Buffalo must involve rookie Lynch through the air

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, October 02, 2007  |  Comments( 31 )

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When the Buffalo Bills selected Marshawn Lynch in the first round of April's draft, team brass -- general manager Marv Levy, et al. -- hailed the running back as a big-time dual threat. Not only was the 5-foot-11, 215-pounder a great runner at the University of California, he was also a tremendous pass catcher who demonstrated the uncommon ability to occasionally line up as a wide receiver.

In fact, Lynch's multidimensionality is a major reason why Levy and the Bills' vast player personnel department elected to draft him. After all, when Levy, a Hall of Famer, was the Bills' head coach from 1986-1997, his No. 1 back, Thurman Thomas, was known as the best receiving runner in the league. In other words, between the heydays of Roger Craig and Marshall Faulk, there was Thomas, who complemented the likes of Andre Reed by finishing with at least 48 catches in six straight individual seasons.

Lynch, because of his versatility, naturally drew comparisons to Thomas (another Hall of Famer) once the Bills selected him. So far this season, the 21-year-old has definitely lived up to advance billing as a powerful, fast rusher (307 ground yards, three touchdowns in four games), but his presence elsewhere hasn't been felt nearly enough, which is not necessarily his fault.

For one reason or another, Bills quarterbacks J.P. Losman and Trent Edwards have found Lynch a meager five times for 36 yards. When Lynch has caught passes, he's shown a lot of promise (his 21-yard catch and run in Week 2 was superb), but the Bills' offense, led by coordinator Steve Fairchild, hasn't sufficiently involved him as an aerial target.

It's not as if the Bills are packed with excellent receiving threats, either. Aside from star No. 1 wideout Lee Evans and important slot man Josh Reed, Buffalo doesn't have anyone whom it can count on regularly. (Yes, Roscoe Parrish is fabulous in the open field, but he doesn't haul in enough passes to be thought of as a consistent, every-down weapon.)

Considering the Bills are just 1-3 right now, and their offense is ranked 29th in the NFL, having their quarterback -- whomever it is on a weekly basis -- dump passes off to Lynch will only help the team. Edwards, a third-round rookie making his first pro start, was quite impressive in the Bills' inaugural win of 2007 last Sunday (22 of 28 in a 17-14 over the New York Jets), but he'll need more aid in future starts, particularly when the opposition's pass rush penetrates Buffalo's offensive line.

In next Monday's game against Dallas, the Cowboys' attacking, blitz-happy defenders will likely be in Edwards' face throughout the night. Short-yardage options will be a must for success, and the much-maligned Fairchild should be cognizant of the fact that Lynch, on many occasions, can serve as one.

Lynch certainly knows what he's capable of as an extra receiver.

"With splitting me out at receiver, lining me up in the slot and letting me throw the ball a little bit, I would say L.T. [San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson]. But I like Marshall Faulk too," he said in April, comparing his skill set to two of the league's all-time great RBs, both of whom established themselves as multidimensional players.

With Lynch's confidence in mind, it's time for Buffalo to begin using its highly skilled back more like the dual threat he is.

E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

RealFootball365.com: Your best Internet source for Buffalo Bills coverage.
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CommentsComments: 31  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Ron		09:13 AM
10/02/2007
Maybe the Bills haven't lined Lynch up as a WR because they've been blitzed 42 of 85 (49%) of passing plays the past 3 weeks.
No.2
Joseph		10:48 AM
10/02/2007
Great Article Conner. I've been hoping the same for Lynch. One thing I was happy about in the game against the Jets was one...
No.3
rich		10:52 AM
10/02/2007
Yea if they dump it off to big powerful Gaines, why not dump it off the lynch and have big Gaines lead the way blocking for a...
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