Running Back Breakdown...How can we do better?

[Mark Vader]

For the last 2 weeks all of our running backs have been on the active roster, and we have used all of them in our running game, sans Taiwan Jones.

 

Our running game for the most part has been abysmal. Yet there are times when it has been helpful. Whether it's the O-Line problems or the play calling or both, the Bills have got to find a way to utilize it more and have it work better for us. We cannot rely only on Josh Allen to pass and run ourselves to victory.

 

Here's my observation of our running backs.....

 

Devin Singletary.

Motor has had his moments this year. I'm actually surprised at how good his yards per carry average is. Which makes me wonder why he doesn't get the ball more often. I understand we go with the RB rotation, but at some point you have to go with the player that is doing the best. Singletary is also a pretty good receiver as well. His biggest problem, is that he has too many fumbles, and when he does that, he gets benched.

I understand that, but at this point in the season, I don't see how we can afford to not have him on the field getting more and more carries.

 

Zack Moss.

I was hoping that Moss would be able to step up and be more than a short yardage back, but he has not done that. He does have some touchdowns and he does make a few big plays, but he is very inconsistent. He does not have the fumbling problems that Singletary has, but his lack of quickness and burst is a major issue. Surprisingly he's a decent receiver. Although I don't quite understand why we line him up as a deep wideout so often. In my opinion, Moss has done little to justify getting many snaps, and I would rather see Singletary get more playing time.

 

Matt Breida.

These past two games have me wondering, why Breida has been inactive this whole time? I'm not saying Breida should be the starter, but we cannot have him be inactive all the time. A good change of pace runner and a good receiving threat, Breida has shown that he can be a very affective weapon for us. We need to play this guy a lot more.

 

Reggie Gilliam.

I was not too thrilled with keeping Gilliam on the roster, because I did not see why we needed a Fullback. I see his value as a blocker, and lining up as an extra Tight End, but that's about it. He caught a pass yesterday, but is this the player we want to use as a receiver?

 

I really think that we need to use Singletary more and more. Fumbles aside, he has been our bets runner. Moss is just not getting it done and should only be used to give Singletary a breather or obvious short yardage situations.

Matt Breida has got to play. He should be the running back lining up as an extra receiver when we go 5 wide, not Moss & Gilliam.

 

Share you thoughts on this, and please keep it realistic. I don't want this thread to turn into a bunch of "we should have drafted this player" comments.

Stay focused on the reality of who we have on the roster and what we can do to get better.

[Sugar High JA17]

How can we do better?

Trade the farm for RB J.Taylor

Josh cannot win by himself

[bigK14094]

I share your  conclusions.  Breide does fumble some however, but we need to take the chance.  Really, though, we need the O line fixed.  I just can't understand how Ford keeps showing up on the field.  Got to try Bates at RT imho.

[Process]

I am not going to read all that because the solution is painfully obvious and simple.

 

Singletary needs to be the featured back. Breida spells him and comes in on passing downs. Zack Moss doesn't see the field outside of the 1 yard line. 

 

With that said I have zero faith in McDermott doing this, the guy is stubborn and will not change. 

[goldenboy81]

The last 3 games motor had 3,7,and 6 carries. Jmo but maybe they should give him more touches, and see what happens first.

[dave mcbride]

For the record:

 

Breida has fumbled 1.3 percent of the time over the course of his career (537 touches)

Singletary has fumbled 2.1 percent of the time on 482 touches

Moss has fumbled it 0.9 percent of the time on 219 touches -- but 2.1 percent this year (2 fumbles on 93 touches; 0 last season)
 

Anyway, we shouldn't be holding Brieda back because of an alleged fumbling issue. He really doesn't fumble it that much.

[FilthyBeast]

At the end of the day nothing is going to change until Daboll is replaced.

 

Because I think even with a better oline and true RB1 this guy will continue to call ridiculous plays and refuse to make adjustments in game. And based on how the game was going early when we were still in it he was determined to get Allen hurt with the stupid designed runs against the Colts defense.

 

But at present I still believe Singletary is good enough to be a solid RB if he gets the bulk of the carries with Breida mixed in.

 

Zack Moss is worthless though and should not be active anymore this year and certainly off the roster next year.

