http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/156947.html
The Buffalo Bills are about to turn loose rookie running back Marshawn Lynch. For a lot of fans, it’s about time.
The team’s first-round draft pick saw very limited action in the preseason. But the Denver Broncos will get a heavy dose of Lynch in Sunday’s regularseason opener.
“I’m excited,” Lynch said. “This is my first one. I’ve got my family coming out here [from Oakland, Calif.] to support me. But I’m just coming out to do what I do every time I strap up on the field, and that’s give 100 percent at what I’m doing whether it’s running, catching or blocking.”
Lynch didn’t play a lot in the preseason for a reason. Given the risk of injury that running backs face, the Bills weren’t going to take any unnecessary risks. Besides, they already know what he is capable of doing.
Lynch’s versatility as a breakaway runner and receiver is expected to give the Bills’ offense a dimension they never had — or never used — with Willis McGahee.
“It’s a great feeling being able to do some of the things that the offense will allow me to do as far as getting out one on one with some linebackers,” Lynch said. “That’s a running back’s dream. I’m really looking forward to it.”
So is quarterback J.P. Losman, who figures to benefit the most from Lynch’s all-purpose skills.
“We’re going to move him around and try to find a one-on-one matchup with him, and if they give it to us we’re going to take it because he’s that good. That’s what he does best,” Losman said. “In the running game, the way he hits the hole, the way he hits it up in there, we’re going to try to utilize that as much as we can.”
With or without Lynch, the Bills didn’t run the ball well in the preseason. He carried 22 times for just 37 yards, an average of 1.7 per attempt. His longest run was nine yards. But the Bills are confident things will be different when it counts.
“We didn’t game plan as much, but we still did some stuff,” offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild said. “It’s no excuse; we’ve got to play better. We’ll get going. As guys get into the game and get into a flow and stay in there, they obviously get better. I’m excited to see Marshawn touch the ball more than a few times.”
