Buffalo Bills' Fred Jackson On The Verge Of 1,000 Yards

by Brian Galliford on Dec 29, 2010 10:15 AM EST in Buffalo Bills News

Though he was an offensive afterthought at the outset of the 2010 regular season, Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson needs just 108 rushing yards this Sunday at the New York Jets to achieve his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season. Should the Bills accomplish this feat, it'll be more than just a feather in Jackson's cap.

Last week against New England, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick reached the 3,000-yard passing plateau, while wide receiver Stevie Johnson ended the game with 1,001 receiving yards on the year. Should Jackson reach 1,000 rushing yards, it'll be the first time the Bills have had a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season since 2002.

That season, the 8-8 Bills - led by quarterback Drew Bledsoe - had the 11th-ranked offense in the NFL, averaging 349.4 yards per game. Bledsoe ended the season with 4,359 passing yards and a Pro Bowl berth. Travis Henry rushed for 1,438 yards, and Eric Moulds caught 1,292 yards worth of Bledsoe passes.

Prior to 2002, the Bills hadn't had an offensive trio with those yardage totals in the same season since 1994, when Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed pulled the trick. That trio, which if there's any justice whatsoever will someday feature three Hall of Fame players, accomplished this feat three times.

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Go Freddy go.

That picture is great, looks like he’s the ballerina and the musical conductor.

And yes, please put Reed in the hall of fame immediately.

"Ability without character will lose. The Bills are going to be a team of high character. That stamp I will push very hard. I hope we can convey that to our fans and project something very special to the rest of the nation." - Marv Levy

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Dec 29, 2010 10:34 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Freddy missed the first two games due to preseason injury.

Marshawn was the logical choice to play in his role. I would like to see Fred get that 1,000 yard mark but in all honesty, I would like to see him get it before the last game of the season. IMO it is just another reason why we need to improve our run game. This needs to happen before next season. I can’t tell you what the problem is there are so many, but the youth and inexperience of our O-Line is the only constant from last season. Another offseason for these young guys will eliminate that excuse. Many will be starting their third year as starting players. That should be enough to get them where we want them to be and if not than they are not the oranges we thought they were but the lemons that we have put on the field until then.

I am surprised that know one has mentioned the run game in relation to Geoff Hangartner being injured and Eric Wood taking over at center. I am sold on Eric Wood as a player, but losing our starting C for a few games has had an impact. The experience is good for Wood, but I see a drop off with Hangartner out of the lineup.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Dec 29, 2010 11:06 AM EST reply actions

I understand your discontent with the way it may unfold, but take a look at the league’s stats, if you haven’t had an opportunity yet:

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?tabSeq=0&statisticCategory=RUSHING&conference=null&season=2010&seasonType=REG&d-447263-s=RUSHING_YARDS&d-447263-o=2&d-447263-n=1

Fred Jackson is 19th. Sure, not a killer place to be. Scan over his numbers and you’ll find that he averages just under 14 carries per game. That right there speaks volumes to me as to why he’s still struggling to hit 1000 yards. Of everything that’s unfolded this season, the one thing that’s frustrated me more than anything else (yes, even more than the run “defense”) is that Fred Jackson has not be properly utilized. I hope this changes next season. I don’t get it because it’s not like any other RB on the team has or is getting a Herman Melville novel’s worth of carries.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 29, 2010 11:15 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

Not argueing

I honestly believe that Chan wants to run the ball more which means more carries for Fred and more for C.J. I just don’t see where our offense has evolved to that point. Which is my arguement for Chan in supporting him and the way he has run this offense. I am expecting alot more next seasons in that regard. We cannot have Fitz throwing 35 – 45 times a game. Not when you have players like Fred Jackson in the backfield. IMO Freddy is good enough for 1,400 yards a season, not a 1,000. He just lacks the supporting cast for this to happen.

Once again this year, the right side of our O-Line has been a revolving door. Only difference we have seen a better level of players come through there. We haven’t seen Any level of Quality play from C. Green and that really hurt us. We have seen better quality from Wrotto and Howard, but neither of these two players have been conditioned to play a full season and neither are top of the line players to begin with.

My whole thing is that Ryan and Chan have bought into running what the defense gives us and with our play from the offensive line dictates the spread and more passing than running the ball. That along with run defense needs to be fixed going into next year. This is why I could care less about this whole franchise QB discussion. We all know we need one but if he is not there then there are many other pressing needs that continue to plaque us.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Dec 29, 2010 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs

wow – rec’d.

I wish that statement would be said after every single game in which people question playcalling. I’m glad i’m not the only one that sees that.

Not sure if this is a good thing or not – but our line is a better pass blocking than run blocking line. Unfortunately that doesn’t make me feel better

South Park showed us the benefit of Captain Hindsight

by J2 on Dec 29, 2010 11:58 AM EST up reply actions

Of everything that’s unfolded this season, the one thing that’s frustrated me more than anything else (yes, even more than the run "defense") is that Fred Jackson has not be properly utilized.

I feel for Fred for more than this season. Has he ever been properly utilized in his entire career?

by thefourwinds on Dec 29, 2010 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Freddy missed the first two games due to preseason injury.

Nope. He played in Week 1, and has appeared in every regular season game this year.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Dec 29, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

wow, I stand corrected

I thought he hurt his wrist or hand or something in preseason that kept him from playing. Hey, I try, I am old and play off of what I see and remember more than stat searching. I realize that puts me at a disadvantage, I just trust my eyes and gut more than stats. Makes me non perfect but I survive. All is good, my opinions still hold. Thanks Brian.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Dec 29, 2010 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

What you may be thinking of was Marshawn Lynch being “featured” for a couple games. I don’t hate the guy, but i’m sooooooooooo glad all of that is now over.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 29, 2010 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Your memory served you well – Jackson did get hurt in the preseason. So did Lynch; that’s why Spiller got so much PT against Indy and from that point forward in the practice games. And it was Jackson’s wrist, too. But Buffalo debuted with the Pistol, Spiller started in Week 1, and then Lynch took over as the starter for the next three weeks before he was traded. In the meantime, Jackson was active, but rode the pine for the most part.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Dec 29, 2010 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

This couldn't come against more stout competition.

I hope Gailey gives him the opportunity, with at least 25 carries.

In the year two thousaaaaaaand.
In the year two thousAAAAAAND!

Current song recommendation: Ween "Mr. Richard Smoker"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Dec 29, 2010 11:09 AM EST reply actions

8 years between '94 and '02 - 8 years between '02 and '10

2018 is going to be sweet!

"It’s like I’ve always said, don’t tell me about the labor pains, just show me the baby."
- Buddy Nix

by dnvrBillsfan on Dec 29, 2010 11:53 AM EST reply actions

Who cares???

These stats are meaningless. Its nice to see individuals do good, but getting good stats in crappy team years only drives up their price at contract time. “Look at the numbers I put up when we were a bad team…don’t you think I deserve more money?” That will only price the best players out of Buffalo as we have seen in the past with the DB’s that are having success elsewhere…Jabari Greer, Antoine Winfield for example.

If Freddy falls short of a grand, then the team will have just a tad bit more leverage when contract time comes around. Don’t you see it coming with Stevie Johnson? I do.

"Maybe winning isn’t everything for 2010"

by JTM1023 on Dec 29, 2010 3:31 PM EST reply actions