plays Motor can't, and hang onto the ball

[Rochesterfan]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yep. Especially when they are calling 15 or 16 running back rushes. If they are calling 25 runs fair enough lighten his load because I don't think he is a "bellcow" type. The sweet spot for Singletary is about 15-20 carries. And the Bills should lean on him until you start getting towards those numbers. 

 

2 hours ago, RocCityRoller said:

 

You made my point of view even better than me. If Bills running backs are only going to get 15-20 carries a game, Motor should be getting them until:

1) Motor stops being effective. 6 YPC is effective IMO.

2) Cook shows the ability to make splash plays Motor can't, and hang onto the ball

 

We will see how it goes, but I am guessing they were looking for a nice split because of the heat and trying to make sure each guy is fresh.  For Game 1 - I think they tried to ensure people got plenty of rest and down time to ensure each snap was at 100%.

 

I also think when the 3rd quarter started - the Bills wanted to pass more and I think they wanted Moss in for protection reasons - although Singletary did stone a couple of guys - I think in general Moss is both a better blocker and slightly better at releasing for routes.  He is just no where near as dynamic as Singletary.

 

I would of loved to see what the mix would have been like without Cook’s early fumble as I think they would have split the Moss snaps with Cook and it would have been more like 35 Singletary, 15 Moss, and 10 for Cook - which is about 60% for Singletary, 25% Moss and 15% Cook.