The Ray Davis-backup running back discussion

[Walking Tall]

Yeah, time to elevate Gore and see what he has. Johnson still showed well last night. Davis has been below average this season. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Walking Tall

[TheWei44]

Ty Johnson looked good to me - He should have gotten 2-3 more snaps and none for Davis.  Davis should be relegated to 3rd RB and only used if absolutely necessary.

[947]

Ray made a ton of plays... last season.

 

When Ray comes into the game, the Defense knows it's gonna be a run play. It was the same last year, and Ray would still bang out some nice runs. This year, it seems like 1yd runs is all he's capable of in those situations. He lost 15lbs to try to get faster, but he actually looks slower. I hope he didn't diet himself off the team.

[SectionC3]

12 minutes ago, 947 said:

Ray made a ton of plays... last season.

 

When Ray comes into the game, the Defense knows it's gonna be a run play. It was the same last year, and Ray would still bang out some nice runs. This year, it seems like 1yd runs is all he's capable of in those situations. He lost 15lbs to try to get faster, but he actually looks slower. I hope he didn't diet himself off the team.

I disagree with the run play thing. I think they try to run play action with Davis. The problem last night, that I saw from the stadium, was that the Patriots recognized this and fell back. The number is in the box at the time Josh changed the play were favorable to the run. Then, as soon as the play was changed, the Patriots crept up.
 

I think they also picked up on a couple of Josh tells. Anytime he puts his hands behind his back to point in a direction it’s a run. He never does that on a pass.  And, when things are tight, and he gets a little bit, nervous her a little rattled, he starts to swing his arms pre-snap when he’s going to pass. 
 

personally, I think last night was a combination of the Patriots confusing him a little bit and receivers not getting a ton of separation.  I like the fact that they put him in shotgun to start the second half so he could see the field  a bit better.   I don’t know if we have a speed problem or a vertical problem, but the Patriots toward the end of the game for crowding the line  of scrimmage and not respecting a deep ball.  This is going to be an issue.

[boater]

Davis: 2 carries for 1 yard. Enough said. Bring on Gore.

[TBBills Fan]

He continues to be unimpressive.  I'd give Ty his touches and move him to 3. 

 

I'd still like to see Gore in Rays role to see if there is a difference

 

Updated 2025 stats

 

13 carries for 30 yards avg 2.1 per carry

1 reception on 2 targets for -1 yards

 

Edited 7 hours ago by TBBills Fan

[Kirby Jackson]

On 10/2/2025 at 3:51 PM, Paup 1995MVP said:

It’s my buddy Kirby.  We haven’t communicated since our long debate on Garett Wilson.  lol.  I am in total agreement on your assessment of Ray Davis.  I was losing my mind when we ran him into the line on 3rd and 1 against the Saints in the 4th qtr near midfield.  
 

And I wish we had your namesake right now to play boundary corner opposite Benford.  He actually had some game when he played.  More than Tre White has now.  

We don’t need to revisit the Wilson conversation but he’s on pace for 112/1300/14 on an offense that has no one else to try to defend. 🫣 I’d give my left arm and a couple of fingers on my right hand for him.

[zow2]

2 hours ago, SectionC3 said:

I don’t know if we have a speed problem or a vertical problem, but the Patriots toward the end of the game for crowding the line  of scrimmage and not respecting a deep ball.  This is going to be an issue.

 

A couple ex-NFL'ers said something similar on TV this morning..  that the Bills don't have any WR's to get behind the D.  They said nobody respects the Bills deep passing game because they just don't have the guys and that will cost them down the road when it matters most.

[colin]

we've spent 3 picks and traded picks (hines) for replacement level (or worse) running backs.  we hit a home run with a higher pick w cook, but singletary, morris, hines, and now davis are all top 100 picks who just are not meaningful players for us.

 

we got TY as a free agent for cheap and resigned him for pretty cheap too.  we've got to stop spending quality picks on players who's impact on the game is at best like 30% of snaps and not being used much.

[SectionC3]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

 

A couple ex-NFL'ers said something similar on TV this morning..  that the Bills don't have any WR's to get behind the D.  They said nobody respects the Bills deep passing game because they just don't have the guys and that will cost them down the road when it matters most.

I think this is why Samuel is active again.  It was noticeable as the game went on.  They took cook out of the game, crowded the line, and confused josh a bit such that the quick hitters weren’t easy.  And, he was off on a few of them (the Shakir drop looked like a bad throw).  We reverted to read option and hero ball (the throw to Coleman was ill-advised) when things got dicey.  They won with coaching, a noncall on Shakir, and the luck that Maye’s knew didn’t hit.  Frankly it kind of reminded me of the wind game a little bit.  

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

 

A couple ex-NFL'ers said something similar on TV this morning..  that the Bills don't have any WR's to get behind the D.  They said nobody respects the Bills deep passing game because they just don't have the guys and that will cost them down the road when it matters most.

It’s also why Josh took Coleman on that low percentage fade in Q4.  There was nothing else there.  He had to throw it there. During the game I couldn’t help but think that we might actually need Gabe Davis to get healthy to be the Mack Hollins/occasional deep threat guy. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

Here's a potential issue 

 

The Chargers just lost Hampton yesterday after losing Harris earlier in the year. They have very VERY little at RB. And anyone remember who Harbaugh had at RB in San Francisco? If you said Frank Gore Sr, you would be correct. 

 

I believe at some point this week they will be in the market to nab a RB off someone's PS. If not now, should they lose another guy at the position definitely will at that time. I'm fairly certain Gore Jr's name would pop off the page to a guy that coached his dad. I am hoping the Bills take a shot and see what they have in Gore before he gets poached. They have already had him around for a year. Time to see what he's got before someone else does.

[T master]

On 10/2/2025 at 11:57 AM, TBBills Fan said:

So Ray Davis said he dropped about 15 lbs and wanted to be more elusive. However, that is not what brought him to the big leagues and so far this year we are seeing a much less productive Ray Davis. 

 

In the preseason he looked awful and so far this year he has looked awful.

 

So I am curious as to if the staff will use a call up soon on Frank Gore Jr, put him in Davis role, make Davis inactive and see if that is an upgrade. 

 

We have 3 call ups, so at one point would you say, ok let's see what Gore can do for us this year?

 

After all, Gore ran behind the same backups that Davis did in preseason and looked much better. 

 

Goes stats in 2025 

11 carries, 29 yards, 2.6 yards per attempt. 

 

We will need someone to spell Cook...

 

So if you had a say, would you give Gore a call up and make Ray inactive to see if this helps. And if so, how long a leash are you giving Davis before you do this?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/gamelog/_/id/4429501/ray-davis

 

We can't expect Cook or any running back to have almost 400 touches....

I thought TY was filling in and in some instances playing better than Jimbo last night but seeing as Jimbo got the big contract and wants to have more snaps, then given his production this year I think they still stick with him but in some games it might be better to switch .

 

We know from past history Ty can be a game changer too if given the chance they just need to recognize or at least try to recognize the other weapons they have and utilize them it's not like they don't have a abundance of players that can be difference makers that's for sure .

 

Knox was another one, use the guys that aren't as noticed by the opposition until they start to recognize hey we got to stop that guy then go somewhere or to someone else isn't that the emphasis behind every body eats ??.