Bills able to run when it counts

by Brian Galliford on Oct 20, 2008 3:30 PM EDT in Opinion Comment 7 comments

Lynch, Bills making plays when it counts (buffalobills.com)

As the Buffalo Bills continue their season - a season I need not remind you in which they've started off with wins in 5 of 6 games - we're going to keep hearing about "flaws" the team has as we're broken down by upcoming opponents. We all know what they are - mostly because y'all are astute enough to pick up on them yourselves - and we're going to be questioned about them by outside observers until those areas are tightened up.

Perhaps the most prominent of those areas has been the Bills' lack of consistency in the running game. Star running back Marshawn Lynch is averaging a paltry 3.5 yards per carry. As a team, the Bills are only barely scraping an average of 100 rushing yards per game. The offense is, quite clearly, controlled by Trent Edwards and the passing game.

But there's one important factor with the run game that we often leave out of the equation: the Bills are finding ways to run the ball well when they need to, and it's keeping their offensive attack properly balanced.

Bills run it well in second half vs Chargers
In building a 13-7 halftime lead against San Diego, the Bills did most of their damage through the air. Edwards amassed 179 of his 261 passing yards in the first half, and his two-yard score to Lee Evans occurred in the second quarter. The Bills rushed just 10 times for 24 yards in the first half; to say that the Chargers had them stymied is an understatement. Lynch had 9 of those carries for just 21 yards.

Lynch, however, was a much bigger factor in the second half. His per-carry average jumped to 4.9 (10 carries, 49 yards), and his 9-yard touchdown run was his fifth on the season and put the Bills ahead to stay. Jackson was less efficient, gaining 30 yards on 8 carries (3.75-yard average), but the fact that the Bills' two backs combined for 79 yards in the second half speaks volumes about the adjustments made at halftime. Don't forget, either, that it was Jackson ploughing through CB Quentin Jammer, creating a massive lane through which Lynch scored easily.

Without this second-half yardage, Buffalo has a much more difficult time winning this football game. In fact, they might not win it at all.

Marshawn the Closer
Lynch has been labeled a "disappointment" by a lot of fantasy owners due to his low yardage outputs (he hasn't rushed for more than 83 yards in a game this season), but he's keeping those folks happy with his five touchdown rushes. Of those five scores, four have been of "lengthy" variety (9 yards or longer).

The fact that the Bills are able to pick up large chunks of ground yardage which directly lead to points is indicative of their ability to run well when it matters most. Even Jackson's lone touchdown on the season, a 22-yard score in St. Louis, fits this mold. The Bills' two running backs - Lynch in particular - are closers. The team has survived with Edwards between the tackles; it's the running back duo that has stolen the show in the red zone.

Clearly, the Bills have some work to do in the running game. They're going to have a hard time winning games in cold weather if they can't pick up more yardage on the ground in a more consistent manner. But don't discount what the unit has accomplished, either - the Bills have been successful offensively because they've been able to grind out yards in clutch situations. As long as that continues to happen (and Edwards stays healthy), Buffalo's offense will be just fine.

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Jackson

although it mayhave seemed jackson was a non factor in the second halve or perhaps in the game to some, he made plays. More so in the passing game, one in which he caught a pass than did the quick change of direction that he is so accustomed to make a gain of 6 or so into one close to 20 yards or so, It was hard to tell at the game when the power was out (you had to count the yard lines haha) and another play I believe he caught a pass and took it inside the the 10 yardline, lowered his shoulder on quentin jammer I believe and knocked him on his ass (this was different than lynch’s touchdown run). That was right before the halve when the bills couldnt punch it in the end zone. Because the power was out many people couldnt see the whole game but even though he struggled in the run, jackson made key plays in the passing game. He is an invaluable asset to the team in my opinion

by jdol1568 on Oct 20, 2008 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Clearly

much of the running game’s so-called “struggles” are in the minds of the disgruntled.

Take a step back and look at the bigger picture for a minute. The offensive scheme has undergone a major philosophical change in strategy, from the Neanderthal-like pound it out scheme favored by Steve Fairchild, to the short passing game that Turk is now running. Naturally, the running game is not a centerpoint feature of the offense this season. While ball control is still near and dear to Dick Jauron’s heart, it is now being accomplished through the short passing game, rather than the running game.

While the run game still has a place in this offense, it is not the focal point, it is more supplementary. All to be expected. The short passing game sets up the run.

Get the Bills back to the big game!

by Blitz on Oct 20, 2008 4:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More misdirection

RIght around the time when the Chargers ran their end around, I had been thinking it would be great for the Bills to run an end around to Evans, as involved as they were getting him in the game. What was great to see was that in the 4th Q, the Bills faked the end around, and that was the play when Lynch gained 19 yds (and subsequently went out of bounds – it did look as if he could have turned the run back inside and just fallen down if he didn’t want to take too big a shot or get stripped). The Bills seem to be having more success on these misdirection runs than anything else.

Also, would love to see if the coaching staff will stay with Preston at C. He seemed to have a decent game against a superior DT.

by thefourwinds on Oct 20, 2008 4:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Coffee's for closers

They’ve done a solid enough job considering the lack of blocking. However, if that blocking doesn’t improve, it’s going to be difficult when the elements get bad to have much of an offense. This has to improve.

I’d like to see more of those toss plays. They seemed to be good for 5-10 yards a pop. Why Schonert doesn’t run to the outside more is beyond me….

I was also somewhat surprised that it was Jackson running out the clock at the end there. I guess the staff was sick of Marshawn going out of bounds even though it only really stopped the clock once….

by Kurupt on Oct 20, 2008 6:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

For the season

Left C gap- 5.1 ypa
Left B gap- 4.8 ypa
A gap- 2.8 ypa
Right B gap- 3.2 ypa
Right C gpa- 5.2 ypa

As you can see, running wide has worked out better for Buffalo than running inside in terms of yards per attempt. Whether the play is tossed wide, run as a reverse, off tackle, or cut back doesn’t seem to be as important as getting the ball outside of the tackles. I attribute a lot of this to Fowler/Preston. The farther away from the center the better the Bills do per rush. With that said, the team has to be able to run up the middle as that is where 3-4 defenses are vulnerable. It’s also the most direct path to picking up 3rd and shorts.

by Ron From NM on Oct 20, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm still not happy

This isn’t what I expected out of this running game when the season started. I thought the big guys up front would block better and I thought Marshawn would be tougher. My theory is that he is more hungry near the goal line and that is why he is a “closer”, sure that’s great but I want to see him do it from his own 20 yard line. The bottom line is that the running game needs to be better.

D.O.
www.diebytheblade.com

by D.O. on Oct 20, 2008 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs