By his own standards, LeSean McCoy underachieved in 2015 due mainly to a recurring hamstring problem. Determined to re-establish himself as an elite playmaker, McCoy trained as hard as ever in the offseason for the 2016 campaign.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown has all the details. Here is his report:
He’s read the comments, heard the doubters and seen the predictions for his production as well as the fortunes of the Buffalo Bills. After playing through a season marred by a recurring hamstring injury, LeSean McCoy is prepared to take on the 2016 campaign with a vengeance.
“This first game means a lot to me,” said McCoy of Sunday’s opener at Baltimore. “Just to be healthy and ready to roll. Last year I was battling so much with injuries and everything and trying to get healthy. There are no excuses. I’m ready to go. I feel like I’m 100 percent.”
The same could not be said for McCoy at this time last season. McCoy was trying to prepare for a 16-game regular season while also trying to nurse an ailing hamstring back to full health. It never really happened. Buffalo’s feature back did what he could, but managed just his second non-1,000-yard rushing season in the last six years.
His yards per carry average was still healthy at 4.4 yards per rush. What was missing however, was his trademark elusiveness in the open field. McCoy’s ability to make defenders miss in one-on-one situations is something to behold, but it was rarely on display in 2015.
That won’t be the case this fall.
“He’s definitely come back more hungry than he was last year,” said Tyrod Taylor. “Seeing his focus and his attention to detail this offseason and throughout training camp and how he came back physically you could definitely tell that he’s into it mentally. I’m looking forward to going out there and playing with him. He had a great training camp so I’m looking forward to him going out there and making plays.”
Coming off the injury, McCoy committed himself to returning to the team this spring in the best shape of his life. Though he was paced through training camp and did not see much action in the preseason, Buffalo’s feature back feels primed for regular season play.
“This is a personal challenge for myself,” he said. “I trained extremely hard this year to come back and prove myself, prove my worth. That’s just the main focus, my individual attitude. Just go out there and do what I do best. Go out there and make plays and give the offense a good chance to succeed and win.”
McCoy knows all too well that his production last season was not what those in league circles are used to seeing from him. He understands why there are skeptics that he can still be an elite talent in the NFL. Those same skeptics have also motivated him all the more leading up to the 2016 season.
“I think a lot of players they get that drive when different things are said about them and they’re pushed to the limit,” said McCoy. “In this league it’s all about proving yourself. You’re only as good as your last play. It’s a ‘what have you done for me lately league.’ So knowing that each year you’ve got to go in there and compete and make plays.”
And McCoy’s desire to reestablish his own status in the league runs in concert with a team motive to perform at their peak week in and week out.
“So many people are writing us off and saying what they want to say from the previous years and especially last year,” McCoy said. “But the only thing we can do is control the things we can control and that’s come out here every day and work hard and get ready to have a dominant year and it starts this week.”
McCoy’s plan is to be leading that charge by showing there are a lot more plays for him left to make.
“You’ll see. We’re going to see this weekend if I make those same plays,” he said. “There’s no reason to talk about it, but we’re going to find out.”