6OL is making a comeback in Orchard Park, NY
Longtime readers know I love trying to keep an eye on how the Buffalo Bills trend with personnel usage and that I love niche players. I was among the first to label Taron Johnson as “starting” corner with the Bills progressively going heavier and heavier nickel.
I was the self-appointed president of the Lee Smith fan club, and even penned an article on how the blocking specialist tight end was the Bills’ version of 6OL, a not entirely rare grouping used in the NFL.
Last season, it became a running joke with my football crew that “#76 is eligible.” Well David Edwards got a starting spot, and now that 6OL spot has been claimed by Alec Anderson. #70 is now eligible, and the Bills are thriving.
Play 1 — Maybe not what you expect
Aside from the success that Anderson had blocking Jonathon Cooper (#0), there are a couple other things to point out. Anderson started off in motion. This was done a few times in this game and it’s significant because what I’m getting at is that the Bills allowed Anderson to come in and then move to an advantageous position. That leads to the other notable thing: Anderson was outside against Dawson Knox. Technically he was the sixth lineman so it’s 6OL, but Anderson was lined up like a second tight end here.
That leads me back to linebacker Jonathon Cooper who gives up about 50 pounds to Anderson, which might help explain some of the success we see here.
Play 2 — Maybe more of what you’d expect
This is a lot closer to what I generally think of when it comes to 6OL. When you need some extra mass up front in an obvious run situation. Buffalo was on their half-yard line on this thanks to a fantastic Denver punt and a false start on Spencer Brown. Anderson did go in motion prior to setting up. Anderson gets matched up with John Franklin-Myers and the Bills’ line won the numbers game and the execution game. This gave Buffalo critical space to burn more clock and play the game the way they wanted it to go down.
Play 3 — In motion
Remember, for purposes of this play, #70 is eligible. That means he followed the rules that tight ends, receivers, and running backs have to abide by. We’ve seen Dion Dawkins and other lineman pull to devastating effect but a puling lineman can only begin his motion at the snap. An eligible player can be in motion before and through the snap like we see here. Anderson isn’t at a full head of steam when he finds Jonathon Cooper again but he’s got a good start to it. This play isn’t as successful as the other two, but highlights the variety the Bills are willing to use 6OL.
The Final Straw
I mentioned David Edwards up above and that kind of f felt shoehorned, didn’t it? Or maybe it was a long con to make my final point.
I’ve mentioned a few times that I attend games these days by invitation of my sister and/or friend, and one of the things lost during the broadcast is how deliberately the officials call out when a lineman is declaring they’re eligible. Last season we did indeed start making jokes about how often we’d hear “#76 is eligible.”
This season the pauses punctuated by “#70 is eligible” have seemingly taken the gag to new levels. The data backs that up.
David Edwards saw the field about 13% of the time in 2023. This year, Alex Anderson is closer to 27% of offensive snaps. In both seasons, the number varies based on the game plan for each opponent, but make no mistake. The Buffalo Bills are thriving with a 6OL mindset.