Buffalo Bills: Ground Game Will be Just Fine Without Williams Duo
By Paul Taylor
The Buffalo Bills will be without Karlos and Jonathan Williams to start the season, but don’t expect much of a drop-off from last year’s league-leading rushing attack.
Whether or not you agree with Rex Ryan’s assessment that the Buffalo Bills won the offseason, the news regarding Tom Brady only improved the mood in Western New York. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Bills if something didn’t happen to throw a spanner in the works.
As such, the report that Karlos Williams will miss the first four games of the new season for substance abuse, was almost preordained. In fact, if you listened hard enough, you could hear Bills fans saying in unison: “Of course he was!”
Certainly, Williams isn’t doing himself any favors at the moment. He must have had one hell of an offseason, after turning up at mini-camp 20-25 lbs overweight.
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Friday’s confirmation of the 23-year old’s suspension came just one day after Jonathan Williams was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated. Perceived as the potential number two in the backfield, the rookie’s future is now a lot more uncertain, with him also likely to face discipline from the NFL.
Understandably, this will now have some Bills fans concerned about how the loss of the Williams duo will affect last season’s league-leading rushing attack. However, all signs point towards a minimum impact, as the team looks to maintain and possibly improve on 2015’s numbers.
For a start, LeSean McCoy is expected to have a bounce-back year, after an injury-riddled campaign. Certainly, if a hobbled McCoy can manage 895 yards, just imagine how effective he will be if he’s fully-fit?
Next, there is the potential of Mike Gillislee, who is now the favorite to become McCoy’s main backup for Week 1. He led all Bills runners in average yards per carry last season and showed his big-play potential, with 60 and 50-yard touchdown runs against the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys respectively.
We also need to take into account the Bills offensive line, with continuity being a key component of any continued success. This is especially true on the left side of the line, where the team is settled at tackle and guard, as well as the center position.
For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus rated the Buffalo line as 9th-best in the NFL last year. If John Miller can improve on his rookie campaign and Seantrel Hendersen comes back at full strength, they figure to be even better this season.
One final factor to throw into the mix is quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Whether it was a designed run or a scramble, his mobility proved to be a key weapon in the Bills rushing attack.
This was evidenced by 568 yards on the ground last season, for a healthy 5.5-yard average and four touchdowns. If Taylor can maintain that threat, it can only mean good things for the offense.
Overall, no one is claiming the loss of the Williams duo won’t be an inconvenience. However, there is every reason to believe the Bills will once again have one of the league’s top running games.
Next: LeSean McCoy owes the Bills a big season
How do you expect the Bill ground game to do without the services of the Williams duo for the start of the season? Further, what impact do you expect the suspensions to have in the case of each player? Let us know in the comments section below.