AFC East Debate: Dolphins RBs or Bills RBs?

It’s alot harder to score from any spot on the field in the NFL.

to be honest i dont really know that much about the bills RB corps. not to much is said about them that i have seen. in fact the bills as a whole to me is no suffering the same fate as us phins did a few years back. the bottom of the afc east so basicly forgotten by the media. all the talk is now on the jets with all the big name hype. the pats who untill someone knocks them off thier perch wont see them for what they really are. a superbowl team slowly loosing their step. and us phins who the media is taking notice now as finally heading in the right direction. so i guess i cant really give a good solid vote on it.

as my great grand pappy use to say: nothing worse then someone who runs his mouth so much that his brain cant back up all those words.

Seriously? Here is an interesting statistic for you.

Number of snaps that CJ Spiller has played in the NFL: 0

CJ isn’t the first rookie that people have claimed “can score from anywhere on the field on any down,” so let’s wait to see if he can even get on the field before we start labeling him an NFL Caliber homerun threat.

Therefore, our back will be better.

In terms of production, experience and all sure the Fins are more proven, but they’ve been running behind a much better oline of that of the bills, plus our offense is alot more balanced with a better qb and wrs. The Bills have better Rbs in terms of athleticism and age, Spiller is an absolute speedster, Lynch when not in trouble is a physical back, and Jackson is a starting calibre Rb in the NFL.
Let’s put it this way….
If the Bills Rbs were in our backfield, they’d produce better numbers than the Rbs we currently have.

Ignoring the O-Lines for the sake of argument, which is really the key to the running game (All-World RB gets tackled 3 yards in the backfield), I would say:
Brown > Lynch (assuming healthy and not suspended MARSHAWN!)
Williams (at 33) > Jackson
CJ Spiller (on potential) > Kory Sheets (but it is going to be interesting if Sheets makes the team)
Hilliard = Chad Simpson (Push)
Patrick Cobbs > Joique Bell
If we don’t take Lousaka Polite into the equation, the FINS still edge out the Bills running backs
Judging the Running Backs and Judging the Running Game are two different things.

I give Miami the edge, though with pure running ability, it is a close call. Here is why I like Miami.

I don’t agree that Spiller would be (he hasn’t played yet) the only back to score from anywhere. Both Ronnie Brown and Rickey Williams have shown the ability to still make the big plays. Williams did appear to slow down over the last 2 or 3 games last year, but he did show he still has the power and speed to be a very effective RB. Where I like Miami’s RB situation is the overall complete package each RB has over Buffalo’s set.
Both Ronnie Brown and Rickey Williams have shown good ability to run both inside and outside, though Brown is better suited for running outside the tackles in my opinion. Both of them are also good pass blockers and can read the blitz and are good receiving RBs. With Buffalo, they each have their niche. Fred Jackson is a great RB with good hands to catch the ball and is well suited for outside runs, but his blocking ability and inside the tackle running ability is not as polished as Miami’s set of RBs. Marshawn Lynch is a great inside the tackle RB, but he lacks the speed and burst to be effective on outside runs. He’s also not as much of a threat out of the backfield. He can make some catches, but he lacks the ability to really turn a screen or a flat into a big play. CJ Spiller has talent, but he is an unknown. While he can be a home run threat in the passing game and in the running game, he’ll have to answer questions about his ability to run between the tackles.

What definitely sets this group apart? Short yard rushing, especially in goal line situations. Buffalo’s RBs have been terrible getting into the endzone when they’re inside the 5, which is a great strength Miami has. Both Williams and Brown have done great scoring when Miami was in their goal line formations.

When you add in Polite, I think that seals the deal. I do like Buffalo’s set of RBs and I’d actually rank them #2 in the AFC East (because Greene is unknown and LT has slowed down) behind Miami’s. If Spiller emerges as a good RB, I think they can overtake Miami as a better RB corps. Also, if Brown goes down to injury, then I think I would prefer to take Buffalo’s combination of RBs.

But, unfortunately this might be the last year we can make that claim. Ronnie Brown staying healthy has to be key to the conversation. He’s not as big an if as CJ Spiller but Spiller has phenomenal upside. I really think he will be square in the ROY considerations.

And right now Marshawn Lynch is considered a “head case” which certainly lowers his value in my estimation.

But maybe I failed, because my vote came out Miami.

My justification? Lousaka Polite and Patrick Cobbs pump the depth of our corps, and Brian’s comments about Spiller are at this point all conjecture. You can’t take be sure how a college weapon will transition to the NFL until you have seen at least one season (if not more). Thus, Spiller can (at this point) not be considered a tipping factor.

Great debate, I hope this will continue with some of the other AFC East squads, but let’s be a bit more original than Miami QB vs NYJ QB, okay? At least go WR.

I think Buffalo would be nuts to get rid of Lynch, but with all of the off season drama surrounding him possibly getting traded, I don’ t think it is a “given” that he will be there or, if he is, that he will contribute.

Same with Spiller – lots of potential, never played an NFL down. Spiller with Lynch would be an awesome combination, assuming Spiller can come close to being as dynamic on the field as a pro, as he was in college. But Buffalo has so many other holes right now, including O-line, I wouldn’t have very high expectations from the 1st yr pro.

And let’s face it… Fred Jackson really isn’t scaring anyone. I’m not saying he isn’t a decent back. I’m just saying that no one is going to game plan to stop him.

I think if Spiller plays up to expectations, and Lynch is back to handle the inside stuff (and Buffalo can fix it’s O-line), I would give the edge to the Bills. But with so many questions unanswered, I’ve gotta go with the Fins RBs.

Best case scenario for CJ is probably a Reggie Bush type complimentary role, which isn’t even that huge of an impact (or course, don’t tell Gibril Wilson that, who is probably sick of seeing the incessant replays of Bush leaping over him for a TD on NFL Network). Great to have, but we’re not talking a potential Chris Johnson or AP here.

And I am no fan of Lynch, who really hasn’t shown me any consistency.

Basically:
Ronnie>or=Jackson
Ricky>Lynch
Spiller=?

And then Cobbs and Lousaka Monster are just icing on the cake.