By: Kyle Silagyi / Billswire.usatoday.com
Placing significant stock into one preseason game has proven to be a foolish practice in the past.
But after four quarters of meaningless football, it may be safe to say the following:
The Buffalo Bills have fixed their running back woes.
Buffalo focused on improving a backfield that combined for just 1,228 rushing yards last season throughout the spring, bringing in five additional ballcarriers with unique and versatile skill sets.
And though it may be premature to judge, it looks as though the Bills’ roster moves were sufficient, as Buffalo now deploys a backfield that is as talented as it is deep.
The Bills’ running back group shined in the team’s 24-16 preseason win over the Indianapolis Colts, accounting for 150 of Buffalo’s 381 net yards. The backfield reached this level of proficiency without its workhorse, as starting running back LeSean McCoy did not play a single snap on Thursday. He will play in the team’s next preseason game against the Panthers.
Frank Gore was efficient in limited first quarter action, picking up seven yards on two carries. He pulled off a patented-Gore run midway through the frame, encountering first contact at the line of scrimmage before picking up five yards by simply falling forward.
Rookie running back Devin Singletary was perhaps the team’s most prolific offensive player, piling up 48 yards on 12 total touches.
Buffalo relied almost exclusively on Singletary on a second-quarter drive, getting the ball into the 21-year-old’s hands on seven different occasions. He picked up 37 yards on that drive alone, a series that culminated with a Cam Phillips touchdown reception.
Senorise Perry, Marcus Murphy, and T.J. Yeldon were adequate in limited action before 28-year-old rookie Christian Wade re-energized the New Era Field crowd in the fourth quarter. Wade, a former English rugby superstar who was allocated to the Bills via the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, took his very first handoff to the end zone, a 65-yard touchdown run that sent Orchard Park into a frenzy.
It was a productive day for Buffalo’s running back group, a precursor to what should be a successful year for the backfield.
As showcased in the team’s preseason opener, the Bills’ backfield is incredibly deep. Isolate them from the rest of the pack, and Gore and Singletary would be a formidable one-two punch. In Buffalo, they’ll be complementary backs for a six-time Pro Bowler.
Though he’s only played on a handful of American football snaps, Wade appears to be a unique weapon, a fast and deceivingly-strong back who is dangerous with the ball in his hands. He’s far from a lock to make the 53-man roster, but given his talent, he could be a difficult player to cut if he’s able to further impress in the preseason.
Murphy, Yeldon, and Perry were also effective, with the latter even rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter.
Buffalo’s first preseason matchup proved that its running back corps will be productive. No matter who the team trots out behind Josh Allen, they’ll be a threat, someone who the team can count on to pick up yards when needed.
The backfield also showed glimpses of pass-catching ability, something that we’ll likely see more of come the regular season. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll likes to utilize weapons in unique ways, and though he ran with a rather vanilla playbook in Week 1 of the preseason, he did look to get his ballcarriers involved in the passing game.
The Bills’ backs combined for six receptions for 50 yards. Singletary accounted for half of those catches and nearly half of the yardage, reeling in three passes for 21 yards.
It is important to stress that Buffalo’s revamped backfield has only participated in four quarters of a meaningless football game. To say that the running back group will rebound in the 2019 campaign based off one preseason matchup may be rash and a bit impulsive.
But it’s hard to feel otherwise. With an overhauled offensive line and a backfield that’s talented, versatile, and deep, success appears to be on the horizon.
Sure, it’s one preseason game – but when your running back group includes two-future Hall of Famers, an uber-talented rookie, and a load of competent and flexible depth, maybe four meaningless quarters are all you need for affirmation.