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Buffalo Bills: Can LeSean McCoy come up big in 2015?

By Dan Salem

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LeSean McCoy has been a star at running back, but will the previously poor line of the Buffalo Bills be enough for McCoy to shine once again in 2015? What can we expect from the former Eagles back? Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Check out more of the brothers in Seesaw Sports Debate on BuzzChomp. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

What can really be expected of LeSean McCoy behind this Buffalo Bills offensive line in 2015?

When he was a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, McCoy was a master of the missed tackle, but he routinely ran for negative yardage. He is this generation’s Barry Sanders, leading the league in long runs and negative runs.

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In 2013, the Eagles offensive line was sensational, as was McCoy. Last year, injuries ravaged the unit and Shady struggled because of it. So what now that he will be running behind perhaps the worst offensive line in football?

Pro Football Focus has the Buffalo o-line ranked 30th in the NFL for 2015. Cordy Glenn ranks out as the unit’s best player even though he’s just 6.5 points above average on their scale.

At Football Outsiders, the Bills ranked 26th after last season, and although they don’t project this coming season, it is safe to say the ranking wouldn’t be much higher.

The more worrisome point from the folks at FO is that Buffalo was dead last in the league when running to the outside in either direction. This means the team can block okay for between-the-tackles runners but is horrid when blocking for players like, you know, LeSean McCoy.

He should garner a ton of touches in this offense no matter what. However, there must be a point in which a running back’s worth approaches zero because he has no room to move. I don’t know if we get there, but I wouldn’t be surprised if McCoy finishes the season with his worst yards-per-carry average of his career.

Dec 28, 2014; Foxborough, MA, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver

Robert Woods

(10) reacts after a touchdown catch against the New England Patriots in the first quarter at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

DAN:

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LeSean McCoy is an interesting case of a player who absolutely views himself as more valuable than reality. I’m not particularly high on the Bills this season and McCoy will suffer because of it. Thankfully for fans in Buffalo, the team won’t need either McCoy or the offense to produce a ton in order to win.

LeSean has been extremely consistent in his career, averaging 4.6 yards per carry over his six seasons. Yet I’m scared about his lack of end zone production. He only scored double digit touchdowns on the ground once in six years, way back in 2011. He saw a lot of targets through the air up until last season, and produced accordingly. None of this helps Buffalo.

The Bills need an up and down runner, but as you noted, McCoy will have to alter his playing style in order to be that player. NFL running backs have rarely produced outside of their first five seasons, at least not at their highest levels. The Bills need another statement season from LeSean in order to push an otherwise simple offense.

For fantasy purposes I’m not worried about McCoy. He’ll get his yards, yet if it comes at the expense of tons of carries, that spells trouble for Buffalo’s offense. I like McCoy the player, but I’m not convinced of his fit on the Bills. A bad offensive line can doom a back, no matter how great he is. McCoy is no Barry Sanders and even Sanders struggled to make the Lions relevant throughout his illustrious career.

Dan Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spin Zone. He’s also Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp, and a New York Jets Analyst for Pro Football Spot. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram.

Todd Salem is a Staff Writer for NFL Spinzone. He’s also a Contributing Editor at BuzzChomp, a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report, and an Analyst for Tipster Labs, among others. Follow him on Twitter.

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