[P Riv]

Personally I think its mostly scheme, then RB talent, then OL.  The scheme drives the type of player you need to run it properly, RB and OL.  We used to watch Denver year in year out plug in what seemed like anybody and they could run effectively every year.  That scheme that Mike Shanahan used always produced a highly productive running game.  I remember lots of trap plays, smashbacks, wham blocks, etc. which required smaller more athletic OL and stocky, tough RBs.  His scheme produced something like 8-10 different 1000 yd RBs.  

I don't think this scheme that we have is capable of being run heavy when it needs to be type of offense.  That and we don't have the personnel in place to be able to make it work that way.  So to me, all three issues (scheme, RBs, OL) will keep us from being able to run effectively week in week out.  

Edited November 22, 2021 by P Riv

[Mat68]

More volume.  More Brieda less Moss.  Get the backs 20 to 25 carries.  Thats its.  Spencer Brown and Feliciano will give the line that edginess they lack at the moment.  

[Rico]

Right now, I would play Brieda and elevate Williams. Wouldn’t cut Motor or Moss just yet, but I would shake things up.

[jkeerie]

I also think they need to put Josh under center.  It opens up play action, so that opposing defenses don't know what's coming.

[Gugny]

We can do better if we use the ones we have.

[P Riv]

4 minutes ago, jkeerie said:

I also think they need to put Josh under center.  It opens up play action, so that opposing defenses don't know what's coming.

 

Exactly.  I don't know of any team in the league that runs effectively/consistently from the shotgun.  

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, Sugar High JA17 said:

How can we do better?

Trade the farm for RB J.Taylor

Josh cannot win by himself

That's what you've got?

 

Glad to know that you take this seriously.

[Success]

I'll probably get laughed at, but isn't Antonio Williams still on our practice squad?  I felt like he played well when given the chance, and he's a different style of back.  

[Mark Vader]

1 hour ago, Process said:

I am not going to read all that because the solution is painfully obvious and simple.

 

Singletary needs to be the featured back. Breida spells him and comes in on passing downs. Zack Moss doesn't see the field outside of the 1 yard line. 

 

With that said I have zero faith in McDermott doing this, the guy is stubborn and will not change. 

Okay

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

How we can do better? Hand the ball off. Dabol is the problem 

[Frez]

Go back in the draft and take Harris for our #1 pick and be done with it.

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, Process said:

I am not going to read all that because the solution is painfully obvious and simple.

 

Singletary needs to be the featured back. Breida spells him and comes in on passing downs. Zack Moss doesn't see the field outside of the 1 yard line. 

 

With that said I have zero faith in McDermott doing this, the guy is stubborn and will not change. 

This is so obvious it blows me away why Daboll won't just do it. If Singletary is so damn amazing with his 5.0 ypc then increase his damn snaps? Use Breida more on outside runs and passing downs. Sit Moss until someone gets hurt.  This team spends way too much time concentrating on rotations and less time on just playing your better players more. This isn't little league where everyone gets 1 at bat. 

[CircleTheWagons99]

1 hour ago, P Riv said:

 

Exactly.  I don't know of any team in the league that runs effectively/consistently from the shotgun.  

Arizona

[BananaB]

Get rid of the rotation. We ain’t running much so keep the best guy on the field as much as possible.  Right now, that’s Breida

[Maine-iac]

The production for the given amount of carries is not the problem.  Ever since they took the training wheels off Allen the running game has been the red headed step child.  I honestly think Singletary or Breida both could produce very well in a running attack that had any focus to it.  Moss seems like a decent one cut back but our O-line frequently lets defenders through and I think Motor or Breida are more elusive or speedy where as Moss either hits a hole or hits the ground.

Edited November 22, 2021 by Maine-iac

[John from Riverside]

We can do better by understanding that Motor and Moss are basically the same type of player with the same strengths and weaknesses........and sit one of them.

 

Go with Motor (or Moss) and Breida and get some speed onto the field

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, Process said:

I am not going to read all that because the solution is painfully obvious and simple.

 

Singletary needs to be the featured back. Breida spells him and comes in on passing downs. Zack Moss doesn't see the field outside of the 1 yard line. 

 

With that said I have zero faith in McDermott doing this, the guy is stubborn and will not change. 

He has changed plenty since he started here.  Exaggerate more

[billsfan_34]

1 hour ago, Frez said:

Go back in the draft and take Harris for our #1 pick and be done with it.

We picked after Harris was off the board….

33 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

We can do better by understanding that Motor and Moss are basically the same type of player with the same strengths and weaknesses........and sit one of them.

