Bills need to give Lynch more air time

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, May 29, 2008  |  Comments( 39 )

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During his rookie NFL season, Buffalo Bills running back lived up to his first-round status from last year's draft by piling up 1,115 rushing yards and seven touchdowns in 13 games. Because of the on-the-ground output Lynch turned in as a first-year player, Bills fans are understandably expecting him to progress even further as a runner this season. But that's not the only area Lynch can improve on.

Coming out of the University of California, Lynch was often compared to multi-talented backs from the past like Buffalo's own Thurman Thomas and former Colt and Ram Marshall Faulk, not to mention current San Diego Charger LaDainian Tomlinson. That's because not only could Lynch run the ball effectively, but he also proved himself as an adept out-of-the-backfield pass catcher with the Bears. Lynch was such a receiving weapon, in fact, that Cal coach Jeff Tedford often lined him up as a wideout in certain instances, which is similar to what Tomlinson has done occasionally during his illustrious pro career.

Despite the obvious receiving credentials Lynch possessed when he joined the Bills (he tallied 34 catches and four TDs as a junior), then-offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild didn't fully utilize the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder's unique talents in 2007. Instead, Lynch hauled in just 18 catches for 184 yards and no touchdowns as a rookie. On only two occasions did Lynch accrue three grabs in a game, and he didn't exceed 24 yards in either of those contests. In terms of yardage, Lynch's best receiving effort was a 42-yard day against the New York Giants in Week 16; of course, that afternoon was highlighted by a 30-yard catch and carry Lynch made in the first quarter of the Bills' 38-21 loss.

Given Fairchild's utter deficiency as a play caller, it's not really a surprise he didn't use Lynch properly last season. And now that Fairchild, currently the coach of Colorado State, is out of the picture, the onus is on new O-coordinator Turk Schonert to get the gifted Lynch more involved in the team's attack this year. Doing so will help take pressure off every skill-position player in the offense, from Lee Evans to James Hardy to Josh Reed and Roscoe Parrish, and give second-year quarterback Trent Edwards an extra receiving option. Screens and swing passes to the 22-year-old Lynch would of course give Edwards a much-needed safety valve in short-yardage situations, especially when opposing rushers are bearing down on the passer. Moreover, lining up Lynch as a receiver on specific downs would create mismatches and allow the back to expand his own horizons while giving Buffalo's 'O' one more weapon capable of striking fear in enemy defenses.

The last time the Bills had a starting rusher accumulate at least 40 catches in a season was 2002, when Pro Bowl-bound Travis Henry pulled in 43. That year, the team's offense ranked a respectable 11th in the NFL; during the past two seasons, the Bills have possessed the league's 30th-rated overall attack because of, among other reasons, a dearth of effective players.

Lynch is clearly effective, and giving him more air time in 2008 would obviously equal more success for the offensively challenged Bills.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

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CommentsComments: 39  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
08:35 AM
05/29/2008
i think the Bills are going to use him offen in the passing attack this year. Put him down for close to 50 catches maybe more. Go...
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No.2
8and8Forever		08:40 AM
05/29/2008
I believe Lynch can have 50 catches if Turk uses him correctly. And the bills can win 12 games. and go to the playoffs. and...
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No.3
08:52 AM
05/29/2008
Although Schonert was a part of Fairchild's mess last year, no one at 1BD seems to hold that against him. Having played at the...
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