No work for Bills’ Lynch now means big gains later

By Anthony Bialy  |   Thursday, August 21, 2008  |  Comments( 102 )

Buffalo Bills
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
The Buffalo Bills can use Marshawn Lynch’s collision with Trent Edwards as an excuse: He should take off Sunday night’s game against Indianapolis under the guise of a sore knee. He has already gotten the right amount of work this preseason, which is to say not much at all. Lynch's five carries against Pittsburgh last week more than doubled his preseason total to eight; with 34 total rushing yards, fans should be completely happy that the second-year man is fourth on the team in preseason carries and has played for a mere handful of breaths during each game.

Coaches undoubtedly astutely recognize that Lynch is both a known quantity and a running back, the latter of which they probably realized without even consulting the roster; those factors pair to mean that the Bills’ most invaluable offensive threat doesn’t need more seasoning.

Not only would withholding him from the contest reduce his exposure to injury, but it’s also important to avoid letting him reach his virtual ceiling of carries before burning out. The best reason to keep the Lynch vacuum sealed this Sunday is so he can rattle off longer runs in the fall and winter.

The easiest way to ensure the Oakland native is able to dash and bash his way for huge gains throughout the season is by shelving him now. While he only had 22 carries for the 2007 preseason, Lynch also averaged a mere 1.7 yards per try as he adjusted to the pros; now an established commodity, he could get even fewer than he did last summer and still be prepared for the opener.

With a reliable backup in Fred Jackson ready to take on a small yet crucial percentage of the workload starting Week 1, Lynch will be able to accrue fewer than the NFL-leading 21.5 carries per game he did last season . That should of course lead to less wear, and the strategy to minimize his deterioration ought to start right now.

It could also help him go farther. Buffalo’s featured back was fair by comparison when it came to long carries last year, finishing tied for 14th with Viking Chester Taylor for number of 10-plus yard runs with 25.

As for the best of those, Lynch compiled two 56-yard runs in 2007, one for a score that put away Cincinnati in the fourth quarter of their matchup and another during the finale in Philadelphia; in doing so the second time, he tied himself for the 19th-longest rush in the NFL last season, again a decent if not fabulous showing.

Yet his longest mark of the day was 18 yards or fewer in seven of his 13 games; that was partly centered on the fact that he was often called on to move the pile last season instead of jetting through openings. But in-game fatigue was an issue, too, and letting him watch in Indy instead of participating will help him start the season with a full tank.

While the third preseason game is traditionally the one where starters get the heaviest work load, Lynch doesn’t need refinement. Making him play is not only going to expose him to short-term bruising but also wear him down in a more lasting sense.

He already knows how to do his job, not to mention that limiting him to zero carries will allow Jackson to get motoring while also giving bronze candidates Dwayne Wright and Xavier Omon more chances. Having guys two through four take nearly all of the handoffs versus the Colts will ensure the starter can surpass opponents in the season’s late weeks.

Fantasy Playbook: An entirely new kind of fantasy game!
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (102)

About Anthony Bialy

I'm just here to submit ...
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 102  |  Sign Up  View all comments
Avatar
No.1
LGB		06:53 AM
08/22/2008
The Bills have been busy installing a new offense Anthony, which Lynch is a big part of. The more the team can practice the ...
No.2
Diablo4372		06:58 AM
08/22/2008
Lynch allbeit a great RB for his second year is no veteran He needs to be in there with everyone else. 8-10 touches at least ...
No.3
07:29 AM
08/22/2008
Football is a contact sport. As the collision between Lynch and Edwards showed some injury is an unavoidable part of the game. It ...
Team News  |  View All Bills Content
So far, so good with the Buf ...
With three preseason games in the books, so far so good with the Bills ...
2 days, 14 hours ago   |   So far, so good with the Buffalo Bills ( 117 )
What is a Pre-season victory ...
What is a Pre-season victory worth? In the realm of things a victory ...
1 week, 3 days ago   |   What is a Pre-season victory worth? ( 473 )
The Agony of Defeat ...
I've always heard and believed that Pre-season doesn't mean anything. ...
2 weeks, 3 days ago   |   The Agony of Defeat ( 447 )
The 1st pre-season game is a ...
On Friday the 13th the Bills will travel to Washington to play the Ski ...
3 weeks, 2 days ago   |   The 1st pre-season game is almost here… ( 306 )
The Dawning of the New Era ...
The Dawning of a New Era… The 2010 training camp opens today and it s ...
1 month ago   |   The Dawning of the New Era ( 540 )