23 touches, 140 yards, and one touchdown. When the Buffalo Bills drafted Devin Singletary in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft, this is what they envisioned. And they got it in week nine vs the Washington Redskins. Singletary gave the Bills a return on their investment and gave the offense the spark they’ve needed in recent weeks. The running game carried the Bills offense in Week 9 and made life simple for Josh Allen. At the head of that running game, was Singletary. What we saw from the Buffalo offense vs the Redskins is what the Bills need more of going forward. More touches for the rookie running back has to be a focal point.
Delivery From Devin Singletary
By cutting incumbent starting running back LeSean McCoy at the end of the preseason, the Buffalo backfield was suddenly in question. Would Frank Gore be the starter? How much was T.J. Yeldon going to play? Did the Bills make a mistake? For those who had watched Buffalo play in the preseason, the reason for cutting McCoy was clear. Singletary had arrived. He was eased into action to start the regular season and he capitalized on his early chances to shine. Coming off a hamstring injury that caused him to miss three games, Singletary has picked up right where he left off.
Direct Results
Analytics are fun. Numbers are fun. Here are some numbers. In the five games Devin Singletary has played in this season, the Buffalo Bills are averaging 22.6 points per game. In the three games without Singletary, they’re averaging 15 points per game. Singletary has been fully healthy with no restrictions in three games this season. In those three games, Singletary is averaging 8.83 yards per touch. That’s close to being first down yardage each time he touches the ball.
Now if you’d like to make the argument that the teams Buffalo has played allow for easy running back success, let’s look at more numbers. In the games mentioned above where Devin Singletary is averaging 8.83 yards per touch, Frank Gore is averaging 3.57 yards per touch. In the game vs the Redskins, a game where Singletary gouged Washington over and over, Gore failed to get a single yard on three carries in a row at the goal line and was stopped on a fourth and one. On the game sealing drive, the Buffalo Bills ran eight plays. Singletary got the ball on six of those eight plays and capped the drive off with a touchdown.
The play of Devin Singletary was the impetus for the Bills releasing LeSean McCoy. They knew Frank Gore was a solid complementary running back and solid veteran piece. That’s what he was signed for. Singletary is the straw that stirs the drink in the Buffalo backfield. That’s what he was drafted for. The more he’s been involved in the Bills offense the more success the team has had. You can see it on the field, and in the numbers.
Potential Success in the Long Run
If you can run the ball in the NFL, everything is infinitely easier. From an offensive execution standpoint, running the ball comes with less variables. Snapping the ball, turning around and handing the ball to your running back, requires less as opposed to passing. Which requires you to snap the ball, have your offensive line pass block correctly, have your quarterback correctly identify the defense, and have him throw the ball accurately and on time to someone who hopefully catches it.
Plus, a good running game travels well and isn’t as affected by weather as the passing game is. And it can allow you to maintain possession and keep the ball away from your opponent. Both of those points are crucial in being successful in the AFC this year. Playing against the Kansas City Chiefs, or New England Patriots, or Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs, means there’s a good chance you’re going to face some bad weather. Couple that with the high octane offenses these teams possess, and the more you can keep the ball in your hands and out of theirs, the better.
Devin Singletary gives the Buffalo Bills offense a style of play that can travel and limit opposing offense’s opportunities. He gives the Bills an added layer of fight against the class of their conference. Long term sustainability and performance drive success in the NFL. Having a player that can help you win games now, and be a weapon in your game script against future opponents is huge.
What Devin Singletary Means to the Buffalo Bills
Halfway through his rookie year, Devin Singletary has been instant impact for the Buffalo Bills. His dynamic productivity has been a welcomed sight for a Bills team that has struggled to find offensive rhythm at times in his absence. The standout performance he gave in week 9 seems to point towards Singletary taking over the starting running back job. Being the starter means more snaps, and more potential touches. Entrenching Singletary in the offense is a recipe for success as the Bills look to make noise in the playoffs.
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