Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan wants to build a bully.
For Ryan, a large part of building a bully seems to mean an offense predicated on limiting turnovers and pounding the rock.
With the newly acquired LeSean McCoy in the fold, the top of the running back depth chart for Ryan and offensive coordinator Greg Roman is set. McCoy, barring some type of unforeseen circumstance, will see the lion's share of the carries.
Beyond the former Philly All Pro though, questions about the distribution of touches for the rest of the Bills ballcarriers linger.
According to a report from Mike Rodak of ESPN, if things shake out a certain way in training camp, it could spell the end for long-time veteran and fan favorite Fred Jackson in Buffalo
"He's a franchise icon and a locker room leader, but there are simply no guarantees in the NFL, especially at his age," writes Rodak. "If Jackson's performance dips, or if Dixon or Brown prove more worthy of a roster spot, the Bills could free up roughly $2.5 million of cap space by releasing Jackson. With their 2016 cap space already thin, that space could be carried over into next season and help the team down the road. Fans would understandably loathe the decision, but under the right circumstances, moving on from Jackson could make business sense for the Bills. Good, bad, or indifferent, the Bills made a big commitment to McCoy. He's their guy now."
One of Boobie Dixon or recent draft pick Karlos Williams seem like a safe bet to land on the roster along with McCoy as more of a bruising, short-yardage option, but with fullback Jerome Felton nearly assured a spot that may not be the case.
The team spent a fifth-round pick on Williams and while, as Rodak notes, fifth-round picks aren't locks to make the roster, it seems likelier than not that either he or Dixon will wind up a Bill for next season.
Bryce Brown, on the other hand, is immensely talented, but he's also highly inconsistent and was a pre-Ryan acquisition. His days as a Bill could be numbered.
With Roman likely looking to keep four tight ends and the team needing somewhere in the vicinity of six receivers, there may only be space enough for three running backs and one fullback, meaning the 34-year-old Jackson could very well find himself the odd man out in Buffalo.
