Buffalo Bills: Cody Ford should remain the starter at right tackle
By Daniel Bruce
![ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Cody Ford #70 of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore beats Buffalo 24 to 17. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images) ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 08: Cody Ford #70 of the Buffalo Bills runs onto the field before a game against the Baltimore Ravens at New Era Field on December 8, 2019 in Orchard Park, New York. Baltimore beats Buffalo 24 to 17. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d19aa9fc93c31b2dacbdbd7d51f6c68f6b5ad08f3ad12f4dd1a29144f07d4b97.jpg)
What we learned from 2019
Through the first four weeks of the 2019 season the Bills ran a platoon at the right tackle position with Nsekhe and Ford as both of their snap counts hovered around 50 percent.
They used that system until Week 11 when Nsekhe went down with an injury that lasted until Week 17. Ford would take over in the meantime playing every offensive snap the next five weeks and showed improvement in his play.
Then in the playoff game Buffalo continued with the 50/50 split between the two tackles, despite Nsekhe being the better play during the season. Ford played 51 percent of snaps while Nsekhe played 49 percent
Ford allowed a team high 7 sacks in 2019 while Nsekhe allowed none, the journeyman tackle used his experience and athleticism to be great in pass protection. Nsekhe did play only half the snaps that Ford did but was way more solid in blocking for Josh Allen.
In the run game is where the promising tackle can make his name, he has great power at 329 pounds and is a mauler who always finishes his blocks on defenders:
The Buffalo Bills coaching staff, despite Ford’s struggles through points of the season, tended to stick with Ford even when platooned with Nsekhe. The fact that Buffalo stuck with Ford and didn’t just give all the snaps to Nsekhe who was performing better, shows how confident they are with the young tackle.