Buffalo Bills fullback Jerome Felton believes LeSean McCoy has what it takes to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards.
Felton has a better understanding than most about what it takes for a running back to rush for 2,000 yards, having been the lead blocker for Adrian Peterson who came within eight yards of that same mark not three seasons ago.
Now, as the fullback in Greg Roman’s power-running game in Buffalo, Felton finds himself blocking for another man who he believes can make his mark on history.
“I want him to break records,” Felton said (h/t Tyler Dunne of The Buffalo News). “I want him to get 2,000 yards. I want him to lead the league in rushing. Him and Adrian are cut from the same cloth. I would be very disappointed if he’s not the leading rusher in the league next year, that’s for sure. He has the ability that it takes. For a runner to get 2,000 yards, you have to be able to score from anywhere on the field. That’s my goal for him.”
To say that McCoy is “cut from the same cloth” as Peterson is certainly debatable.
McCoy is electric, certainly, as his 1,607 yards in 2013 showed. However, despite his career average of 4.6 yards per carry, McCoy isn’t exactly a powerhouse like Peterson. Consider this stat from last year: McCoy averaged just 2.1 yards after contact last season per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which put him well below average (41 out of 57 qualified rushers).
However, it is intriguing that McCoy hasn’t utilized a lead blocker since his days at the University of Pittsburgh. He was the lone back most of the time in Philadelphia where a zone-blocking scheme was implemented.
Now, playing for Roman, who orchestrated a successful rushing attack in San Francisco that almost always utilized a fullback, things could be different for the man they call “Shady.”
Without a viable quarterback to lead the offense this year in Buffalo, the Bills will certainly rely on McCoy to carry the load. He’ll have a terrific chance to outdo himself for a career best in terms of yardage, and perhaps, if the offense can move the chains on a regular basis, McCoy could actually challenge the record books.
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