In the next few days and weeks I'll do try to take a look at each position on the Bills roster and try to determine how things might shape up by the time the season kicks off in September. Today I'm taking a look at the backfield.
LeSean McCoy - No question that McCoy is the bell cow of this offense and will receive a bulk of the carries. Who will spell him when he needs a breather is the bigger question.
Fred Jackson - Although he's the oldest running back in the league, Jackson has still found ways to be productive and come through with a big play in a crunch time (see vs. Chicago last season). But, age and injuries do appear to be catching up with one of the most beloved fan favorites in recent times. Jackson scratched and clawed his way to the NFL from the lowest of levels, through DIII Coe College, the arena league and the NFL's now-defunct European league. He's only been able to enjoy one winning season as a Bill so it'd be nice to see him get a crack at the playoffs and this roster is the closest they've been in years. However, business is business. Jackson is on the final year of his deal and it'd be understandable, albeit difficult, if he ends up being the odd man out.
Boobie Dixon - Dixon joined the team last season in hopes that his play on special teams would give Buffalo's unit a boost. Not only did he provide that (the Bills special teams ranked almost dead last in 2013, only to shoot up to second overall in '14) but he also was more productive out of the backfield than most of us probably predicted. After injuries to both Jackson and now New Orleans Saint CJ Spiller, Dixon was called upon to be the primary back in a handful of games and performed well. However, Dixon has a few things working against him in 2015. One, he's joined by his former offensive coordinator in Greg Roman, who usually only called upon Dixon for short yardage situations when the two were in San Francisco. Second, the Bills drafted Karlos Williams, a guy who can do the same things on special teams as Dixon but also has more speed and potential when it comes to the running game. The Bills may opt to go with the younger, cheaper option which could spell the end of Boobie's time here in Buffalo.
Bryce Brown - No one could have predicted that the Eagles' backfield from 2012-2013 would transfer to Buffalo, but here we are. Brown joined the Bills in 2014 after an off-season trade, but had a hard time seeing the field even when Jackson and Spiller missed time with injuries. Brown has a great size/speed combo but his vision and fumbling issues need to improve. Like Jackson, Brown is also on the final year of his deal. Brown gets a fresh start with a new coaching staff, which he's probably excited for since he appeared to end up in former head coach Doug Marrone's doghouse on a few occasions last year.
Karlos Williams - The newest addition to Buffalo's backfield is 2015 fifth-round selection and former Florida State Seminole, Karlos Williams. Some have questioned the drafting of Williams when the Bills already have four backs on the roster, but Williams was an early target of the Bills and has the traits that Doug Whaley has been after since 2014 when he attempted to trade back into the second round to draft Ohio State's Carlos Hyde, who is of similar size to Williams.
LeSean McCoy - No question that McCoy is the bell cow of this offense and will receive a bulk of the carries. Who will spell him when he needs a breather is the bigger question.
Fred Jackson - Although he's the oldest running back in the league, Jackson has still found ways to be productive and come through with a big play in a crunch time (see vs. Chicago last season). But, age and injuries do appear to be catching up with one of the most beloved fan favorites in recent times. Jackson scratched and clawed his way to the NFL from the lowest of levels, through DIII Coe College, the arena league and the NFL's now-defunct European league. He's only been able to enjoy one winning season as a Bill so it'd be nice to see him get a crack at the playoffs and this roster is the closest they've been in years. However, business is business. Jackson is on the final year of his deal and it'd be understandable, albeit difficult, if he ends up being the odd man out.
Boobie Dixon - Dixon joined the team last season in hopes that his play on special teams would give Buffalo's unit a boost. Not only did he provide that (the Bills special teams ranked almost dead last in 2013, only to shoot up to second overall in '14) but he also was more productive out of the backfield than most of us probably predicted. After injuries to both Jackson and now New Orleans Saint CJ Spiller, Dixon was called upon to be the primary back in a handful of games and performed well. However, Dixon has a few things working against him in 2015. One, he's joined by his former offensive coordinator in Greg Roman, who usually only called upon Dixon for short yardage situations when the two were in San Francisco. Second, the Bills drafted Karlos Williams, a guy who can do the same things on special teams as Dixon but also has more speed and potential when it comes to the running game. The Bills may opt to go with the younger, cheaper option which could spell the end of Boobie's time here in Buffalo.
Bryce Brown - No one could have predicted that the Eagles' backfield from 2012-2013 would transfer to Buffalo, but here we are. Brown joined the Bills in 2014 after an off-season trade, but had a hard time seeing the field even when Jackson and Spiller missed time with injuries. Brown has a great size/speed combo but his vision and fumbling issues need to improve. Like Jackson, Brown is also on the final year of his deal. Brown gets a fresh start with a new coaching staff, which he's probably excited for since he appeared to end up in former head coach Doug Marrone's doghouse on a few occasions last year.
Karlos Williams - The newest addition to Buffalo's backfield is 2015 fifth-round selection and former Florida State Seminole, Karlos Williams. Some have questioned the drafting of Williams when the Bills already have four backs on the roster, but Williams was an early target of the Bills and has the traits that Doug Whaley has been after since 2014 when he attempted to trade back into the second round to draft Ohio State's Carlos Hyde, who is of similar size to Williams.