The Buffalo Bills Should Be A Run-First Team in 2012

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 19, 2012 12:45 PM EST

The Buffalo Bills Should Be A Run-First Team

I know that is in direct conflict with Chan’s philosophy, but I don’t understand why. Chan is supposed to be known for designing offensive schemes that highlight the talents of his specific players. Now, to some extent, I believe he has done that. But I also think he is missing something that, to me, is blatantly obvious. The Buffalo Bills have more running threats than passing threats. Think about it:

1) The Bills have a power runner in Fred Jackson and a speed runner in CJ Spiller. Both deserve 25 carries a game at least. So give it to them both! Keep offenses guessing about how and where the ball is going to be run, but run often. Pound and punish defenses with Fred and have CJ burn them with speed.

2) The Bills have a fast, versatile, and dangerous player in Brad Smith. He has speed to run, but can also throw. Our 3rd down conversion percentage was much higher when Smith was running from the Wildcat. In 2012, Gailey should run Wildcat formations with both Fred and CJ on the field as well. This would be a nightmare for defenses. Smith could run himself or handoff to either option. Defenses would never know what’s coming. And, on top of that, Smith could still throw (and should throw short passes from time to time) to Fred, CJ, or any open receiver. Why Chan has not done this already confuses me. Defenses would have no way to know what to expect from the Wildcat, as opposed to this season, when it always meant a run up the gut.

3) Fitz has definitely shown us magic, but cannot consistently win us games with his arm. Why not run the ball often with a dynamic and versatile set of running tools, and then slip in a quick slant or a deep throw at unexpected times. I believe this would make Fitz much more effective. He would throw less, but would have a higher completion percentage and fewer interceptions because defenses wouldn’t expect his throws.

The Bills offense has some of the best running talent in the NFL. I suggest we use it to its full potential in 2012!

Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.

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AMEN

The Bills have always had a running tradition — from Cookie to OJ to Cribbs to Thurman to Freddie and CJ . . . and Travis Henry, Willis McGahee, and Marshawn also had the talent, but couldn’t stick for various other reasons . . .

It’s time that tradition was maintained.

And while we’re at it, I’d like to see a fullback brought in and made use of. And, by fullback, I mean an ACTUAL fullback – not another TE-turned-“H-back” . . . I want a FB who not only is an effective blocker and pass receiver, but one who can gain yards on the ground — like a backfield runner should be able to do . . .

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by go_buff on Jan 19, 2012 1:04 PM EST reply actions

There is nothing wrong

with being a passing team. The short quick passing game can work fine. The defense needs to step up and help the offense out. Last year, the defense was terrible.

If the idea is to be a passing team in one half to build up a lead, and then run in the second half, what is wrong with that? There is a post here, Billichick is the master. He passes in the first half to set up the run in the second half. It works. Quite well.

Let the coaches coach. It would also be near impossible for both CJ and Freddie to get 25 touches EACH.

by satyr on Jan 19, 2012 1:56 PM EST reply actions

It has been shown to be near impossible for either RB to get 25 carries in a game, let alone 25 each. I think 15 each would be a good target, myself.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Jan 19, 2012 2:47 PM EST up reply actions

I didn’t literally mean to give 25 carries to each running back, although I understand that what I wrote could be taken literally. I just want to see a run heavy offense with both backs and Brad Smith involved.

"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 19, 2012 2:59 PM EST up reply actions

Why would you ever

want to watch the most boring game of football, ever, week in and out? If you are going to run an offense like that, like Pittsburgh or Baltimore, you need a defense like them. Teams need to pass today. As everyone loves to point out, it is a passing league now. At some point, you are going to have to put the ball in the air. You better have the horses to make it work.

by satyr on Jan 19, 2012 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

More than being a “passing league”, it’s a “score points” league. If running allows us to score points on a higher percentage of our possessions, then we should run it more.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Jan 19, 2012 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

nice thought

i agree. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, and it doesn’t have to mean a different identity. it just means, maybe we should try to have better down and distance situations, by approaching from a run first mentality. and incompletion on first and then subsequently on second, means you are always dealing with a 10 yard down. we could be managing more 2nd and 4-7s with a run on first. instead, we incomplete, and then instead of running on second when it makes sense to gain SOME kind of yardage, we pass again. That makes no sense, unless you KNOW you can find the mismatch, and complete… and that obviously was an issue because of how many drives we were stopped, and how pathetic we were on third down conversions.

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by ThaRealTruth on Jan 20, 2012 7:30 PM EST up reply actions

If you are going to run an offense like that, like Pittsburgh or Baltimore, you need a defense like them.

