Bills’ right-wingers opened liberal amounts of space

By Anthony Bialy  |   Sunday, May 31, 2009  |  Comments( 76 )

Buffalo Bills
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The Buffalo Bills’ offensive line issues started in the center and spread left last year. But, the virus didn’t infect everyone straight across. Brad Butler and Langston Walker, the two right-side guardians, will be as far apart as possible this season, but only because they were solid as neighbors in 2008. The reason they’re being split up is because they were so good together, especially when they teamed to spring the team’s prized rusher.

For players whose primary job wasn’t pass blocking, they did it well. Walker permitted three sacks, while inside man Butler gave up one of his own as a right guard. Of course, Walker will face increased challenges as Jason Peters’ replacement while Butler will face increased challenges as Walker’s replacement. But the fact remains that each held his own at the presented task.

Plus, sack totals offer incomplete portraits of both the right guard and non-blindside tackle. The best way to measure the left tackle may be by sacks allowed; as for the other 80 percent of the line, it’s with someone else’s numbers. Specifically, how well did the rushers do when they headed for a particular direction?

Numbers show that Marshawn Lynch did better when he thought like Sean Hannity and not Keith Olbermann last season, namely by heading right. The starter ran 91 times in the direction of Peters and slothful fellow former Bill Derrick Dockery for 355 yards; that’s a pedestrian average of 3.9 yards every time. On the other hand, he was much less pedestrian-like when he hung a Roger: He managed 256 yards on only 52 attempts Butler/Walker’s way, good for a better average of 4.9 yards.

Crucial backup/this year’s starter for Weeks 1 through 3 Fred Jackson was seemingly indifferent to who blocked for him. His 52 leftward attempts for 215 yards works out to 4.1 a try, while his 96 yards on 24 right side tries equals 4.0 yards on the nose. But, for the back who had a preference, the strong side was the path to follow.

There are other factors to bear in mind. Most prominently, the tight end was aligned at Walker’s right hip, which automatically makes rushing that way advantageous. But what’s relevant is that the team’s rushing star did better when he relied on the rightward blockers. The stats also offer evidence that excised left tackle Peters provided mediocre assistance to the run game when he wasn’t failing at pass blocking.

On the other hand, Walker and Butler performed adeptly at clearing ground out front for the backs. Separating them of course carries a downside, but they’ll just have to play well together while divided. It will hopefully mean Lynch can be productive either way he heads. As for the tackles, they can still be partners even if they’re apart, as last year’s nasty brutes on the right side try to bring balance to a slanting line.
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