Ranking AFC East RB tandems entering '11

1 - New York Jets: LaDainian Tomlinson silenced all the critics last year after a disappointing 2009 season with the Chargers, where many thought his best years were behind him. Tomlinson rushed for 914 yards and put up his best yards-per-carry numbers (4.2) since ‘07. The 32-year-old officially handed over the reins to third-year back Shonn Greene this season, though Tomlinson will be very involved in third-down situations and passing downs.

Greene rushed for 766 yards on only 185 attempts in 2010, but hasn’t really stepped into a true No. 1 role since his time at Iowa. However, Greene has proven himself in the big moments, averaging 6.5 yards a carry in the playoffs. He has three postseason touchdowns, two of which were fourth-quarter game sealers. With a solid run-blocking offensive line and Greene’s hard-nosed, between-the-tackles style, the Jets should be the consistent ground-and-pound team Ryan is looking for all year.

2 - Buffalo Bills: Buffalo comes into this season with a lot of question marks, and one of those is C.J. Spiller. Despite the players’ and coaches’ confidence in the second-year back, Spiller has a lot to prove this year after a not-so-impressive rookie year that saw him snag only 283 yards on 74 attempts. Yes, some of that has to do with a mediocre O-line, but Spiller was prone to rookie mistakes last year as well, looking for the home run instead of taking the two or three yards given. Spiller’s role has already been up’ed this preseason, and expect to see him used much more this year.

That aside, the coaching staff has it made quite clear after some preseason debate that Fred Jackson will be the No. 1 out of the backfield. Jackson did see his numbers drop slightly last year, along with his attempts. But Jackson has averaged more than four yards per carry every year since his debut, and he is primed -- now that the depth-chart debate is over -- to have a productive year. Great things could come from this tandem this year, perhaps more impressive than the Jets duo. It all lies on the shoulders of the offensive line and their ability to keep defenders out of the backfield.

3 - New England Patriots: Yes, BenJarvus Green-Ellis was the only AFC East back to break 1,000 yards last year. Yes, Danny Woodhead averaged more than five yards a touch. Yes, the always-solid offensive line returns mostly the same from 2010. But the Pats drafted two running backs this year in Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley, and there’s that other little factor named Tom Brady.

With such a well-rounded, spread-out offense that saw two tight ends combine for nearly 90 receptions and 16 touchdowns and added Chad Ochocinco to the wideout corps this offseason, it’s hard to say how much of a factor the running game will be. The 1,008 yards Green-Ellis put up last year was the most New England has seen from a back since Corey Dillon in 2004. Expect the run game to be what it usually is for the Pats: good enough to allow Tom Brady to do what he does.

4 - The Miami Dolphins: It seems like everyone in the league is betting against Reggie Bush, except of course, the Dolphins. Miami’s decision to start Bush as their premier back is a risky one, especially since he’s only gone without injury for a full season only once in his career. Even more curious is the quick departure of Larry Johnson, who in most fans’ eyes seemed to be decent insurance policy for the injury-prone Bush.

The ’Phins will now look to rookie Daniel Thomas for assistance if that issue arises, with 27-year-old Lex Hilliard rounding out the crew. Coach Sparano voiced his opinion on Bush’s history of injuries to the Miami media early in the week, saying, “I’m really not concerned one way or the other about that at this particular time, I’m just concerned with finding ways to get the guy the ball. He’s going to be the first runner out of the gate and we’re going to figure out ways to get him the ball.”

Tweet

Chiefs' Haley keeping eye on Bills' Smith

Brad Smith might have slipped from one AFC East team to the next, but coaches outside the division still have him in their sights.

Smith, a fourth-round pick who spent his last five years as a New York Jet, signed a multi-year contract with the Buffalo Bills this offseason after becoming a free agent. The Jets had to make a bundle of critical decisions on who to keep or re-sign and who to let go, and Smith was one who got away.

Smith

The all-purpose standout, who returned two kicks for touchdowns, rushed for 299 yards and a score and passed for a touchdown last season, will make his first appearance in Bills digs when Buffalo travels to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I think the addition of Brad Smith, who you can list anywhere on the depth chart, a guy that I went over to Missouri and worked out one-on-one when he was coming out and really liked the player,” Chiefs coach Todd Haley told the media Wednesday. “I think that’s a great addition for them. He gives them great versatility — he can run with it, he can throw it. He can catch it and return it.”

Smith hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since 2007 (he caught his only two that season), but he also didn’t have much opportunity behind a stacked wide receiving corps in New York.

He joins a Bills team that is already rich in multi-role players.

“They’ve got a bevy of returners that all can hurt you,” Haley said. “(C.J.) Spiller, (Roscoe) Parrish and Brad Smith (are guys) you can’t lose sight of. They’ve got a lot of weapons.”

Tweet

Can Bills' receivers balance out the offense?

Donald Jones (Photo: Jeffrey Beall)

Balance is an essential component for any successful football strategy.

And, with a ground game that typically carries the majority of the offensive workload — and success — the Buffalo Bills are going to require the same production from its passing game this season if it plans on being a contender in the ultra-competitive AFC East.

