Photo: Doug Kerr, Flickr BY NICK ST. DENIS
The Buffalo Bills enter the season with a workhorse tailback who had a breakout season going last year sharing the backfield with a third-year former first-rounder who is trying to prove himself capable of carrying a big workload.
The former is Fred Jackson, and the latter is C.J. Spiller, though Buffalo doesn't like to put them in any type of order. Coach Chan Gailey plans on running a legitimate two-back system incorporated into his spread offense.
How will it work out?
“I’m not sure. That’ll be something we’ll have to adjust to during the season," Jackson told 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland earlier this week. "But I’ve always been the type of guy that’s gonna do whatever it takes to win."
There's no question Jackson is the 1A in this deal, and it'll stay that way as long as he can pick up where he left off last season.
Jackson amassed 934 rushing yards and 422 receiving in just 10 games in 2011 but missed most of the second half of the season to a leg injury. However, the Bills extended his contract, which had a year left on it, by two years this offseason.
Spiller was better-than-average in taking over the workload last year, gaining 561 yards on the ground and 269 through the air.
"Coach has said he’s gonna do whatever he can to wear us out and keep us healthy at the same time," Jackson said of sharing the backfield with Spiller. "I don’t know what that means but I’ll take advantage of every opportunity I get.”
With the pair combing for 12 total touchdowns and well over 2,000 yards last season, Buffalo should have enough work to go around for the both of them, especially considering both are very good in the passing game.
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With the pair combing for 12 total touchdowns and well over 2,000 yards last season, Buffalo should have enough work to go around for the both of them, especially considering both are very good in the passing game.
Follow Nick @NickStDenis
Follow AFC East Daily @AFCEastDaily
