Why oh why are we not establishing a running game ?

[Alphadawg7]

On 11/6/2022 at 1:25 PM, Gene1973 said:

It's like a broken record. All offseason, most fans knew there needed to be an upgrade to the run game. Beane still hasn't added a runner. Bills had the same issues last season about this time of the year.

 

 

 

Then what happened?  Nothing much, just went on to set NFL playoff scoring records last year and averaged 42 points per game in the playoffs with Allen throwing 9 TD's in 2 games.  

5 hours ago, TwistofFate said:

 

https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/advanced-stats-rb.php

 

 

He doesn't break tackles, he's stopped almost immediately 1v1, he's not slippery enough to win 1v1 coming through the line against safeties and backers and his vision is questionable. (he doesn't create or feel the flow of the line to use cut back lanes)

 

He's a hard worker and well rounded as well as an outstanding teammate, but he isnt a feature back.

 

 

 

Except none of this accurate other than him being an outstanding teammate.  But everything else you said is incorrect. 

[Putin]

On 11/6/2022 at 3:18 PM, Returntoglory said:

My God! Putting too much pressure on Allen. We have the backs. What gives???

Because $250 million 

[JoshAllin]

They were up 14-3 at one point maybe 21-3  if not for the early pick and I guess they figured establishing a run game was unnecessary at that point

[Returntoglory]

6 hours ago, Putin said:

Because $250 million 

Negative. Does not justify it. He needs run support. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

On 11/6/2022 at 4:20 PM, whorlnut said:

Because Beane drafts AJ Epenesa and Carlos Basham instead of a true RB and/or offensive linemen. 

Or WR.

7 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

Then what happened?  Nothing much, just went on to set NFL playoff scoring records last year and averaged 42 points per game in the playoffs with Allen throwing 9 TD's in 2 games.  

And lost over 13 seconds despite dozens of picks and millions in FA dollarse WASTED on the defense.

 

It's an offensive league. Prioritize offense.

[Airseven]

On 11/6/2022 at 2:18 PM, Returntoglory said:

My God! Putting too much pressure on Allen. We have the backs. What gives???

OL stinks.

[FieldGeneral]

2 hours ago, Returntoglory said:

Negative. Does not justify it. He needs run support. 

 

You will never get anything other than this excuse from a lot of Bills fans. Running the ball less than 15 times with your RBs is a recipe for disaster when your QB is struggling. 

[GunnerBill]

9 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

 

 

Except none of this accurate other than him being an outstanding teammate.  But everything else you said is incorrect. 

 

I think isn't a feature back is correct. But that might be semantics about what people consider a feature back. To me the Bills offense doesn't have one, by design. Devin is their "lead back" but not a "feature back". And if they wanted to be a team with a feature back they'd need better than Devin. But for a team who doesn't feature any back he is perfectly fine as a lead back. 

 

If anyone is still following me after all that....  

[All_Pro_Bills]

40 minutes ago, FieldGeneral said:

 

You will never get anything other than this excuse from a lot of Bills fans. Running the ball less than 15 times with your RBs is a recipe for disaster when your QB is struggling. 

The Bills need to show a credible rushing attack in order to dictate the play to the defense and make them respect or at least "think" that the coming play might be a run.  But if you have no legitimate running game or make no attempt to establish one, it just makes life easy for the defense.  The line can focus on rushing the passer and not worry about the run, the linebackers can focus on dropping into their zones or man coverage responsibilities, and in the secondary the safeties can play way off the LOS in coverage while the corners don't have to even think about run support. 

 

A big problem on Sunday was all the Jets defense had to worry about was covering the receivers and pressuring Allen.  Add to that it was a day when the passing game wasn't at its best.  Given the Jets have some good talent on their defense, making your offense by design one-dimensional, made it just way too simple and easy for them.  You couldn't have given them a better approach to defend if they made it up by themselves for you. 

 

 

[Chicken Boo]

On 11/6/2022 at 4:29 PM, Augie said:

 

I’m not saying Motor is CMC, but Singletary has a higher career average YPC with 4.7 vs 4.6. Pretty large sample size, too. The RB isn’t the problem.  It is the OL. Period. Yes, an upgrade would be great, but I’m not blaming the RB. 

 

It's actually not a good sample size for a supposed lead back.  Devin's never had more than 188 attempts in a season, which is less than 12 carries per game.  

 

He's more Charlie Garner (4.6ypc) than Adrian Peterson (4.6 ypc)

Edited November 8, 2022 by Chicken Boo

[Einstein]

On 11/6/2022 at 4:20 PM, whorlnut said:

Because Beane drafts AJ Epenesa and Carlos Basham instead of a true RB and/or offensive linemen. 

 

Not only that but he is very risk averse of high draft pick trades.

 

Mike Florio made this comment yesterday on his show and I think he is right. He said if the Bills spent the 2nd and 3rd round pick that the Rams did to acquire Von Miller last year, he thinks we make those 1 or 2 defensive stops we needed against the Chiefs in the playoffs and the Bills have a Super Bowl trophy right now.

 

Would you trade James Cook and Terrell Bernard for a SB trophy right now? I would.

 

And that’s nothing against those players. They may end up being very good players. But SB trophies are so hard to come by, that losing a could good players to capture one, is worth it.

 

I know the 49ers gave up a mini-haul for McAffrey, but it may end up being worth it. He is already taking over their offense.

 

Beane values draft picks very highly, and I can respect that when you’re building and maintaining a team, but when you’re *THIS* close to a Super Bowl, I wish he would just say “eff them picks” one year, like the Rams did.

 

[BarleyNY]

11 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

Running the football is a team effort, everyone is lazy because Allen is their QB and he bails them out constantly.

🤣 That is ridiculous. 
 

It’s not so much that the run game isn’t working, it’s that run plays aren’t being called enough. I haven’t had a chance to look for stats on this but it seems to me that we start out with a higher percentage of runs, but then drift to much more passing. 
 

If I was a DC going against a team like that I’d wait for the playcalling to drift to heavy passing and then I’d have my DL pin their ears back and go after the QB.

[Einstein]

On 11/6/2022 at 4:29 PM, Augie said:

I’m not saying Motor is CMC, but Singletary has a higher career average YPC with 4.7 vs 4.6. Pretty large sample size, too. The RB isn’t the problem.  It is the OL. Period. Yes, an upgrade would be great, but I’m not blaming the RB. 

 

Beane drafted a running back, traded for a running back, and made calls about two other high profile running backs (McCaffrey and Kamara). Does that sound like a GM that blames the offensive line and thinks the running backs are completely fine? I don’t think so.

 

He is clearly looking to improve the RB position, and I think you’ll see further proof of that when Singletary is not retained after the season. 

 

When I go back and watch the All-22, I’m often yelling “ahh, there was a huge cutback lane there!”

 

Its less about what Singletary does do, and more about what he misses. You’re right that the offensive line is not good at run blocking, but there are still opportunities every game for cutbacks that he just doesn’t take.

 

I don’t know if he lacks the vision for it, or if he just understands his limitations and knows his lateral agility and speed would not be able to make the move necessary. Either way, it’s a problem for the Bills offense.

 

Take the following video of McCaffrey for example. You and I both know that Singletary would have plowed right into the hole in front of him for a 4 yard gain (the one McCaffrey originally takes), instead of taking the cutback that netted 20 yards. That will not change with a better offensive line. Singletary is who he is.

 

 

 

[Augie]

2 hours ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

It's actually not a good sample size for a supposed lead back.  Devin's never had more than 188 attempts in a season, which is less than 12 carries per game.  

 

He's more Charlie Garner (4.6ypc) than Adrian Peterson (4.6 ypc)

 

YEARS in the league is an adequate sample size to compare YPC, even if they are used differently. 

[cle23]

On 11/6/2022 at 4:29 PM, Augie said:

 

I’m not saying Motor is CMC, but Singletary has a higher career average YPC with 4.7 vs 4.6. Pretty large sample size, too. The RB isn’t the problem.  It is the OL. Period. Yes, an upgrade would be great, but I’m not blaming the RB. 

 

You can't compare their YPC though,  without context.  CMC was the focal point of the offense in Carolina, and didn't have much help.  They have decent WRs but no one to get them the ball.  Singletary is the 3rd-5th option in Buffalo,  so teams don't game plan around him.  

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

6 minutes ago, cle23 said:

 

You can't compare their YPC though,  without context.  CMC was the focal point of the offense in Carolina, and didn't have much help.  They have decent WRs but no one to get them the ball.  Singletary is the 3rd-5th option in Buffalo,  so teams don't game plan around him.  

Still need to be able to run for those times when your QB looks like steaming dog-*****

 

[SCBills]

6 hours ago, Airseven said:

OL stinks.

 

It really doesn't.  It's not elite, but the Bills OL is in the next tier of teams that can have good moments and bad moments, but don't sabotage games.  

 

Offensive Lines around the league are struggling.  

 

I've seen our OL vs a lot of good fronts and they have never looked as bad as the Chiefs OL looked against us and the Titans.  

 

We honestly don't know if we can run the ball.  We don't try.  Singletary, Cook and Hines is a pretty talented backfield.  

 

What we do know is that this team struggles to run in obvious short yardage situations... that's a bit different than an overall game where we try to become more balanced.  

[Straight Hucklebuck]

3 hours ago, Chicken Boo said:

 

It's actually not a good sample size for a supposed lead back.  Devin's never had more than 188 attempts in a season, which is less than 12 carries per game.  

 

He's more Charlie Garner (4.6ypc) than Adrian Peterson (4.6 ypc)

Not a good enough sample size?

 

He’s been in the league 3.5 years now with similar output every season? 

[pocoboy]

I should start a companion thread, "Why oh why can't the Bills research time travel so they can kidnap Jim Brown and the Hogs and bring them to 2022?"

[Matt_In_NH]

If Keenum goes in the offense will be a lot different and I would expect establishing the run to be a higher priority.