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Sometimes you’re the hammer, sometimes you’re the nail. From day one of free agency, the Buffalo Bills are going to try and hammer their opponents in submission. Having Jerome Felton as the first free agent of 2015, preceded by street free agent Richie Incognito are two moves that have given the league notice the Bills are going to try to punch their way into the playoffs.
Will it work? No clue. But I’m going to enjoy the heck out of watching that human sledgehammer destroy folks enroute to runs by Shady and company. As I mentioned in my FB / TE piece, a guy that goes from 300+ snaps in 2013 to 175 last year opted out of a contract to get work bringing lumber and he will find it in the Rex/Roman plan. With the moves to try and get Clay as well, I just may send Joe into a rage-spiral of run game silliness (Joe’s Note: WHEN ALL YOU PEOPLE BITCH WHEN THEY DON’T THROW IN SEPTEMBER, BLAME RICH! :).
So what does this mean for the Bills? Expect a good bit of Pistol as well as the traditional I formation, but nothing static. Movement will be hallmark of the offense. Take a look:
https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.jsBe ready for a lot of that. The scheme will allow Shady to bounce it outside, but if the Bills get their house in order offensive line wise, they’ll also allow him to make those jukes at the second level, not behind the line of scrimmage. That motion will allow for a lot of trickiness as I’ve mentioned before as well: https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js
Enter Felton. This is the type of fun they’re going to get with the 248 pounder:
https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js
And:
https://platform.vine.co/static/scripts/embed.js
YEAH BOY. And please, don’t be that guy. The “but they don’t have a QB” guy. Because that’s lame. We all know they need a QB. Simmer.
The key is getting that line right. Because you can have all the scheme you want, but if the guard’s a turnstile they’re going to have a problem.
Also, we have to talk about how Shady hasn’t been the recipient of a lot of fullback assistance during his career. Because of Peterson’s legal issues, let’s take a look at 2013 season stats for McCoy, Peterson and Gore (for scheme) when in and out of I-backs:
Gore – 80 plays out of I-Backs, 417 yards / 4 TDs, 5.2 YPC | 50 plays as lone setback, 187 yards / 1 TD, 3.7 YPC.
Peterson – 144 plays out of I-Backs, 575 yards / 7 TDs, 4.0 YPC | 93 plays as lone setback, 499 yards / 3 TDs, 5.4 YPC.
McCoy – 0 plays out of I-Backs | 307 plays as lone setback, 1585 yards / 8 TDs, 5.2 YPC.
Shady’s most experience in I-Backs came in 2010, his second year in the league – 65 carries, 301 yards (4.6 YPC) and 0 TDs. If ESPN’s stats are accurate, Shady has only run for 2 TDs in his career out of I-Backs. Hmm.
When looking at those stats, note the usage. Peterson (w/Felton) ran 50 more times out of the I and scored 4 more TDs and 76 more yards. Gore was more of a straight line guy, so his YPC and TDs being up in I backs makes sense.
So like I said, a little adjustment will be needed – on both sides. Averaging nearly 5.2 yards per carry out of single back formations in your career leads one to say perhaps he gets a couple of shots at that? Right? I have full faith they’ll make it work though. Because Felton. Also, since he signed first, I would say he should have dibs on 42, even though they’re going to back the brinks up for Clay, right?!
What do you think? Are you as crazy as I am to be this excited about a fullback? Probably not, but pretend while we chat on Twitter – @RDotDeuce.
Live Long and Prosper.
#1FO
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