Orchard Park, NY

Expectations blew through the roof when the Buffalo Bills snagged C.J. Spiller ninth overall in the 2010 draft. The hole has since been patched and remains in good repair.

With year-two almost in the books, however, the 24-year-old native of Lake Butler, Fla., is starting to show flashes of the attributes that made him so highly coveted out of Clemson: agility, quick decision-making and blazing speed.

"He's an explosive runner," said Bills head coach Chan Gailey. "He's a good cutback runner. He can get from one side to the other pretty quickly. You try to find different ways to be able to use him. A lot of people think that we'll run outside the whole day because he's a fast guy, try to get him on the edge. That's not necessarily the case. He can run up inside, too."

In addition to getting more playing time, the cure for Spiller's slow-to-develop career may be quite simple: stop thinking so much.

"In my first start last year, I was doing a lot of thinking in the game and I really wouldn't let my ability take over," Spiller said. "I was concerned about: 'Should I go inside? Should I go outside?' But now I'm just going out there and playing football, just playing the way I always played."

Spiller's increased workload comes as a result of losing Fred Jackson - amid a Pro Bowl and potentially MVP campaign - to a season-ending injury during a Week 11 tilt with the Miami Dolphins. Veteran free agent Tashard Choice was signed to help ease the pain - in every sense of the word - associated with Jackson's loss, but the starting duties were handed over to Spiller.

Despite fending Spiller off for the starting role prior to the season, Jackson remains a mentor. Spiller said Jackson kept a watchful eye from the Bills' sideline during Sunday's meeting with the Tennessee Titans, continuously advised him of what he saw from the opposing defense.

The contest, which was only the third start of Spiller's career, ended up being a statistical best - 14 carries for 83 yards - highlighted by a 35-yard touchdown and a would-be 41-yarder that was called back by a phantom holding penalty.

"It felt natural," Spiller said after the breakout performance. "I'm not going to say like my Clemson days, but you know, it felt normal. That's what they drafted me for, to try to make big plays."

The Clemson days he spoke of were so widely celebrated that Spiller's No. 28 jersey was retired by the university Oct. 16, 2010 - barely enough time for dust to settle on his degree. He has an extensive list of awards from each of his four collegiate years, including All-ACC and All-American honors for football and track. S

piller was not only named the MVP of the 2009 ACC championship game, he took home the conference's player of the year and offensive player of the year awards, too.

He rushed for 1,212 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior, also catching 36 passes for 503 yards and four touchdowns. Oh, and he managed to find time for another five touchdowns on special teams.

Something had to give.

"I thought he was a lot more comfortable running the football and seeing the blocking schemes and knowing where to go with the ball," Gailey said after Sunday's meeting with the Titans. "He was a lot more comfortable. …And I think that'll just continue to get better."

"I think you could tell at the end of the Jets game [Week 12] he was starting to feel a little more comfortable," said Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. "He had some runs that were close to going, at least getting some big chunks. He did that this last game.

Unfortunately the one got called back for the holding. In the second half, being down and the way that it went, not being able to get him as many touches as we would have liked. He did some really good things in this game. He's obviously an explosive guy. He showed that to everybody this last game."

Once he's healthy, Jackson - who is seeking a contract extension beyond next season, the final year in his current deal - is likely to resume his role as the team's featured running back. But for the time being, Spiller has a chance to prove the critics wrong and make a few plays - something he's been eager to do.

"I guess you could say I'm the expert at patience," Spiller said. "So if anybody out there needs help learning how to be patient, just come to No. 28."

 

 

NFL 2011 Week 14 Recap

 

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