The final 53 - RB's

[YardRat]

Now it gets a little more interesting.

Shady is 'the man'. Most think Tolbert will see some carries. What about the rest? Will McD carry only one more guy with McCoy and Tolbert, or two? Who will they be?

IMO they carry 5 backs total, including the two FB's. I'm going to against the grain (I know O'Neal has been getting a lot of love) but I think J.Williams is going to win that battle, and Jordan Johnson is going to surprise and make a push for the final squad.

So far my 53 is---

QB---Taylor, Yates, Peterman
FB---DiMarco, Tolbert
RB---McCoy, Williams, Johnson

[DraftBoy]

I'm rooting for O'Neal over Johnson.

Our RB depth could be a real issue over the course of this season. Tolbert isn't what he used to be and he's only a short yardage guy. Williams needs to step up in a big way.

[The King]

I'm rooting for O'Neal over Johnson.

Our RB depth could be a real issue over the course of this season. Tolbert isn't what he used to be and he's only a short yardage guy. Williams needs to step up in a big way.
If he doesnt show signs in the pre-season there will be no shortage of cuts to upgrade.

[YardRat]

http://www.wkbw.com/sports/bills/joe-b-7-buffalo-bills-training-camp-observations-day-2-72817

The Bills have been building up former fifth-round pick Jonathan Williams as the man to be the main backup to LeSean McCoy, which is a tremendous opportunity for him, and a sink-or-swim style test for his NFL career all the same. Perhaps where he was hesitant during the spring workouts, I saw a much more decisive runner in Williams during team drills — particularly on a few reps where he busted it up the middle of the offensive line. I also really liked his burst today, showing a speed element to go along with his power — an attribute that starter LeSean McCoy alluded to on Friday as well, and one that I've been waiting to see form him in the practices I've seen this year. It’s a much different ball game once the Bills start to take live reps with their running backs, but it’s clear the Bills are giving Williams every opportunity to be the main backup.

[Mace]

I'm hoping O'Neal steps up. J. Williams looked like pro Trent Richardson last year and that took some doing in that running game. I mean, come on.

[sudzy]

McCoy is the running game. Williams didn't show much last year. Hopefully someone steps it up in the preseason or Beane will be bring someone in off waivers.

[Mouldsie]

What I learned from this thead: Losing Gillislee was a disaster

[YardRat]

I wanted to keep Gillislee also, pretty badly, but him not being here isn't a 'disaster'. IIRC, and I'm not looking it up atm and I could be wrong, Gillie was a nice change of pace that was most effective when Shady was at full speed also...when he actually had to carry some of the load in McCoy's absence, not so much. We need a guy that can not only contribute here and there, but step up when he's next man up. Hopefully Williams, O'Neal or Johnson emerge as that guy.

[Arm of Harm]

I wanted to keep Gillislee also, pretty badly, but him not being here isn't a 'disaster'. IIRC, and I'm not looking it up atm and I could be wrong, Gillie was a nice change of pace that was most effective when Shady was at full speed also...when he actually had to carry some of the load in McCoy's absence, not so much. We need a guy that can not only contribute here and there, but step up when he's next man up. Hopefully Williams, O'Neal or Johnson emerge as that guy.

Last season Gillislee averaged (http://www.nfl.com/player/mikegillislee/2539663/profile) 5.7 yards a carry, compared to 3.5 yards a carry for Jonathan Williams (http://www.nfl.com/player/jonathanwilliams/2555227/profile). 5.7 yards a carry is an outstanding average. Emmitt Smith never averaged (http://www.nfl.com/player/emmittsmith/2503017/profile) more than 5.3 yards per carry, and he's in the Hall of Fame. I'm not saying that Gillislee is Emmitt Smith. What I am saying is that it's very, very hard to find fault with either McCoy's or Gillislee's performance from last season.

[YardRat]

Last season Gillislee averaged (http://www.nfl.com/player/mikegillislee/2539663/profile) 5.7 yards a carry, compared to 3.5 yards a carry for Jonathan Williams (http://www.nfl.com/player/jonathanwilliams/2555227/profile). 5.7 yards a carry is an outstanding average. Emmitt Smith never averaged (http://www.nfl.com/player/emmittsmith/2503017/profile) more than 5.3 yards per carry, and he's in the Hall of Fame. I'm not saying that Gillislee is Emmitt Smith. What I am saying is that it's very, very hard to find fault with either McCoy's or Gillislee's performance from last season.

And that has absolutely nothing to do with my comment. Next?

[Arm of Harm]

And that has absolutely nothing to do with my comment. Next?


I was driving around earlier, listening to the radio. The guys on the sports station were talking football. It was mentioned that, last season, of all RBs to have at least 100 carries, Gillislee had the highest yards per carry of any of them. That being the case, it's far more likely that our backup RB position got downgraded, than that it's getting an upgrade.

[ICRockets]

Yeah, I'm worried Gillislee is going to be like a more versatile Kevin Faulk in the Patriots' scheme. I'm still angry we let him get away.

[cookie G]

I wanted to keep Gillislee also, pretty badly, but him not being here isn't a 'disaster'. IIRC, and I'm not looking it up atm and I could be wrong, Gillie was a nice change of pace that was most effective when Shady was at full speed also...when he actually had to carry some of the load in McCoy's absence, not so much. We need a guy that can not only contribute here and there, but step up when he's next man up. Hopefully Williams, O'Neal or Johnson emerge as that guy.

I liked him too. He had good speed for his size, was good around the goal line and was a decisive runner.

But, but, but.

He was also the beneficiary of some of the biggest holes a RB can dream of. Iwas saying that last year, I don't know what lucky star he fell under to have so much green in front of him. On some plays, I'd say to myself, "WTF happened to the LB's and DB's?" (Well, to an extent, I know why, but few would believe me).

Watch his highlights from last year...

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tj_TiHTRV_8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I mean...on most of his long runs, it was basically just taking the ball and sprinting.

On most of his 10 yard runs, he's not touched for 8 yards, and he's at full gallop by the time someone touches him.

I think he reversed his field behind the line on maybe 2-3 runs.

None of that makes him a bad back, of course, but indispensible.....idk.

Whether JW can put it together remains to be seen, but what MG did last year, there are lots of backs who can get to the edge who could have done what he did, IMO.

[Mouldsie]

I liked him too. He had good speed for his size, was good around the goal line and was a decisive runner.

But, but, but.

He was also the beneficiary of some of the biggest holes a RB can dream of. Iwas saying that last year, I don't know what lucky star he fell under to have so much green in front of him. On some plays, I'd say to myself, "WTF happened to the LB's and DB's?" (Well, to an extent, I know why, but few would believe me).

Watch his highlights from last year...

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tj_TiHTRV_8" allowfullscreen="" height="360" frameborder="0" width="640"></iframe>

I mean...on most of his long runs, it was basically just taking the ball and sprinting.

On most of his 10 yard runs, he's not touched for 8 yards, and he's at full gallop by the time someone touches him.

I think he reversed his field behind the line on maybe 2-3 runs.

None of that makes him a bad back, of course, but indispensible.....idk.

Whether JW can put it together remains to be seen, but what MG did last year, there are lots of backs who can get to the edge who could have done what he did, IMO.
It's also a sign of a RB with great vision. The opposite of Trent Richardson

[stuckincincy]

Yeah, I'm worried Gillislee is going to be like a more versatile Kevin Faulk in the Patriots' scheme. I'm still angry we let him get away.

And CIN let RB Rex Burkhard walk to NE. He should be a real asset for them.

[cookie G]

It's also a sign of a RB with great vision. The opposite of Trent Richardson

Vision is a little easier when the holes are 5 yards wide.

Its also a sign that run blocking is superb and the play calling is very good

Remeber, Karlos Williams did basically the same thing in 2015.

[Saratoga Slim]

Considering our relatively comfortable cap situation and the moderate additional commitment it would have taken to put the 2nd round tag on Gillislee, I simply can't defend that move. He was a proven commodity for a team that is gonna need to run to win. And he's young. Now RB is another question mark on a roster with lots of question marks.

Literally the only way that this was a defensible move is if the coaching staff sees RB talent on the roster that we don't. Who knows, maybe it is Jonathan Williams. To be fair, last year followed sitting out 2015, and maybe he's finally got a clean bill of health. He does reportedly have talent: http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/jonathan-williams?id=2555227

[Mouldsie]

Vision is a little easier when the holes are 5 yards wide.

Its also a sign that run blocking is superb and the play calling is very good

Remeber, Karlos Williams did basically the same thing in 2015.
So did Jonathan Williams