Bills must finally draft a good rusher at the last minute

By Anthony Bialy  |   Thursday, April 02, 2009  |  Comments( 85 )

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The Buffalo Bills are unfortunately consistent as a franchise. Much like the team’s shrinking fourth-quarter performances this decade, management doesn’t always finish drafts strongly. Particularly, they need to find a decent third rusher during this upcoming selection process. That has of recent years been an apparently tricky assignment. They’ve uncovered only unproductive players of the type, and they have to do better this time than getting at best a fourth-string back.

For example, 2005 selection Lionel Gates served as a wasted seventh-round pick. He hasn’t yet made a pro rushing attempt; still, he did kindly wait until he was released by the team that drafted him before getting arrested on a charge of assaulting a pregnant woman. Gates’ biggest contribution to the Bills was never forcing them to issue a nebulous public statement about his atrocious legal encounter.

The fact he didn’t get arrested for a felony is one of the nicer things that can be said about Dwayne Wright’s Bills career. Glaringly, the 2007 fourth-rounder still hasn’t cracked 100 yards rushing as an NFLer. The Fresno State product ran for 94 during his rookie season of 2007; that was 94 more than he gained last season, a consequence of spending the year looking for a team to take him. He signed with the New York Giants this past January, meaning another team has to worry about him moving quite slowly before fumbling.

After one season, it doesn’t look as if present option Xavier Omon is going to be the notably obscure rusher they need, either. The sixth-round selection made six attempts in 2008; it’s one thing for a wideout to struggle through a rookie season, but Omon gained 5 total yards at the relatively adaptable position of running back. It’s an unsettling omen in itself and evidence of a poor scouting trend in general.

It’s not that the Bills need to uncover a 1,000-yard monster with a 200-something pick. But they should get more value from rushers chosen late even if they fail to pull off a Denver Broncos-style move. The Bills should be able to identify and grab a player who can reliably take 50 handoffs per season, even if they’re not outfitted with a magical line that turns unknown backs into superheroes.

If the Bills could unearth backup Fred Jackson’s backup late on the draft’s second day, it would of course directly aid a squad that could use the relief provided by a third rusher. More importantly, such a selection would provoke confidence in management. It’s assumed picks invited to hold jerseys onstage must thrive, but the true test of a staff’s competence is breadth of quality.

The ability to effectively dig for depth is a sign of a valuable general manager, and the trouble is the Bills don’t have a true general manager. Quasi-GM Russ Brandon, the chief operating officer, can enhance his reputation and flaunt competence by adding a quality rusher late. He should know how sloppy it looks when the team can’t uncover even marginal talent during pack-up time.

He needs to avoid a recent staff trend. It’s as if they’re worn out by the initial giddiness of the first handful of picks, which in turn leaves them too lethargic to find worthwhile rushers during the process’ late moments. They must avoid a sugar crash’s equivalent this year for the sake of the two quality backs they already have.

Buffalo doesn’t need to draft a rusher in the draft’s first quarter or half. But barring a free agent signing before then, the Bills must add depth with a low pick later this month. All the mystery player needs to be able to do is occasionally spell Jackson and Marshawn Lynch, and perhaps spend a game or two filling in for Jackson if Jackson fills in for a suspended Lynch. They haven’t successfully chosen such a player with their previous three tries, and the fourth time would be a great time to get it right.
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CommentsComments: 85  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
09:23 AM
04/02/2009
Dwayne Wright and Xavier Oman both had their share of supporters leading up to their selections on draft day. Some so-called...
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No.2
Goose		10:00 AM
04/02/2009
Looking back at the Bills late round picks, they seem to have been more successful in the late 80's when the draft was 12...
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No.3
Amir FaSaad		10:30 AM
04/02/2009
Nate's right; 6 carries is hardly a barometer for any player, let alone a RB. But, Bialy's wrong about when we select a RB. As I...
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