Bills Have Problems Using Two Productive Backs

You don’t see many teams that have two highly productive backs, at least on a consistent basis. Usually the teams that utilize two backs heavily have two guys that complement each other’s skills (Bradshaw and Jacobs, for example). In Buffalo, both players are capable of running, catching and blocking (Spiller less so). That’s where the problem builds from. There are no specific situations where one guy should be in over the other, assuming Spiller takes the leap to fully capable contributor over the long haul.

Teams that use multiple backs more equally include the Pats, Saints, Chargers, Giants, Packers, and Panthers. I would throw the Texans in because of Ben Tate, but Arian Foster is the bell cow and still dominates the work. Other than maybe Carolina, each of those teams uses multiple backs because they each have different skills. Very rarely does a team use two RB’s in the same way, which is why it can be difficult to get both of them enough work and productivity. Gailey is probably going to have to follow a Carolina type blueprint to incorporate both, but that means going a bit more run heavy, I suppose. I’m not sure he’s willing to do that.

It’s easy to say Gailey should rotate series with them or give one 60% of the work, or whatever in theory, but not as easy in execution based on game situation and the so-called “hot hand”. This is not an easy thing to do, but something that Gailey is likely going to have to do.

Am I the only one who though Choice did a solid job after joining the team? Of course, he can’t catch a slant to save his life, but I think he earned a chance to enter the summer as the team’s 3rd RB, assuming he’s offered a 1 or 2 year contract.

Tashard is more of a spell, goaline threat than anything.

The way Fred was playing earliier this season, at an almost MVP level, it get’s easy to justify giving him the ball on most downs.

Even with this, I expect to see more dual RB plays next year, as well as the utilization of CJ on the outside. Both player’s talents demand they touch the ball. And hopefully Chan can figure out a game plan that allows both players strengths to co-exist.

We should run more two back sets maybe out of the shotgun and motion one out occasionally and use one to run block or as a decoy. I’ve noticed that he barely ever spells the running backs either. He definitely needs to do some research because being able to run the ball 40 times a game would keep our passing attack much more potent. It’d be nice having the other defense worn down by the 3rd quarter and then being able to run the ball down their throat and use play action to throw it over the top which we never do

Fred should get 20-25 touches a game, and Spiller should get 10-15 touches a game. Anything less will keep producing the lop-sided results.

i mean,i don’t know how we can keep fred, the bills won’t pay him as he deserves

Anyone seen the wishbone offense recently?

Why not Spiller and Jackson with McIntyre behind fitz, the formation alone presents so many questions to defenses on what to focus on. Draw plays, Sweep, screen (to which side) motion (either or each back).

Etc, I dont need to go on, just wondering if Gaily would consider it.
Thoughts?

One that knows how to use 2 very good RB’s and a passing game that involves using a more tradional base.

Basically scrap the spread.

Fred has obviously earned his place as the number one running option on the team, but having a number 9 pick who has shown he can be a number one in the NFL as a backup doesn’t work. Once Jackson went down Spiller transformed and totally embraced the role of being the goto guy. My fear is he will revert back to his former self next year when he doesn’t get the touches. They could keep things status quo and let Fred walk after last year, or they could trade either CJ or Fred. I’m guessing CJ would have more trade value because he is younger and has more years on his contract, but Fred was putting up MVP numbers before getting injured.

If we could get a stud WR or good draft picks, this might be worth exploring. For this next year CJ is more an expensive insurance policy than anything else.

I would like to see them try a split backfield with both RBs one the field at the same time. They could put Spiller in motion on some plays and set him up as a receiver since he has that experience now. Both can catch passes out of the back field as well. Also, this would set up some great sweep plays getting Spiller out in space with a lead blocker. Defenses would have to prepare for both backs (Freddy’s ability to find holes and CJ’s speed). We have two great backs and a streaky QB, why not try it? The only problem with this is that Chan will have to abandon his beloved spread formation. Maybe I’m bias… I thought they should have tried this with Lynch and Jackson as well.

Every stop he’s made, he’s devoted himself to one back at a time.

Chan has shown beyond a reasonable doubt that he can not run an offense that features two backs. Instead, he features an average at best QB throwing to below average receivers out of a spread formation where there is zero threat of a run. A skeptic might say “that does not sound like what an offensive genius would do.”

