Veteran Running Backs
by sireric on Jun 7, 2008 5:15 PM EDT
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PrintWith the legal troubles that Buffalo's star running back has gotten himself into, many of us have begun to look at some veteran options assuming the worst. First I want to say two things:
1 - Even if Lynch is found guilty of hit and run, I don't think he will spend a single day in jail. Any time he misses will be due to a punishment handed down by Roger Goodell.
2 - Unless Lynch gets handed a suspension of 8 games or more, I wouldn't even consider bringing in anybody new (or old for that matter).
Lets just say for a moment that Lynch does draw a year long ban. The question now becomes: Do the Bills bring in a vet or do they stick with the younger guys they currently have on the current roster? Looking at the Veterans out there, I can't really say that I would get very excited about any of them. I looked at them all and tried to find one that I could cozy up to the idea of them in a Bills uni, but failed. I could definetly see the desire to bring in a more experienced runner, but right now I would be tempted to stick with the young guys.
Names like Kevin Jones, Travis Henry, Ron Dayne, and Lamont Jordan make me cringe. I still like Travis but he has serious issues both on and off the field, is injury prone, and 1 drug violation away from a year long ban himself. If Kevin Jones was completely healthy I think the Lions would have held onto him. Ron Dayne..um...NO. Jordan is still Raiders property, which means that to acquire him you would have to strike a deal with Crazy Al. I think the Jordan could be the best option, as I think that his career drop-off happened when he went to the Raiders. I saw him play many games as a member of the Jets. Getting out of Oakland could really help him out.
If the Bills stick with the young guys on the roster, (which might just be the best way to go) that means that either Dwayne Wright or X-Mon is going to have to step up and prove that he can (a) run and catch, (b) pick up the blitz, (c) handle 10-15 touches a game. I think I actually wrote here at one point that X-Mon was the one pick in the draft by the Bills that made the least sense to me, now it seems like a smart move.
What is your preference, assuming the Marshawn is suspended for the year?
Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.
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Nicely said
The names who are out there are all out there for a reason—injury, suspension risk, ineffectiveness. Even if Lynch is lost for the season (which I think is a real possiblity) I’d rather see the team go with the guys on the roster. Don’t forget about Viti when you talk about Jackson, Omon and Wright.
Viti was injured
I’m pretty sure that I saw something from Chris Brown earlier in the week that said he had returned to OTAs. He could still be injured but I got the impression he was practicing again.
Why would he be a lock?
I think the staff would keep Barnes before Viti, and stick him on the PS. WIth Schouman looking good thus far (yes, it is OTA’s), I think his ability to play a FB role allows us to only need to keep 1 on the 53 man roster. Not sure and undrafted, and a bit undersized, rookie stands the best chance at this point….especially if he ends up being nicked up all summer….
~K
I think the H-back experiment
is over. We will keep a true fullback. Besides Wright, who less do we have that is a true fullback? I do agree that he need to be healthy to have a shot.
Schouman
He lined up in the backfield at times last year, so I don’t see why he couldn’t be the emergency fill-in FB if the starter was hurt.
I still think 1 FB should be kept and since Schouman has some experience in the H-back role lining up in front of a RB, we could keep 4 TE’s without impacting the rest of the roster…
~K
If Lynch gets more than 4 games
we probably HAVE to bring in a vet.
Relying on Wright or Omon to provide substantial support to Jackson is suicidal. I don’t think Omon will have much impact for at least a full season. We’ve seen all of Wright’s deficiencies…speed, ball control, not that tough of a runner, and who knows if he can pickup the blitz.
What happens if Jackson gets hurt? What happens if Jackson is nothing more than a change of pace guy who excelled as being the unknown commodity last year? What if he really isn’t anything special? Then what? We’ve got to give Dwayne Wright 15 touches a game? OH GOD! I’d be SO MUCH more comfortable having a guy like Jordan or (healthy) Kevin Jones getting 10-15 touches a game, than I would hoping Dwayne Wright all of a sudden turns into a reliable RB.
We could also stash Omon on the PS if we signed that vet RB. Give the kid some time to acquaint himself to the big jump in the level of play before potentially thrusting him into a role where he’s not ready.
If Lynch is somehow suspended for more than 4 games, I am truly hoping we don’t have to rely on guys like Dwayne Wright to step up their game. A vet on a 1 year deal could be just what the doctor ordered. And if any of you are truly confident that Wright could handle the pressure/rigors of split duty, I commend you for your courage! Maybe in a year or two, but not yet.
~K
If only 4 games
I think it will take at least 4 games to determine whether or not X-Mon, F-Jack, or Wright can handle the job, and by that time Lynch would be back.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
You realize that you're advocating bringing A-Train back, right?
He’s the vet Jauron will turn to. He’s not appreciably worse than the dregs left on the market, knows the offense and, perhaps most importantly, he’s a Jauron kind of guy.
Normally, I'd agree with you
But I don’t see any of the vets available being a significant enough upgrade over Jackson to merit a contract. If Lynch is gone for more than 4, I would not be surprised to see the folks at OBD try to make some sort of trade. If Lynch is gone for 4 or less, Freddy gets the starts. I think he’s earned them.
"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England
Not to start over Jackson
but to split carries with him. Any of them are upgrades to Wright/Omon.
~K
also
I’m glad you didn’t include Shaun Alexander. I’d take the inexperienced/raw Omon before Alexander.
~K
Shaun Alexander
I would rather sign Krytime to tote the rock.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
And I would gladly do it.
I would have no problems at all taking a hand off from Edwards, taking one step toward the left side of the line, than fall down in to the fetal position. At the end of the play, I would just casually flip the ball to the ref, as if I’d been there a hundred times before…
One thing about Henry (and I definitely wouldn’t sign him, barring injuries or controversy to the three remaining backs) – what would he really cost? Not much, that’s for sure. The threat of a one year suspension isn’t a big deal – he’d be nothing more than a stop gap for a few games. Also, since the price of gas and cigarettes has grown so much, there are probably fewer 15 year old girls hanging out at gas stations, which would keep him out of the same kind of trouble he got into his second year here…
I would also donate every dollar of my game checks to a charity agreed upon by the Buffalo Rumblins community if signed. And I also promise to never, ever, hit someone with my car, and then drive away.
Does that make you a stand up--fall down kind of guy?
I’m not sure how cheaply Henry could be had for given that he has 10 (counting his) mouths to feed. And that was just at last count…
I can take you a one better, Krytime. I’d just live at the stadium—no booze, no car, no Canadians in the crosswalk. I’m guessing most every fan would move into some subterranian room in The Ralph if given the opportunity to just be on the roster. Man, wouldn’t it be great if players didn’t take their jobs for granted?
Another point about sticking with the young guys...
You essentially lose a “roster spot” when a guy is suspended (I think). At the start of the season, you’d go from having 3 or 4 guys to four or five. That means someone else isn’t staying. Maybe a guy like Teyo Johnson, Viti, Steve Johnson, Felton (I spoke with him – he’s fat), Bell (I met him too, he needs some more good weight), Gaddis, Copeland, Banks, Corner, or Youboty gets lost in this shuffle. Knowing the Bills need a good start, I still don’t think it’d be worth it to bring in a vet. I’d rather have one of my young guys for depth/development.
Nope
You don’t lose a roster spot for a suspended guy. Hargrove didn’t cost the Bills one last season. As soon as the suspension is over the team has to make room for the guy by cutting someone or demoting him to the practice squad.
That's right. I was wrong on that. Good call....
Who got the boot when Anthony came back last year? I don’t think anyone, but I could be wrong. I think the injury situation dictated as much, right?
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