Fast TE/H-back may be the ticket for the Bills offense

[bluv]

While the desire for a multi-purpose TE that hat can both in-line block and split the middle of the Cover - Two seam is desired, they are rare and hard to fine as most college teams have gone to spread offenses making these hybrid TE's more easily available. This will make the transition to similar NFL roles less painful. Since the Bills admittedly will phase the fullback out next year besides short yardage situations, they should have kept Royal and drafted an athletic H-back type TE who can split out wide at times and press the seam ala Dallas Clark. Looking at the current roster, if Fine can match Royal in blocking, he could step in and fill the role of the blocking TE and maybe Shouman can fit the H-back role as he has shown to be adept to blocking on the move; that remains to be seen. Having a multi-threat H-back type TE who can be used in motion to block on the move and occasionaly split out wide may give us the versatility we need on offense that may possibly lead to less predictability! In the past we all KNEW that once Parrish stepped on the field it would be a pass play so they would double Lee and take their chances with everyone else. With the FB or 2 TE look it was 90% of the time run and the other 10% was either a deep play to Lee with dumpoff options in the flats. Simple: double Lee with safety help over the top and drop everyone else in the box as we had no threats at TE or FB in the passing game.

 

We have NEVER established an offensive identity; one in which we run at least 80% of our plays out base personnell aside form special situations (3rd and long, short yardage, etc.). Gaining an athletic H-back may lead to this as it could cause matchup problems for the D. What do you do; load the box and stop the run? Then Evans and TO will cause headaches; trying to matchup with them AND a fast H-back will cause nightmares! Do you want a LB covering Ingram (or similar TE in this draft)? Even if they lack the ability to block inline on the running game, they should be able to assist blocking on the move and add more to the running game than a third WR. At times we could go with a 3 WR look by spliiting the H-back out and get matchup advantages against LB's and safeties who lack the ability to cover. And don't forget the talents of Lynch and Fast Freddi in the passing game as besides Lee Freddie has been our next best big play guy in the passing game; if you split both he and the H-back out on early downs watch out! It may force some teams to nickle and dime us which should open up the box.

 

One of these type TE's can be had in the second or third round AFTER the Bills address DE/OG/LB needs. Thoughts?

[DazedandConfused]

Agreed. This makes tons more sense that the notion of acquiring a TE with great downfield receiving ability who also is a proficient enough blocker that he not only keeps Edwards off his keister AND is a blocking talent for Lynch. Such triple talent players do exist. However, not only would the Bills need to find two of them or we are screwed if the starting TE goes down, but it often takes several years to develop a player who is proficient at all three of these aspects of NFL TE play.

 

Royal struck me as a very good pass blocker, a pretty good run blocker, but really inconsistent as a receiving threat. Both Fine and Schoman are worse as far as the combination of pretty goods, adequates and inadequates go.

 

Even the best of the available TEs (likely Pettigrew) will need at least a year until they are full contributors (and by that time TO is gone). I think we get better faster looking for an H-Back than a TE. A good TE is better than the best H-b, but 2 good TEs are harder to find that 2 adequate H-bs

[bluv]

Agreed. This makes tons more sense that the notion of acquiring a TE with great downfield receiving ability who also is a proficient enough blocker that he not only keeps Edwards off his keister AND is a blocking talent for Lynch. Such triple talent players do exist. However, not only would the Bills need to find two of them or we are screwed if the starting TE goes down, but it often takes several years to develop a player who is proficient at all three of these aspects of NFL TE play.

 

Royal struck me as a very good pass blocker, a pretty good run blocker, but really inconsistent as a receiving threat. Both Fine and Schoman are worse as far as the combination of pretty goods, adequates and inadequates go.

 

Even the best of the available TEs (likely Pettigrew) will need at least a year until they are full contributors (and by that time TO is gone). I think we get better faster looking for an H-Back than a TE. A good TE is better than the best H-b, but 2 good TEs are harder to find that 2 adequate H-bs

If the Bills are going to utilize a singleback offense, they need to find an athletic H-back or go predominably 3 wide. If they get into the trend of obvious playcalling based on personell, then we will get back into the normal Bills tradion of calling plays and hoping they work instead of gameplanning, dictating to the D, and managing the game.

[DazedandConfused]

If the Bills are going to utilize a singleback offense, they need to find an athletic H-back or go predominably 3 wide. If they get into the trend of obvious playcalling based on personell, then we will get back into the normal Bills tradion of calling plays and hoping they work instead of gameplanning, dictating to the D, and managing the game.

In part this is why I would prefer Bills go H-back rather than TE. It does give you the option pf having your H-back go more toward FB use when you choose to simply try to muscle up and try to run because it is late in the game and your best friend becomes burning clock.

 

The 3 WR set is actually a running set for us as it stops the D from simply putting 7 or 8 guys in the box as they often seem to do against us.

 

Particularly when you have the talents he has shown of never getting taken down by the first hit, if the D is spread and has trouble gang tackling him he is a threat to go long. I never saw the Beast in college but I understand that despite your concern about speed (an overblown concern IMHO as it is rare that any RB is simply running away from a crowd) he actually did well in 1 RB sets in college.