 

Go with Motor (or Moss) and Breida and get some speed onto the field

Motor and Moss both sucks, but so does our O line.

[John from Riverside]

18 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

We picked after Harris was off the board….

Motor and Moss both sucks, but so does our O line.

I honestly dont have anything to fight that opinion anymore....but I think the question was what can we do to improve right now

[billsfan_34]

48 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

I honestly dont have anything to fight that opinion anymore....but I think the question was what can we do to improve right now

Not a thing- get as healthy as we can. We failed to truly address RB for the past few seasons. The 2nd rd Ford pick will haunt us- guy is not even serviceable. There is nothing out there to be had.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

5 hours ago, FilthyBeast said:

At the end of the day nothing is going to change until Daboll is replaced.

 

Because I think even with a better oline and true RB1 this guy will continue to call ridiculous plays and refuse to make adjustments in game. And based on how the game was going early when we were still in it he was determined to get Allen hurt with the stupid designed runs against the Colts defense.

 

But at present I still believe Singletary is good enough to be a solid RB if he gets the bulk of the carries with Breida mixed in.

 

Zack Moss is worthless though and should not be active anymore this year and certainly off the roster next year.

 

Read many times from  both Daboll and Allen about how close their relationship is with each other.  I wonder if that's part of the problem, they've become too close??

[P Riv]

7 hours ago, CircleTheWagons99 said:

Arizona

 

Nice, 1 out of 32 can't be wrong!  

[Maynard]

19 hours ago, Success said:

I'll probably get laughed at, but isn't Antonio Williams still on our practice squad?  I felt like he played well when given the chance, and he's a different style of back.  

No laughing from me. I’ve been banging the table for him to be brought up. I’d sit Moss as he’s been worthless and go with Motor, Brieda, and Williams.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

How ?

 

I just don’t know but I can say that the Moss Singletary experience needs to end.  
 

 

[Sugar High JA17]

Topnotch info here fellas, in the Mid 90's i played NFL Quarterback Club on Sega Genesis pretty often.

When i needed a couple yards the I-Formation...Go offset-I if you feel loco

That was 13yr old me then, Daboll is much more intelligent this i understand

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://sports.yahoo.com/sean-mcdermott-direct-saying-rb-151507702.html

 

Sean McDermott is direct when saying RB Matt Breida has earned more touches

 

In his past two games, Breida has rushed the ball only eight times but has 79 total yards on the ground with a touchdown. Breida has also contributed four catches, 38 yards and a score as a receiver.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 11/22/2021 at 9:54 AM, dave mcbride said:

For the record:

 

Breida has fumbled 1.3 percent of the time over the course of his career (537 touches)

Singletary has fumbled 2.1 percent of the time on 482 touches

Moss has fumbled it 0.9 percent of the time on 219 touches -- but 2.1 percent this year (2 fumbles on 93 touches; 0 last season)
 

Anyway, we shouldn't be holding Brieda back because of an alleged fumbling issue. He really doesn't fumble it that much.

No Breida doesn't fumble that much and he's so much faster than Moss & Motor. I want to see Breida active the rest of this season and given more snaps. I think Daboll has finally come to his senses that Josh can't and should not do it all.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 11/22/2021 at 12:13 PM, John from Riverside said:

We can do better by understanding that Motor and Moss are basically the same type of player with the same strengths and weaknesses........and sit one of them.

 

Go with Motor (or Moss) and Breida and get some speed onto the field

The rest of the season it has to be 50-50 Breida/Motor. Sorry Zach but you're the odd man out. And commit more to outside, the C/D gap.  Be prepared to throw more screens to Breida.

[Oregonbillsfan]

Barry Sanders couldn’t run behind this blocking. We are getting dominated up front.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 11/23/2021 at 6:51 AM, Maynard said:

No laughing from me. I’ve been banging the table for him to be brought up. I’d sit Moss as he’s been worthless and go with Motor, Brieda, and Williams.

I'd have no problem giving Williams some touches after Singletary and Breida get the lion's share. Just sit Moss and Jones. It's not like our ST is amazing anyway.

[Big Blitz]

I added Breida in fantasy because I'm getting that "time to overthink" vibe....

 

 

But seriously this should be the adjustment and we saw it vs Jax.  More checkdowns when needed is fine so long as it's to Breida not Moss.

 

Some screens vs D lines that are teeing off would be nice - the fact we don't do that is criminal.