Frank Summers: The Unsung Hero

Sep 15, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills tackle Cordy Glenn (77), quarterback EJ Manuel (3) and running back Frank Summers (38) in the huddle during the first half against the Carolina Panthers at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills played a phenomenal game against the Baltimore Ravens this past Sunday. Kiko Alonso, Aaron Williams, and a handful of players made play after play to give the team a chance to win; but the unsung hero of this week is Frank Sunmers.  The fullback position is similar to the play of offensive lineman; they don’t get recognized for their blocking and performance like other offensive skill positions.

The consistent usage of the fullback position throughout the entire game was a first for the Buffalo Bills this season yet it seems to be the key to establishing the running game against opponents. CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson rushed for a combined 164 yards and a touchdown against a tough Baltimore defense. Without the run game, the Buffalo Bills would not have been able to beat this team because it allowed them to utilize the play action pass.

CJ Spiller was quoted in a Buffalo News article featured on NFL.com about the Buffalo Bills and their offensive struggles previous to week four, saying “They pretty much put a lot of people in the box and dared our passing game to beat them, suggesting things won’t get easier until EJ Manuel consistently connects on downfield throws.”

By feeding Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller the ball successfully, the Buffalo Bills were able to fix this problem on offense. The success of the offense  gave our defense time to rest and create turnovers, which in turn allowed the Bills to pound away at a tired and weakened Baltimore Ravens defense. Even with turnovers on the offensive side of the ball, the Buffalo Bills were still able to control the tempo of the game.

This would not have been able to happen without Frank Summers. Summers took the linebackers out of the equation and freed up our running backs play after play. Frank Summers deserves just as much credit as any player for his performance this past Sunday and he will need to continue to play at this level in order for the Bills to beat the Cleveland Browns this Thursday. What do you think of the addition of the fullback to Nathaniel Hackett’s offense?