One thing we know about the Buffalo Bills is that they love to run the football, and with James Cook again having a superb season, Joe Brady and his staff won't be stopping any time soon.
But to run the ball well, you need blockers.
Not just from the offensive line, but also from your receivers, and some, we know, don't exactly like that part of the game.
But not those in Buffalo. They relish it, and one receiver who takes pride in it is Khalil Shakir.
“I don't know if it's something, another part of the game that you develop, it's what you do as a receiver that's a part of being a receiver blocking,” Shakir said. “So, a lot of people may think playing wide is just catching the football. But that's not how we do things here, we're going to get our nose dirty in the run game. So, that's huge part of it.”
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Shakir one of Allen's trusted weapons
To even get on the field in Buffalo's offense, you have to be a willing blocker, because when you have a back like Cook, he's going to get carries.
Conversely, when the time comes for the defending MVP to air it out, you have to be on point with your details to make plays that keep the defense honest, and for Shakir, he's made a habit of being exactly where he needs to be on any given play.
As such, the chemistry between him and Allen is sky high, already with 399 yards and three touchdowns from 38 receptions, Shakir, if he keeps on this current trajectory, could have one of his best seasons as a pro.
So, while the stats are good, it is the "dirty" work that Shakir prides himself on, and the Bills, as a whole, impose their will on defenses with their receivers leading the way.
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