C.J. Spiller

[Wagon Circler]

I knew that Spiller was a bit of a luxury when we drafted him as there were much bigger needs. But the offense needed a playmaker and I thought that if he lives up to the hype, he will be worth it.

Watching yesterday, I believe that he headlines what is potentially another lousy draft.

The really good ones have the vision to find the hole and then hit it. Lynch did not have that vision, Freddy does. Spiller doesn't have it either. On one running play going up the middle, there was a huge hole to the left. Spiller started that way, hesitated, went straight for a small gain.

I am also disappointed that the guy still hasn't learned that the sideline is not his friend. If you want to bounce it outside fine, but then cut it up the field. This is what got him benched and he still hasn't learned. I also do not see the strength to break tackles, which is where the Johnson comparisons really break down.

Spiller is young and may continue to develop. But right now he looks like a back-up running back and kick returner. He was an extravagance at #9, exactly what the media said. I hate it when they are right.

Hard to have faith in Nix when his draft did not produce even one impact player. Troup is kind of average. Carrington doesn't dress. Forget about everybody else.

For this team to get better, the drafting MUST get better. Find a pass rusher.

[zow2]

He is still the only guy you feel like can hit the home run every time he gets the ball. I agree, he does have to get better at reading the holes though. I'm hoping he is like McFadden of the Raiders.. Maybe takes him a season or so but then he "gets it" and really takes off. I saw him and Freddie doing more of the "Maurice Jones-Drew" cutback style running yesterday...which seemed to catch Baltimore off balance. Spiller did miss one juicy gap in the line though. I know which play you're talking about.

[Van_phelaN1]

I knew that Spiller was a bit of a luxury when we drafted him as there were much bigger needs. But the offense needed a playmaker and I thought that if he lives up to the hype, he will be worth it.

Watching yesterday, I believe that he headlines what is potentially another lousy draft.

The really good ones have the vision to find the hole and then hit it. Lynch did not have that vision, Freddy does. Spiller doesn't have it either. On one running play going up the middle, there was a huge hole to the left. Spiller started that way, hesitated, went straight for a small gain.

I am also disappointed that the guy still hasn't learned that the sideline is not his friend. If you want to bounce it outside fine, but then cut it up the field. This is what got him benched and he still hasn't learned. I also do not see the strength to break tackles, which is where the Johnson comparisons really break down.

Spiller is young and may continue to develop. But right now he looks like a back-up running back and kick returner. He was an extravagance at #9, exactly what the media said. I hate it when they are right.

Hard to have faith in Nix when his draft did not produce even one impact player. Troup is kind of average. Carrington doesn't dress. Forget about everybody else.

For this team to get better, the drafting MUST get better. Find a pass rusher.

 

I agree with Spiller but he is young. He thinks that relying on his speed and elusiveness will allow him to bounce outside a break away with one but the speed of the nfl and the discipline of these defenses on taking angles there is no way he can do it like that. I know EXACTLY which play you are talking about. He went right in to the pile of lineman and then i remember watching the replay and seeing the hole and said "wow what a huge hole he missed." He was probably trying to rush straight forward (probably had a talking to from the coaches) and just didn't see it. He will put it together over time. He is the sports car in our garage. Freddy is the late 70's muscle car. Reliable and powerful. Eventually I feel Spiller is going to be a superstar. Right now he is more of a liability. High risk high reward I suppose. Don't worry CJ, as long as you don't run over old ladies and steal 20 dollars from me I will be more than patient with you

[PromoTheRobot]

You can always count on the Stadium Wall to rush to judgement on every player. How about letting Spiller adjust to the pro game before writing him off? Or maybe we can trade him for a 7th rounder, duuuuh,.

 

PTR

Edited October 25, 2010 by PromoTheRobot

[VirginiaMike]

We could have done better than to draft CJ Spiller, but that is for another time -- he's ours now. I think he will be a good NFL back with break away ability once he gets his feet on the ground. Probably a little too much coaching for him now and i see some indecision. He has natural ability, let him use it and just provide some reminders. He won't become a difference maker getting 5-8 carries a week -- needs 12-15 at least.

[akm0404]

10-touch per game situational back. Everyone wants to crucify me every time I've said it (and I've been saying it since the draft). Would be a decent pick for a good team. For a bad team in need of a superstar, it just wasn't a sound selection.

