Bills’ offense runs poorly when they don’t throw to Lynch

By Anthony Bialy  |   Thursday, December 04, 2008  |  Comments( 81 )

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The Buffalo Bills’ Marshawn Lynch obviously didn’t get enough rushes against the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, but there was a broader problem: He didn’t get enough touches. While he notably only took 16 handoffs, he more importantly finished with a mere 17 combined handoffs and catches. The minimal reception quantity was partially his doing, but the fact remains that he needs to get the chance to both run and run after catching more frequently.

Tellingly, Lynch’s lone reception versus the Niners came as late as possible, namely on Buffalo’s last offensive play. The single catch went for a single yard after quarterback J.P. Losman desperately threw a safety-valve screen in the hope that the catcher would magically improvise a way to gain the needed 15 yards for a first down.

It was a supremely halfhearted move to involve Lynch in the offense after he was maddeningly ignored through the quarter: The catch doubled his total yardage for the fourth to 2, including his single 1-yard rush with about 12 minutes left. Those were the only times he was the direct participant among the 15 offensive plays ran during the quarter, which is almost as embarrassing as Lee Evans getting shut out on Monday Night Football against the Cleveland Browns a few miserable weeks ago. The Bills can’t get much lower, but the hole in which they’re residing is getting wider.

To be fair, this team did try to airmail the ball to Lynch a few times earlier. He was thrown to on four other occasions, where he was responsible for them falling incomplete half the time: Trent Edwards threw two passes his way that hit the turf before reaching the target in his half of action, while the receiving back dropped a pass from the starter in the second quarter and wasn’t able to reel in a Losman attempt earlier during the Bills’ last drive.

But the Cal product should have been given more throws to field regardless of those earlier incompletions, as both quarterbacks could have used his help thanks to their respective limitations. More short throws could have helped Edwards cope with the tenderness afflicting his tender area, while Losman should have been given the chance to rely more on dinky passes to get comfortable after a practice week where he of course received a backup’s percentage of snaps.

As for the backup to Lynch, Fred Jackson added only two receptions for 13 yards, meaning runners weren’t used nearly enough in the passing assault during the one game where a few more throws of piddling length would have been acceptable. The only thing more cruelly frustrating than watching this team fail to get over the goal line was being aware that a few tosses in the direction of two running backs blessed with fine hands might have provided enough push to get more than that third point.

Lynch, who was run into the ground during his rookie season, has faced the other extreme this year: He has been kept curiously holstered at various points, and at strange times, too. He’s not getting chances during obvious situations where he could provide help, especially considering he can provide more than one kind of help. The outrage over his reduced role in Sunday’s final quarter is entirely justified, but fans should also be irritated that he had multiple roles reduced.
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CommentsComments: 81  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
11:00 AM
12/04/2008
I agree, Marshawn does need more touches and throws. But let's go back to Edwards. I watched the NFL channel's replay of the...
No.2
Kegman		11:03 AM
12/04/2008
Coaches....questionable play calling...poor communication...befuddlement...confusion. Will the coaches and players ever be on the...
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No.3
ddd		11:05 AM
12/04/2008
I must commend Turk for getting Marshawn more involved in the passing game than old friend Fairchild. He very quietly is 2nd on...
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