Wonder what Nix will do instead… history suggests the bills will dump Spiller for a couple of late round picks…

The most sane thing to do would be to help Gailey learn to utilize both, knowing that at any moment either could, say, break a leg.

The next most rational thing would be to trade Jackson and a pick to move up in the draft to get a franchise cornerstone. (I say trade Jackson instead is Spiller because Jackson is older, not because Spiller is better. Besides then Jackson may get a well deserved shot a
t playing for a winner.)

to see Gailey incorporate the running game more but he simply won’t as his style is pass to setup the run. If successful you not only have a good functioning offense but also an exciting one (as exhibited by the early season victories) but if not successful you are liable for blowout losses through pick 6’s, defense on the field a long time etc etc. To steal Dancam’s poker analogy, Gailey is all-in with the spread and probably all-in with Fitz also because even if the Bills take a QB this draft he is unlikely to start.

Raiders.

No reason we couldn’t more closely resemble these teams, with our giant sized linemen, quick, shifty running backs, who are still capable of running with some power (some may disagree about CJ, but he is more aggressive, and seems stronger than most backs his size, at least to me.)

The one thing that everyone is missing in this discussion is: blocking ability.

The reason that a lot of highly-touted young RBs don’t make it onto the field much their first or second years is that they never were asked to block in college and don’t pick up NFL blocking skills or schemes right away when they get to the NFL (a problem for Spiller, but also for Willis McGahee, too, if you recall). NFL head coaches-and not just Gailley-are very reluctant to consistently use young RBs who aren’t good picking up the pass rush until they learn how to do that (some never do).

Fred Jackson is the best blocking RB the Bills have had since Thurman Thomas, who was one of the very best. As a pass-blocker, Spiller can’t shine Freddy’s shoes. In fact, it is very likely that Gailley has used Choice over Spiller at RB in so many 3rd down situations is based on Choice being better at picking up pass rushers than Spiller is (this may be accounted for by the fact that Spiller has spent so much time working with the WRs the past two seasons because of injuries). Because deception also plays a big role in the passing game, based on their blocking ability, given a choice, Gailley (and almost any other NFL head coach) will pick Fred Jackson over CJ Spiller almost every time at this point in their careers. And shouldn’t be faulted for doing so.

While Spiller has high 1st round talent and is a “home-run” threat every time he gets the ball, given his lack of size and blocking ability, Gailley is naturally reluctant to use him in certain situations—especially when he has such a well-rounded RB in Fred Jackson available. However, as Spiller fills out a little more (gets a full offseason in a NFL strength and conditioning program and physically matures) and improves his blocking skills (works full-time with the RBs in OTAs and training camp), Gailley will probably be more willing to play Spiller more at RB (and give him more touches) than he has thus far.

Because they are both different style runners: Fred is a “slasher” who finds the little cracks and breaks tackles, while CJ is a one-cut and go type runner with breakaway speed; there is room for both to be used as the # 1 in different situations once Spiller gets his blocking up to par. First, Spiller is going to have to prove to Gailley that he can be trusted to pick up the blitz in passing situations. Then, the trick will be to convince Freddy that, being over 30, having CJ take some playing time and touches away from him will benefit him by extending his career—which is probably going to take some money (having spent so much time not making anything, now that Freddy has a chance to get paid, he wants to finally make some money because, at his age, this is his last chance to do so).

Gailley probably would like to use both Jackson and Spiller a lot, but, given the limitations of the offensive line, he’s not going to give them equal time or increase the amount of running plays for Spiller until he feels confident in CJ’s ability to pass block first.

Before anyone points to rookie RBs who have stepped right into the NFL as starters and lit it up right away, let me point out that either those rookies already had learned how to pass block in college or picked up pass blocking very quickly or were in situations where their NFL team was so desperate for a quality runner that the head coach was willing to overlook their pass blocking deficiencies. Also, look at how many RBs have come in and lit it up as rookies or emergency injury replacements who showed great running ability but were out of the league a couple of years later despite not having any critical injuries. With a very good blocking RB in Fred Jackson, Gailley hasn’t had to take those kinds of risks with Spiller—he has been able to afford to wait until CJ bulks up a bit and learns how to be proficient picking up blitzes. And I wouldn’t blame him for that.