Marshawn is Buffalo's Lynch-pin
by MATT KRUEGER Reporter

Buffalo running back Marshawn Lynch is second among rookie running backs with 373 rushing yards and has averaged 74.6 yards per game this year. Photo by Patrick McPartland

Ask any Buffalo Bills fan about the running game and the attitude you'll get is how quickly the community has taken to rookie Marshawn Lynch.

It's not exactly like he's replacing the most popular rusher in Bills history. Willis McGahee forever vilified himself in the eyes of Bills fans when he voiced his displeasure about playing for the team and living in the area. He further enraged the fan base when he suggested the team should be moved to Toronto if the NFLdecides to expand into Canada.

So along comes Lynch, a first-round draft pick from California, who immediately embraced the community. He not only took up residence in Western New York himself, but he moved his family to Buffalo this past summer.

But it's his playing style that people have noticed and loved. Lynch has the ability to break open a game with his speed and quick cuts, but he can pound the ball as well. The best thing about Lynch is how he continues to push forward after the initial hit to pick up another two or three yards. That's what every team wants in a running back.

"Sometimes, those few yards you get are just you," wide receiver and offensive captain Lee Evans said of Lynch's extra push on runs. "The rest of the offense can help you get so far, but sometimes you need to do it yourself."

And that determination to gain whatever little ground he can, has already made Lynch a popular guy in the locker room.

"He runs hard," Evans said. "Anytime he touches the ball, he's thinking about getting in the end zone. You feed off his energy when he's running the ball."

Lynch has 373 rushing yards through five games this season, which places him 12th in the league and second among rookies. Minnesota's Adrian Peterson, who was taken five spots ahead of Lynch in the draft, has 383 yards.

While many people like to compare and contrast the players, Lynch said his focus is just on helping his team.

"I know that's what they do out there, they compare you to everyone else," Lynch said. "Being second is not that bad, but you always want to be on top. The expectations and goals I have for myself are just to be accountable to my teammates, to be there and make sure I'm in the right position, to take care of the things that I'm supposed to take care of and get some wins."

Lynch has three touchdowns on the season, which puts him in a 10-way tie for fourth in the league. He's averaging 74.6 yards per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Those may not be the numbers a superstar back posts, but Lynch is a man on the rise, a player the franchise can build around for years to come.

"He's been running the ball well," Evans said. "He still has to come along as far as his development, but he's grown. In each game, he's gotten a little bit better. Week to week, he's going to have to play his best football to help give us a chance. So far, he's doing that."

Lynch has been a bonus in the passing game, catching seven passes out of the backfield for 68 yards.

"It's not just about taking a handoff and running the ball," Evans said. "He's an intricate part in pass protection, he's coming out of the backfield and catching the ball. He's just learning and getting more comfortable with the offense. That's basically what it is. It's just getting it down and stop thinking so much. He's getting better, and that's good to see."

Lynch, the 2006 Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, rushed for 66 yards in the Bills' 25-24 loss to Dallas Monday night.

For Lynch, like all young players, one of the biggest areas of his improvement comes in the film room. After every game, he reviews his runs, blocks and catches to see what he's doing right and what he's doing wrong.

"I'm running pretty well, but I'm my worst critic," he said. "I always go back to the film and look over what I've done and look at some things I could have done better. Just maybe making a cut too early, or not making a cut early enough. Things that I wasn't seeing early on, I was able to pick up for blocking."

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com