Bills Win, Offense Still Loses

Not to be the sceptic in the crowd, but this past Sunday’s win over the Chiefs has me a little worried.  The play calling of Alex Van Pelt has been mediocre at best and the substitution packages has me a little confused as well.  One thing that has become obvious to me and hopefully many of the Bills faithful is that Marshawn Lynch is a really good compliment back to Fred Jackson.  What Marshawn is not is a good starting running back or even a back you want to split your teams carries with.  In a way he is very similar to Jerious Norwood in the sense that he is good for a large gain here and there, but can’t really get yardage at any other time.  Interesting enough, Marshawn was unable to gain large chunks of yards in his first two years, but has now done so two weeks in a row.  But, he has done so with a decreased role.  What needs to be understood is that this should not translate into Lynch getting more carries, it just means that Lynch is a better complimentary back than he is a starter.  

Play calling and substitution packages with Marshawn and Fred Jackson have been all over the place.  Against the Chiefs there were several moments that left me scratching my head.  Fred Jackson had done a fantastic job in getting the Bills into the red zone.  I assumed logic would dictate that if something is working, to keep doing it, especially when you have a make shift offensive line and a backup QB as your starter for the rest of the year.  The Bills decided to not use Jackson and instead walked away with zero points due to a turnover.  Ryan Fitzpatrick made the understatement of the year when he said that the Bills left “points on the board.”  The Bills were committed to the run, sort of.  Marshawn had one big run for 47 yards, if you take that out of the equation he ran 11 times for 37 yards (3.4 ypc…rounded up).  On many of his other carries he was being swarmed and running east west rather than north south.  Marshawn is doing better at following his blockers, but is no longer running instinctively like top running backs do.  

Fred Jackson on the other hand was given 20 carries and ran for 99 yards, his longest carry was for 18 yards.  Taking that out of the equation, Jackson still ran for 81 yards on 19 carries which is just above 4 ypc.  It just seems to me that the guy who is getting the numbers that a starting running back should get, should also be rewarded with the workload as well.  Although carries were almost 2-1, it seems to me that maybe the ratio would better serve the Bills if it were 3-1.  Jackson just has better instincts as a runner and is able to consistently get positive yards, where as with Marshawn you are always holding your breath because you never know if he will lose 2 yards or gain 5 yards.

Fred Jackson is also not being used properly in the passing game.  Although the Bills want to get Terrell Owens involved more, they do need to understand that the constant threat out of the backfield will help them do that.  The Bills have found a lot of success using screenplays where Jackson ends up one on one with only one defender and is able to get chunks of yards.  The problem is that the Bills have been far too focused on the big play, that they are really just wasting downs.  

The forgotten man in all of this has been Lee Evans, and the Bills will have a huge problem on their hands if they do not try to fit him into the offense soon.  Although he is very workman like in his approach, a WR just wants to make plays.  Lee Evans with Buffalo this year has not made plays.  He is by far the most talented WR that most of the league has not heard of.  He is one of the most talented deep threats in the league, but can also make tough catches when the need arises.  Buffalo will have a problem if Lee Evans decides he no longer wants to be a Buffalo Bill.  Terrell Owens will be leaving after this season and it is obvious that the Bills will still have Evans.  But if Evans demands a trade, the depth at WR is very thin.  Josh Reed is a number 3 at best.  He is a very talented possession receiver, but is in no way at the calibre Wayne Chrebet was when he was a 1000 yard possession receiver.  James Hardy has yet to fulfill any promise he showed in college after he was drafted in the second round last year.  Roscoe Parrish is in no way a top 4 receiver and is more of a return specialist that is labeled a WR.  Van Pelt needs to get Evans the ball, even if it is just to have him run 10 button hooks in a game, Evans needs to get the ball.

The Bills have relied too much on the defense to bail them out of games because the offense has not been able to move the ball consistently.  The most frustrating part is that Buffalo has the tools to be able to succeed on offense, but continue to not commit to running plays that will allow them to be successful.  I am in no way ready to be an offensive coordinator, but if I can see these holes week after week, it makes me wonder what games are the Bills watching in their film sessions?  Up until now they have yet to correct a thing.

Tags: Alex Van Pelt, Buffalo Bills, Fred Jackson, Jerious Norwood, Marshawn Lynch, Wayne Chrebet