Jerome Felton knows he’s part of a dying breed. Even though he was one of the best fullbacks in football he knew he had to diversify his game to stay in an ever changing NFL.
Buffalo Bills Insider Chris Brown provides teh details. Here is his report:
The back on backer plays that Jerome Felton remembers running as a younger NFL fullback five or six seasons ago were certainly fun for him. He relished the collisions and the physicality of his role, even if his neck didn’t on Mondays. But the game has evolved over just the last few years. Speed in coveted. More plays on offense try to get to the edge. Jerome Felton saw an already dwindling job market for fullbacks shrinking even more. He knew he had to adapt.
He could no longer be the one-dimensional downhill blocker he had become, who cleared the way like he did for Adrian Peterson in his 2012 MVP season. He had to offer more, so after signing with the Bills he worked to diversify his game and sharpen the skills he used a lot earlier in his career.
Felton worked on his lateral movement to better execute seal blocks. He used his improved agility to more effectively get on the edge of a defender and drive him off to provide an alley, either inside or outside for LeSean McCoy and Buffalo’s other backs. He worked on the JUGs machine to catch passes, and the dive play to get the tough yard for short yardage situations.
“Yeah it’s angles and edges now,” said Felton about the blocking schemes of today’s game. “Every once in a while you get opportunities to really go head up and feel the surge in those scenarios. It is different and I’ve had to adapt and I think I’ve done a good job of that here, especially this year.”
The fullback was a surprise release by the club during final cuts at the close of the preseason, only to be re-signed about a week later at a reduced cost. The change in salary structure however, didn’t change Felton’s approach to the game, especially for a Buffalo offense whose philosophy is quite literally grounded. And the diversity of what the Bills rushing attack does has kept him engaged and wanting more.
“Not to look in the past, but what we would do in offenses previously is not as dynamic as what I’m able to do here right now in this offense,” said Felton, who has logged the most combined carries and receptions in six seasons. “To be in the situation where I’m with a great offensive coordinator — I have a lot admiration and respect for coach (Anthony) Lynn and being able to run in front of Shady. There’s not a better position to be in. It’s a job and to maintain it you have to be the best because there are only a few of us left.”
What’s unfortunate is Felton may have been at his best in last week’s gut wrenching loss at Oakland. The Bills fullback was effectively chipping on Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack to aid both of Buffalo’s offensive tackles in pass protection. He was taking on blitzing linebackers in pass protection and he was getting to the second level to seal off edge linebackers to leave an alley behind him for the Bills ball carriers.
But Felton got the most enjoyment out of being able to go back to how he made a name for himself in the NFL. Buffalo ran some power run plays where Felton got to run downhill and meet some Raiders linebackers in the hole. Knowing most of today’s linebackers go 225 to 230 pounds it was advantage Felton.
On 2nd-and-goal from the Raiders’ one-yard line early in the second quarter, Felton dug Oakland LB Perry Riley Jr. out of the hole giving Mike Gillislee enough room to cross the goal line for the first touchdown of the game.
Late in the second quarter on a 2nd-and-12, Felton drove Bruce Irvin wide and out of the way on a McCoy nine-yard run.
Early in the third quarter on a 2nd-and-10, Felton pancaked Raiders LB Malcolm Smith on an eight-yard run by McCoy. After the play, Felton looked to the Bills sideline and waved his arms wildly as he was clearly pumped by the result of the play.
Then on 3rd-and-1 at the Oakland two-yard line, Felton put Smith on roller skates driving him from the one-yard line to three yards deep in the end zone as Gillislee followed him into the end zone for the touchdown. Shortly after Felton went high stepping to the sideline hooting.
“A pancake is my favorite,” Felton told Buffalobills.com. “If I had scored a touchdown it’d have been great and I’d have been happy and all that stuff. But I probably wouldn’t have been as excited on that touchdown as I was when Mike scored that second one. Earlier in my career it would’ve been a little different when I got the ball a little more or in college. This is my job now and I try to be the best at it as I can, and so when I get a great block it’s more exciting for me than other things.”
“He was pumped up and he was firing off and lighting people up and that’s always fun to see, whether it’s a fullback, running back, wide receiver, anybody,” said center Ryan Groy. “But he’s super committed to the team and the cause and its fun to watch him go.”
No one would try to call Felton’s job easy, but knowing NFL linebackers on the whole are lighter than they were even five years ago has provided Felton with a distinct edge in blocking matchups at 248 pounds.
“Every once in a while you get opportunities to really go head up and feel the surge in those scenarios,” said Felton smiling. “But it’s angles and edges now. It is different and I’ve had to adapt and I think I’ve done a good job of that here, especially this year.”
Felton is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season along with 22 other players on Buffalo’s roster. He’d like to return, but the veteran bulldozer knows it’s not his decision to make.
What he does know is he’s proud to be part of Buffalo’s league-leading rushing attack, and not just because of its production and ranking.
“I think this is the most dynamic run game I’ve been a part of,” he said. “Just the different ways we can run the football. Our schemes… they’re probably the best I’ve been around.”