Lynch Is Bill With Most To Prove In 2010

by Brian Galliford on Jul 16, 2010 12:50 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

In an article I wrote for SBNation.com which examines five NFL veterans with a ton to prove entering the 2010 season, I felt compelled to put fourth-year Bills running back Marshawn Lynch's name on the list. In writing the article, I did not consider quarterbacks, so please note that I'm not arguing that Lynch is one of the five players under the most pressure this year; that's obviously not true.

Lynch's story is well-known in these parts. Talented on the field and troubled off of it, Lynch followed up a Pro Bowl season in 2008 (albeit a berth as an injury replacement) with a three-game suspension and the loss of his starting job last year. Add in the presence of first-round pick C.J. Spiller and the fact that Lynch openly sought a trade for the bulk of the off-season, and Lynch enters 2010 a decided third in the pecking order at running back, with a lot of ground to make up.

Still, Lynch is just 24 years old, and remains one of the most talented players on Buffalo's roster. Bills head coach Chan Gailey has been emphatic in stating that the best players will see the field, so if Lynch returns to his 2008 form, he'll definitely get opportunities to earn back some of the respect he's lost since February 2009. On a roster full of unproven talent, however, it's Lynch - who's proven quite a bit at the NFL level - that I argue has the most to prove of any Bill this season.

If you feel so compelled, take a gander at the SBNation.com article to see who else was mentioned alongside Lynch. With that, I end my shameless self-promotion.

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Comments

Hard to argue this, but

Of the three, Jackson, Spiller and Lynch. I am holding the O-Line some what more responsible for Lynch’s success due to his style of running compared to the other two.

It’s hard to single out any offensive lineman when they all need to improve drastically as a unit. Staying healthy is priority number one, priority number two is upgrading depth, still a sixteen game season is a long haul for a bunch of players who can play but lack experience playing a four month season.

Lynch comes back this year and has the break out season it will just open things up tremendously for this offense with Jackson and Spiller being the icing on the cake. At some point it will need to start up front.

This does put alot of pressure on Lynch and he does have allot to prove. Beast Mode to lead the Wagon Blaster, look out world.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Jul 16, 2010 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

Just curious Brian,

You wrote that Evans is the second Bill with the most to prove. How do ya figure?

by Armest07 on Jul 16, 2010 1:13 PM EDT reply actions

That’s not what I said, actually. I said that Evans scored the second-most touchdowns (8) behind Lynch in 2007-08.

@BloRumblings, @BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Jul 16, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

ohh snapp

i sory . i dont reed books n werds 2 goood

by Armest07 on Jul 16, 2010 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Talent wise, Lynch is a solid no.2 RB in back of Spiller

jackson had a great year last year, but for the 2 years prior to his 09 campagn, he was unable to claim the starting RB role from from Lynch, for good reason. Lynch was motivated and eager to please, it was the media that turned on Lynch, the sheep-fans followed along and Lynch’s taste for Buffalo soured. If lynch comes back motivated and “beastly” Jackson will become expendable and tasty trade bait.

by BuffaloChip on Jul 16, 2010 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

I dont mean to offend anyone...but I totally agree with this

It was the media that turned on Lynch, the sheep-fans followed along and Lynch’s taste for Buffalo soured.

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 16, 2010 6:19 PM EDT up reply actions

me too

I’m still a big ML fan, and I wear his jersey proudly.

"Ability without character will lose. The Bills are going to be a team of high character. That stamp I will push very hard. I hope we can convey that to our fans and project something very special to the rest of the nation." - Marv Levy

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jul 16, 2010 7:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Really?

There were no Lynch doubters prior to this past year or so?

Couldn’t fans turn on Lynch on their own? Couldn’t they grow tired of his antics without the media shoving it down their throats?!?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 17, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Jackson

Jackson kinda old in RB yrs. to be “tasty trade bait”. And ML still with Bills means to me many teams found our compensation expectations to high for trouble of signing ML. Lynch will get chance to show how motivated he is. I hope he’s successful!

by buffalobacker on Jul 16, 2010 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions

True Story

This morning my girlfriend was leaving for work and she tapped me (sleeping) to say goodbye and love you and such. With my eyes closed I responded “love you”.

Then she said that my face lit up a little and I leaned up slightly (eyes still closed) and said: “I don’t think he’s gonna go”

To which she responded: “Don’t think who’s going where?”

