Gillislee is now the team's official goal-line back, BuffaloBills.com reports. Said offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn: "Shady is one of the most explosive backs in the league. He can get a lot of his touchdowns from outside the red zone, but Mike is that decisive, no nonsense type runner that you're looking for inside the three, two-yard line. That's his role and everybody in the backfield knows that's his role and he's going to get those touches when we get down there. And Shady is good with that."
This is what's been happening lately anyway, while it may not have been as obvious between the coaching staff not publicly adresseing Gillislee's specific role and his own hamstring injury that's now in the past. Plus, a red-hot McCoy has been scoring on runs outside the five. Still, it's now even more clear that the hard-driving Gillislee will get exclusive action up close, and with six rushing scores on the season and an offense that's headed toward a franchise high in rushing scores, there's no reason Gillislee can't make a run at nine or 10.