The Bills need a balanced attack, and they have what it takes to create one. But will they?

The cellar-dwelling Bills’ offensive breakout star last year — and a big part of each of the team’s four wins — was then-third-year wideout Stevie Johnson. Yes, Johnson dropped a game-winning touchdown pass vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers in overtime. But there were 82 other passes he didn’t drop. Ten of them were touchdowns.

Lining up across from Johnson is second-year receiver Donald Jones, who had some late-season success last year as the team tried to fill the void left by the speedy Roscoe Parrish. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick also told the team’s website that he thought Jones was more confident now, and he’s excited at the production he believes awaits ahead for Jones and the crew.

A confident Jones, focused Johnson and healthy Parrish means the Bills have the talent, hands and speed on the outside to match the barreling backfield out of Orchard Park.

Arguably the most versatile and powerful one-two punch rushing in the AFC East, Buffalo’s tandem of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller has lived up to the ground-and-pound reputation that the oft-mediocre Bills have carried in a division they haven’t been able to win since 1995.

Despite that drought, and the fact that the Bills haven’t made the playoffs since we’ve entered the 2000s, the Bills have consistently drafted top-tier running backs and helped those players be effective in the team’s system. Simply, the team replied on them. Players like Travis Henry, Willis McGahee and Marshawn Lynch have oftentimes been the lone bright stop on a crippled Buffalo squad.

Jackson, who was named the No. 1 running back this week, rushed for just under 1,000 yards in 13 starts last season, the only Bills player even close to reaching the milestone. Expect that to change.

Now, with an overpowering running attack lining up behind a young, offensive line that remains in need of order and encouragement, is the time for the passing game to step it up and take some heat off the backfield. It’s really their only option if they expect to be successful this season.

And this can certainly be the year the Bills change it around.

Tweet

Bills seek leadership on offensive line

The release of veteran center Geoff Hangartner leaves a hole in the leadership category for the Buffalo Bills' offensive line. The two-year starter and seven-year pro was picked up by his former team the Carolina Panthers Monday, where he played from 2005-09.

Hangartner was beat out for the position by third-year lineman Eric Wood from Louisville, who takes over after starting 24 games combined the past two years. Lack of experience within the line has been a hot-button issue throughout the offseason and preseason for the Bills.

Starters Demetrius Bell, Andy Levitre and Kraig Urbik are all third-year players as well, having a combined 66 games played between them. That leaves tackle Erik Pears, who at 29 is the oldest on the line, but comes into the season having played only two games for the Bills and hasn't taken on a true starting role since his time in Denver. Pears has proven to be a solid presence on the right side for the Bills thus far, and it will be interesting to see if he the journeyman will take on some of the leadership responsibilities with Hangartner out of the picture. Levitre may also be an option, especially after proving his worth to the coaching staff following a position battle with Chad Rinehart in training camp.

Update: The Bills claimed second-year tackle Sam Young off waivers Tuesday.

Tweet

Look Back: Bills gave up fewest penalty yards on D in 2010, Jets saw fewest flags

The Buffalo Bills gave up too many yards on defense last year. But they did it in such disciplined style.

Buffalo gave up the fewest yards to the yellow flag in the 2010 NFL. The Bills’ 634 penalty yards against the defense ranked tops in the league. So there’s something.

In fact, the entire division fared very well in that regard. The New York Jets’ 74 penalties on defense were the fewest in the league. The New England Patriots were fourth best in penalty discipline with 84 flags. The Bills and Miami Dolphins were fifth with 85 flags.

The Patriots, however, had the most-penalized defense this preseason with 36 flags. The Jets were punished with the fewest penalty yards (117) by a landslide. Next were the Atlanta Falcons with 162.

Tweet

Four Downs: Questions entering Bills season

(Photo: Ed Yourdon)

The last decade for the Buffalo Bills has been 10 years most fans would like to forget: six consecutive losing seasons, zero playoff appearances and a slew of big-name busts. The Bills are currently tied with the Lions for the longest playoff-appearance drought, and this year is shaping up to be another uphill battle.

Same Ol’ Bills?
The Bills were 1-3 this preseason, and coupled with losing wide receiver Lee Evans and their draft decision to stick with Ryan Fitzpatrick and pass on a number of young, talented quarterbacks, it may be a while before we see Buffalo contend with other AFC heavy-hitters such as the Jets and New England.

Fitz ready for an encore?
Fitzpatrick did show glimpses of brilliance last year, finishing the season with exactly 3,000 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and four wins in the last eight games after Buffalo's dreadful 0-8 start (though Trent Edwards started the first two games).

Will the pass protection improve?
The Bills' offensive line gave up 94 quarterback hits last season, which ranked fifth worse in the league. Buffalo didn’t really do anything in the offseason to remedy its protection woes, so we’ll see if the front guys have matured.

How about run blocking?
That may also be a problem for running back Fred Jackson, as he saw total-yards and yards-per-carry numbers drop from the previous year. Jackson has taken 72 percent of the carries for the Bills so far this preseason, but is still peeved about the growing role of backup C.J. Spiller, despite the guarantee that he will be the starter.

Tweet