If you can run successfully, it eats up more clock, keeping your Defense off the field longer. That sounds like it could benefit a struggling defense like the Buffalo Bills to me.

At some point, you are going to have to put the ball in the air. You better have the horses to make it work.

Of course you have to put the ball in the air at some point. Just not every point. I believe that we have talented receivers and a good QB. Used less often in more surprising situations, I believe they would be more effective.

"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 19, 2012 5:05 PM EST up reply actions

Here's what Chan would say

If I have been reading Chris Brown accurately I imagine that Chan’s reply to you (based on what he has told Chris Brown) would be as follows: NFL defenses these days feature d-linemen and LB’s who are bigger, faster and stronger than ever. In effect, they make the field smaller than it really is. It’s murder to try to run against those guys on a consistent basis. You can, but it’s a uphill struggle no matter how great your RB’s are. That’s why you need to use the pass to establish the run. The spread offenses that have been popping up all over the NFL are designed to make the field bigger. Not only does that help your passing game, but it creates lanes for your RB’s that wouldn’t be there otherwise.

So (Chan would conclude) if you really want to use your talented RB’s most effectively, you need to begin with a pass-oriented spread offense.

by Macktruck on Jan 19, 2012 4:36 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Yup just about what he actually said. We will never be a run first team under chan.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jan 19, 2012 4:47 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Eventhough we are a better rushing team then passing team?

Ay Ay Ay Ayyyyy

by BuffaloBillsBigestFan on Jan 19, 2012 4:54 PM EST up reply actions

He believes in todays nfl the field has gotten souch smaller due to bigger defensemen that you have to go into the spread and pass the ball around to open the running lanes. According to chan from what I understand our running game would not be as good if we reversed the order.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Jan 19, 2012 5:02 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Are we? Or do we look like a better running team because of the way we attack the defense with the passing game? Chicken and egg here. Make no mistake if we go to a run-first offense those numbers will suffer big time.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Jan 20, 2012 11:43 AM EST up reply actions

I say test the waters.

Why not attempt to run first. If it’s successful, keep it going. If not, then spread ’em out with the pass, open the lanes, then run some more.

"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 19, 2012 5:08 PM EST up reply actions

I also understand that I am not an NFL Coach

Chan probably knows better than I do. I just hate to see the running weapons we have wasted.

"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 19, 2012 5:10 PM EST up reply actions

He would say (remember, I’m channeling Chan, not necessarily giving my own opinion) that the running game looked terrific early in the season when the passing game was also doing well. Fred Jackson was tearing up the place, in part (Chan would say) because of the opportunities that the spread offense had created for him. But then WR’s got injured, Fitz went into a funk, and the passing game slowed down. That made it easier for opposing defenses to slow down our RB’s.

I’m not sure all of that makes sense. When C.J. was given the chance late in the season he picked up a lot of yards on the ground even when the Bills couldn’t move the ball through the air that well, although they were continuing to use a spread formation. But I’m pretty sure that that is how Chan Gailey would respond to your post.

by Macktruck on Jan 19, 2012 5:49 PM EST up reply actions

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/1/17/2712813/run-or-pass-1st

didn’t see this one?

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by zoomer02 on Jan 19, 2012 11:42 PM EST reply actions

I did not.

Sorry for redundant material.

"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34

by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Jan 20, 2012 8:45 AM EST up reply actions

The Bills finished 13th in the league

in rushing ypg. So it’s not like we didn’t run the ball.

flayed ones stealth mode

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by mob16151 on Jan 20, 2012 12:39 AM EST reply actions

Got to disagree with this

“1) The Bills have a power runner in Fred Jackson”

Fred is a great runner and has many great skills but I do not consider him a power runner. Probably one of his weakest aspects of his game is power running.

I also think that Chan is right that the stats on Fred and CJ would not be as good if we were a run first team. I do hope we run the ball more this year and in more creative ways with both backs on the field at the same time, but I beleive that most of out unbalanced pass to run stats came as a direct result of the scoreboard. Run more yes, but under the same scheem!!

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 20, 2012 3:01 PM EST reply actions

Freddie

Had a higher YPC AFTER contact, than many RBs had YPC Before and after contact. If that isn’t a power runner, that can break tackles like that what is?

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by The Buffalo Kid on Jan 21, 2012 6:31 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

YPC after contact

IMO this is a measure of elusiveness not power.

If Fredie is a good power back then why does he strugle on third and one when the defense knows we are going to run??

Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.

by jbbillfan on Jan 22, 2012 2:03 AM EST up reply actions