My simple answer: “Marshawn”

She said she cracked up and made the comment: “you just eat, drink and sleep Bills don’t you”

I called her after I woke up to tell her to pick up some drain-o for the shower drain and that’s when she told me the story.

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Jul 16, 2010 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Nice Story!!!

My wife gets upset when I used to sleep tackle her when she is coming out of the bathroom!!! One time it was worst I clothes lined her thinking she was breaking off tackle. Needless to say I gave up Ambien!!!

The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad

-- Salvador Dali

by Goose22 on Jul 16, 2010 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

lol

by buffalobacker on Jul 16, 2010 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions

hahaha

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 16, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

thats funny

thanks for sharing…

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 16, 2010 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I beg to differ....

I think Chan Gailey has the most to prove, followed by Lynch.

by blknites on Jul 16, 2010 4:44 PM EDT reply actions

Players

I believe his list referred to players. I hope Chan doesn’t have to suit up, it could be a long season if he did!

by buffalobacker on Jul 16, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions

at least he knows the playbook

inside out

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 16, 2010 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Well , either way I think Gailey has the most to prove.

by blknites on Jul 16, 2010 5:30 PM EDT reply actions

Just my opinion, but........

I think that when this season is over and we look back on it:

Freddy will be okay. 90 attempts for 400 yds. 40 catches for 300 yds. 6 total TDs. I don’t care how long he has been in the league or how few total carries he has had, father time gets to us all. I have zero carries in the NFL and am pretty banged up.

Lynch will take over because he is more dominant and the most talented back. He was not himself last year. Some guy in a dancing bear costume showed up for him on Sunday. He has a lot to prove this year and will quietly do it.
Lynch will be the bell-cow with 1000+ yds rushing and 10+ TDs.

Spiller will show flashes on special teams and a few times on offense, but when he is in there, teams will key on him. Gimmicks don’t work. He will have an okay (for a rookie half-pint) season. Give him two more years and he could explode.
Spiller will get 80 attempts for 320 yds and 30 catches for 400 yds. 4 total TDs on offense. 4 more on special teams.

"A failure becomes just one time at bat if you refuse to let it defeat you." Marv Levy.

by SERGEANT MAJOR THOR on Jul 16, 2010 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

good post...

Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford

by NorCal BillsFan on Jul 16, 2010 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I have zero carries in the NFL and am pretty banged up.

funny… I’ll be 52 in a month, and still feel I have 3-4 1,000 yd seasons in me… Contract talks with NFL teams however have been difficult however…. Some won’t even answer my calls!!! I think I just need a new agent….

The draft dawns a new year for Buffalo Bills fans, so let optimism reign supreme!!! After all, we are now, UNDEFEATED!!!!

by Cinga on Jul 16, 2010 7:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Lynch probably does have the most to prove........

but will he step up with minimum opportunities?

Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!

by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 16, 2010 7:35 PM EDT reply actions

BTW...........kinda off topic......but needs to be said.

I hope Brian doesnt get too big with SBNation so that they take him away from us.

:-(

Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!

by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 16, 2010 7:48 PM EDT reply actions

I agree....

but, if he wants to do it, I KNOW, the rest of the staff is quality, and will pick up the slack…

The draft dawns a new year for Buffalo Bills fans, so let optimism reign supreme!!! After all, we are now, UNDEFEATED!!!!

by Cinga on Jul 16, 2010 7:51 PM EDT up reply actions

well of course I want Brian to be successful............

but Im also like an overly possesive lover……..I want him all to myself.

Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!

by norcaliangelsfan on Jul 16, 2010 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Creepy comment of the night

Make that Creepy Comment of the Year, goes to norcali!

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 17, 2010 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

Kinda creepy!

by buffalobacker on Jul 17, 2010 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I doubt SBN would do that. They make their bank on local connections of the bloggers. If we have to worry about anyone, it’s the team calling and saying “You’re better at doing this twice a day than anyone we have.” (TWSS)

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 18, 2010 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions

It’s probably how Brown got his gig

Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience

by keysh67 on Jul 18, 2010 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

THIS JUST IN BRIAN GALLIFORD HAS BEEN NAMED THE STARTING QB FOR THE BUFFALO BILLS

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU BRIAN

my big brother trent edwards
me and trent play catch all the time but for some reason he cant toss it farther than 10 yards so i got really good at slant routes and screens

by Gpluehri on Jul 16, 2010 10:39 PM EDT reply actions

No check downs there

I’d imagine. Just chuck’s it as for as he can, yelling"I don’t have it!" LIke I would,(or J.P. Losman did).
;)