[NaPolian8693]

You can always count on the Stadium Wall to rush to judgement on every player. How about letting Spiller adjust to the pro game before writing him off? Or maybe we can trade him for a 7th rounder, duuuuh,.

 

PTR

 

Perhaps you don't watch enough football to realize this, but running back is the easiest and most common position for a rookie to come in and be the starter and make a big impact right away.

Edited October 25, 2010 by NaPolian8693

[akm0404]

How about letting Spiller adjust to the pro game before writing him off?

 

How come other teams' high draft selections don't need time to adjust to the pro game? Home come Jahvid Best and Ryan Matthews, both selected after C.J. Spiller, don't need time to adjust to the pro game?

 

Why do all of our draft selections always need years to mature like a fine wine, while year after year after year after year teams get huge impact from their rookies?

[purple haze]

How come other teams' high draft selections don't need time to adjust to the pro game? Home come Jahvid Best and Ryan Matthews, both selected after C.J. Spiller, don't need time to adjust to the pro game?

 

Why do all of our draft selections always need years to mature like a fine wine, while year after year after year after year teams get huge impact from their rookies?

 

Because you aren't paying attention. Mathews is STRUGGLING in San Diego. And that was B4 he got injured. How come Bills fans all of a sudden don't like ANY draft pick?

[The Dean]

I guess nobody bothered to look at Chris Johnson's stats his first year in the league.

[Punch]

Spiller has had normal ups and downs as a rookie runner--- the more repetitions he gets with the ball the more he'll learn to trust his instincts. If he were given 20 carries per game or so he'd probably be accruing statistics at an acceptable rate, for fans. But he was brutal at picking up the blitz early on and in that regard he has improved steadily. Yesterday was a perfect example of what Gailey is doing in developing Spiller--- he's kept in the backfield on passing downs and allowed to learn through repetitions how to read blitzing 'backers and DBs, and stunting D-Linemen. Why burn him out with a winless team when Fred Jackson is averaging 4.5 yds/att? If they needed him to be the guy, he could be the guy. But there's no reason to burn him out.

 

Jahvid has had one terrific game, but he's basically just getting more overall touches at this point, not to mention he's only averaging 3.2 yds/att. Should Detroit fans call him Jahvid Bust?

[DrDawkinstein]

Because you aren't paying attention. Mathews is STRUGGLING in San Diego. And that was B4 he got injured. How come Bills fans all of a sudden don't like ANY draft pick?

 

 

I guess nobody bothered to look at Chris Johnson's stats his first year in the league.

 

 

but then we wouldnt be able to B word and complain!!

[akm0404]

Chris Johnson rookie season:

16.7 attempts per game

1228 yards

4.9 yards per carry

9 touchdowns

43 receptions

260 receiving yards

1 receiving touchdown

 

C.J. Spiller rookie season:

4.3 attempts per game

113 yards

4.3 yards per carry

0 touchdowns

13 receptions

48 receiving yards

1 receiving touchdown

 

The numbers speak for themselves. Superstar vs. bit player.

 

Also, Ryan Mathews (despite injury), has more than 2x the attempts and yards.

 

Jahvid Best has more than 3x attempts and yards, with 5x the touchdowns.

 

Both play on pretty bad teams (2 wins and 1 win respectively).

 

The best case you can make for Spiller is that he is terribly misused and was a luxury backup running back pick for a team that almost no NFL-caliber players to begin with.

 

But, compared to recent rookie running backs taken high (don't get me started on Adrian Peterson), he has made completely zero impact.

[HeHateMe]

Being a good kick returner, I'm surprised he doesn't have good vision when he gets the ball at RB. Missing open lanes, bouncing outside when its not there..etc

[DrDawkinstein]

Chris Johnson rookie season:

16.7 attempts per game

 

 

C.J. Spiller rookie season:

4.3 attempts per game

 

 

 

Also, Ryan Mathews (despite injury), has more than 2x the attempts and yards.

 

Jahvid Best has more than 3x attempts and yards, with 5x the touchdowns.

 

 

 

So you are throwing him under the bus even though he gets considerably less touches than any other back you are comparing him to.

