Buffalo Bills: Devin Singletary’s performance against Colts raises some eyebrows
With 27 rushing yards on nine carries, the Buffalo Bills’ third-round selection Devin Singletary raised some eyebrows in the team’s 24-16 victory over the Colts Thursday night.
On Thursday night the rookie running back was seen going through his reads, finding the open holes in the offensive line and deflecting hits like he had the ‘power-up star’ from Super Mario, Devin Singletary may have improved his candidacy to see a handful of touches in his rookie season with the Bills.
With the days of Bills’ running backs, like the one-two punch of Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, in the rearview mirror, the new three-headed-monster of LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, and Devin Singletary have the very real possibility of producing similar big numbers this year. For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Bills have depth and quality products at the running back position which could spark a competitive battle through the depth chart.
The depth chart starts at the top with veterans Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy. Gore, who on his last legs of his career as he is entering this season at 36 years of age, but he doesn’t appear to be slowing down with seven yards on two carries against the Colts and showed he can still get those hard-to-get yards.
McCoy, on the other hand, is projected to be the Bills every-down-back but the future of him in the blue, white and red is looking bleak. With his contract set to expire after this season, the 31-year-old could very well be fighting for his spot on the Bills roster this season and has even spoken publicly about trade speculation with the media as he said:
"“For the last two years, people have been saying that. If that was the case, I would’ve been gone. Two teams were trying to get me.”"
This could mean seeing more of Singletary if the Bills chose to part ways with McCoy or are as impressed with his output against the Colts as many were. Singletary possesses many attributes that is highly sought after when scouting out a running back. He was able to deflect hits, elusive when running through the offensive holes, and having the speed to break away from the line of scrimmage.
As seen in Singletary’s highlight video on the team’s website in the 12-minute mark of the second quarter, Singletary takes a handoff from Matt Barkley, watches the play develop in front of him and then with his head down and ball covered, he bursts through the hole created by Wyatt Teller and was able to pick up a first down.
These types of rushes are not new to Singletary as it was something he was known for during his time at FAU. He finished his collegiate career with 4,287 rushing yards while getting into the endzone on 66 times on 714 rushes.
As the Bills training camp continues with three preseason games left in the schedule against the Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, and Minnesota Vikings, the narrowing down of the Buffalo Bills’ backfield could be an interesting development if Singletary produces another performance as he did against the Colts.
dark. Next. Buffalo Bills Rookie Report after Colts game
As of right now, the Bills depth chart reads McCoy as the first-string back, Gore as the second, Singletary as the third folowed by the remaining backs like T.J. Yeldon, Senorise Perry, Marcus Murphy and Christian Wade but there is still much football left to be played between now and Week One against the New York Jets.