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Jul 17, 2010 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions

Far as he can

"This is what happens Larry!, This is what happens! "-Walter Sobchak" "Did we give up when the germans bombed pearl harbor!!??"-John Belushi

by BigEasyBillsKrewe on Jul 17, 2010 2:42 AM EDT up reply actions

This town, media, or ownership has an interesting history of “souring” on a lot of bills….e.g., McGahee, Peters, Fletcher, Spikes?, Reuben Brown, Wade Phillups, Polian which have hurt us enormously. The team has also seemed to have missed on several players “true” talent and released them when others with supposedly more talent stayed on, e.g., Jim Leonard, Jarbari Greer, Mario Hangen, Luke Lawton, Ron Edwards, Justin Bannan, and didn’t pay to keep others… Angelo Crowell,Nate Clements, Antoine Windfield, Pat Williams. I think I could create a team of players we have let go and beat this one!

by seamta on Jul 17, 2010 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

Seriously with that list?

Leonard did nothing of note in Buffalo and he’s been average in New York.
Lawton was cut by six teams like 12 times.
Ron Edwards has been mediocre to bad in KC.
Angelo Crowell hasn’t played in a game since being released by the Bills
Nate Clements got the largest contract in defensive history and the Niners have regretted it ever since.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 18, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Luke Lawton

Seriously?

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jul 19, 2010 1:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Give him the damn ball!

ML will be the starting RB b4 the season starts because he has the most raw talent of the 3 RB’s. Reason I say this is not because the other two backs are not bad but becauseML givs us the best chance to win. People forget ML put on an extra 15lbs. last year to take the punishment he receives when running the ball, which in turn took his rushing power and rushing speed and quickness away. He has now lost that excessive weight and should have his quickess back. Also, when ML breaks thru the line line he can break 40-60 yard runs and give u TDs were as FJ hasn’t proven to being able to do that. FJ has talent but all around talent not as a pure RB, age has nothing to do with it because his legs r young from not taking alot of hits. He can do the majority of everything ML can but not all as a pure RB plus can he do it 4 a whole season, ML proved he could, thus the better overall RB. CJ Spiller still has a lot to prove. HE was a good college RB we can say all day he needs to get the ball that true because he is a talent but so was Reggie Bush in college and that’s who they keep comparing to him which is not a good comparison. Reggie Bush is a 1st roud bust! I have no doubt CJ will be great for us but with this O-Line and these mediocore QB’s he might not get a chance to show what he can do as a runner, look for him as a WR. I will say this he proaly is the most talented player on the roster, and also the true complement to ML (if they don’t trade ML) that would truly be a mistake. Because u send him to a team with a decent line ML is going to tear it up in the NFL, and then we will truly see why he was was the 2nd RB drafted in the first round of 07. Overall, ML is the best back on the Bills roster bar none, and if the coaching staff doesn’t see that, they are truly a characters of bad judgement. Remember 2 straight 1,000 yard seasons b4 the suspension. Big back with remeber 4.46 speed and power. FJ 4.67 speed some power. CJ 4.32 spped (wow!) With some power. All three have good vision and quickness. But ML is the only 1 with all those attributes.

by bill4life on Jul 17, 2010 1:19 PM EDT reply actions

tick - tock...

Eric, hope you are preparing for your post… Week 1 is fast approaching and as I have always contended, I really feel that Lynch will be on our roster. I look forward to reading your kind words…

I agree Brian, Lynch has a lot to prove and if Chan is successfull in being able to establish the run early in games, I think a guy like Lynch will have a lot of carries, he is definitely the closer on our team. He gets better as the game wears on, he is by far the most powerful RB we have and I remain convinced that Gailey was the best thing that ever happened to Lynch.

Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience

by keysh67 on Jul 17, 2010 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

Where has Eric been?

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 18, 2010 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Dunno but I’m sure he’s somewhere without his pants…

Rebuilding a team properly takes time and patience

by keysh67 on Jul 18, 2010 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe he is pant shopping :-)

In another brilliant marketing coup, Russ Brandon has made KoolAid the official drink of the Bills and will replace pop and beer at the concessions stands. Brandon explained the move saying,"Fans are not drinking enough of it on their own". Nix’s seemed unaffected by the negative fan reaction, "I don’t give two shakes of piss what they want to drink….It is the only way fans are going to leave happy cuz we ain’t going to be winning a whole lota games…..don’t tell season ticket holders I said that".

by Joe P. on Jul 18, 2010 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions