The Buffalo Bills have been number one in rushing yards for the last two years. Lesean Mccoy and quarterback Tyrod Taylor were the main reasons for those yards. Taylor scrambled for over 1100 yards in 2015 and 2016, as stated by NFL.com. McCoy ended 2016 with 1267 rushing yards. This season, the Bills are struggling to run the ball. While it can be easy to point a finger at McCoy, it appears that he is doing his best. Wide receiver and offensive line issues all factor into low rushing numbers.
McCoy stepping in as receiver
If you check out the Bills’ passing statistics, Charles Clay had the most reception yards before his injury.
The next man up has been McCoy. McCoy is right behind Clay with 212 yards, as stated by NFL.com. Sal Capaccio stated on Buffalo’s WGR 550 this afternoon that McCoy is on track to have 86 receptions this season. That would be the most catches by any Bills running back, including Thurman Thomas and Fred Jackson. You cannot ask McCoy to compensate more than that. Jordan Matthews has been hurt. Andre Holmes and Kaelin Clay are not major threats yet.
Since defenses are loading up box with more players, the holes are much harder to find for McCoy. McCoy is not a power rusher who pushes through the line. He finds the gaps and bursts through them or shifts into a different direction. mike tolbert is helping out somewhat, but not enough to make the ground game what it was last year.
Releasing Jonathan Williams during the preseason did not help the team. Rushers Joe Banyard and Taiwan Jones are on the active roster, but have not been used yet. Seeing what Jones and Banyard can offer may improve the running game. Last year, McCoy had back-up Mike Gillislee, who added over 500 yards to the Bills offense. However, he is getting the box loaded on him as a New England Patriot this season and has not broken 250 yards.
Offensive line issues prevent holes
When O.J. Simpson hit the 2000 rushing yard mark in the 1970s, he refused to do a celebratory interview without his offensive line in the room. An offensive line can make or break a running back. The Bills offensive line has been struggling to contain defenses. Jordan Mills is not having a great year.
Cordy Glenn has been in and out with an ankle injury. John Miller was benched in favor of Vladimir Ducasse, which did make much of an impact. A running back is only as good as one’s offensive line.
Hopefully, the Buffalo Bills can figure out their running game during their bye week. They face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next Sunday.