 

I dont fault Spiller, I fault the coaches for not finding ways to get him the ball more. ESPECIALLY since Freddie looks to have regressed lately.

[atlbillsfan1975]

Way to early to compare Spiller to Johnson.

First of all i think Johnson went into a better situation.

Spiller is involved with the rebuilding of a team. Not to mention an offensive line that is very young and learning to come together.

Spiller did miss some holes yesterday. i can not defend him on that. It was like an all or nothing approach. I agree with one of the posters, it seemed like a coach got in his head. He maybe got told to stop going east and west, instead go north and south.

Then he tried to pound it up the middle with out really looking for a cut back lane. He will get there. The kid has the talent. He is not a Reggie Bush type of player. To me he is more a Barry Sander style...with more size. He can stop on a dime. He gets you off balance and then runs threw you.

Take a leason from Stevie Johnson...it may take a little time.

[akm0404]

I'm not saying that C.J. Spiller is no good. I'm saying that we made a blunder of epic proportions in drafting him.

 

He gets no touches, makes zero impact. Rookies are making huge impact on good, contending teams. Our rookies make zero impact on a terrible team.

 

He also just simply isn't as electric a player as Chris Johnson, who took over a role on that team by making huge plays when he touched the ball. We are both not using Spiller at all, and on the rare occasions that we do, he isn't making any impact.

 

That is bad.

 

We draft players and spend the next 3 years spouting off how we just need to give them time. Meanwhile, other NFL teams draft rookies who start and make an immediate impact. Why do we have to always wait?

[NaPolian8693]

Maybin will come around soon just give him some time.

[Dorkington]

If Jackson/Lynch weren't in our backfield, I'd say "Yeah, Spiller sucks! OMG FAIL!", but as it is, we have had good RB's back there (now just Freddie), so CJ doesn't have a whole lot of attempts. We have a crappy line, so asking CJ to go in there and be an every down back as a rookie would be nightmare. Freddie is at least big enough to fall forward and grab a couple yards when getting hit.

 

CJ has had a decent YPC, and almost every time he's gotten the ball he's been productive. If he's not starting/getting a big chunk of touches next year, then yeah I'll hop on the "SPILLER IS A BUST" bandwagon.

 

I'm not saying that C.J. Spiller is no good. I'm saying that we made a blunder of epic proportions in drafting him.

 

He gets no touches, makes zero impact. Rookies are making huge impact on good, contending teams. Our rookies make zero impact on a terrible team.

 

He also just simply isn't as electric a player as Chris Johnson, who took over a role on that team by making huge plays when he touched the ball. We are both not using Spiller at all, and on the rare occasions that we do, he isn't making any impact.

 

That is bad.

 

We draft players and spend the next 3 years spouting off how we just need to give them time. Meanwhile, other NFL teams draft rookies who start and make an immediate impact. Why do we have to always wait?

 

Ever think that rookies have it easier on good teams vs bad teams?

[Bob in STL]

I knew that Spiller was a bit of a luxury when we drafted him as there were much bigger needs. But the offense needed a playmaker and I thought that if he lives up to the hype, he will be worth it.

Watching yesterday, I believe that he headlines what is potentially another lousy draft.

The really good ones have the vision to find the hole and then hit it. Lynch did not have that vision, Freddy does. Spiller doesn't have it either. On one running play going up the middle, there was a huge hole to the left. Spiller started that way, hesitated, went straight for a small gain.

I am also disappointed that the guy still hasn't learned that the sideline is not his friend. If you want to bounce it outside fine, but then cut it up the field. This is what got him benched and he still hasn't learned. I also do not see the strength to break tackles, which is where the Johnson comparisons really break down.

Spiller is young and may continue to develop. But right now he looks like a back-up running back and kick returner. He was an extravagance at #9, exactly what the media said. I hate it when they are right.

Hard to have faith in Nix when his draft did not produce even one impact player. Troup is kind of average. Carrington doesn't dress. Forget about everybody else.

For this team to get better, the drafting MUST get better. Find a pass rusher.

 

 

His decision to run out the kick-off at the end of the first half was a bad one. He is young and he will get better. Experience will help all aspects of his game.

 

I still like him and I think he will be star someday.

Edited October 25, 2010 by Bob in STL