Regarding Lynch

[PECKERWOOD]

With the way Freddy Jackson is playing, a good coach would send a message to the locker room right now. Keep Freddy Jackson as the feature back, period, until he starts to falter, only then can Lynch have an opportunity carrying the brunt of the work load. I think this would be a great idea for three reasons: 1.) Freddy is playing great. 2.) This would definitely make beastmode hungry, he would come back with a vengeance after being forced to sit on the bench for awhile. 3.) This sends a message to current Bills and future pick ups that if you demonstrate bad character and your replacement starts playing phenomonally, then your job isn't safe.

Thoughts?

[justasportsfan]

Re: Regarding Lynch

why create problems in the locker room when you don't have to? why can't you treat them both as no.1s?

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Regarding Lynch

why create problems in the locker room when you don't have to? why can't you treat them both as no.1s?

I think Jackson has earned his shot, there should be no special treatment here. If another player did this who wasn't as recognized as Lynch is, then we'd all be screaming for him to get benched or cut. Personally, Freddy is playing great and Lynch should only come in when Freddy needs some air.

[Stewie]

Re: Regarding Lynch

why is this even a question? from monday:

"On his way out of the dressing room, Van Pelt was asked if the word "backup" was likely to appear in front of Fred Jackson's name again. He answered without hesitation, "No, I don't think so."

http://www.buffalonews.com/494/story/803041.html

[Demon]

Re: Regarding Lynch

I forget the actual list, but i think there's only like 2 or maybe even 3 guys in the NFL who have carried the ball over 20 times in both week 1 and week 2 games. I know Jackson is not one of them as he was a few short of hitting 20 vs. the Patriots. The point is, with him getting short passes and running the ball as much as he has, he will run out of gas sooner then later. The smart thing for the Bills is to find a way to use both Jackson and Lynch into the offense and not over use either of their premier backs. Teams that will over use their guys will struggle down the road. It's the type of league it has become. The Bills have a very big opportunity here with having 2 awesome running backs and if used right, it could lead to many victories.

[PECKERWOOD]

Re: Regarding Lynch

why is this even a question? from monday:

"On his way out of the dressing room, Van Pelt was asked if the word "backup" was likely to appear in front of Fred Jackson's name again. He answered without hesitation, "No, I don't think so."

http://www.buffalonews.com/494/story/803041.html

Man, I hope so. I love Beastmode as much as the next guy, but I paid for my mistakes and he should pay for his. Freddy should be the feature guy until he proves otherwise, imho.

[Scumbag College]

Re: Regarding Lynch

I think they can both co-exist as number ones...

With the Bills no huddle offense, they can both get in there and be "the feature back" in alternate possessions. I've noticed that there are very few substitutions during the Bills possessions. This ensures that they both stay fresh in comparison to the LBs and DBs that are trying to tackle them as the game wears on. As a paper thin team in alot of positions, the RB position is one of the few strengths the Bills have. I think this is going to be huge when it gets colder, as Trent has yet to prove himself playing in the winter elements. Just imagine in January Marshawn beating up the Colts Defense on a twelve play drive, then next possession the rotten Colts D has to face a fresh Fred Jackson.

I think the only message you send is that Fred starts the first offensive series as the RB in Week 4, and you go from there.

[Stewie]

Re: Regarding Lynch

fred has earned the right to start... there's plenty of opportunities to have them both on the field at the same time. Fred splits wide just fine, can line him up almost anywhere..

[SeatownBillsFan21]

Re: Regarding Lynch

Play them both at the same time no reason to start controversy in the locker room or between the 2 of them there are both great backs Lynch seems to be more of a power horse type while Freddy is a nice compliment out of the back field catching passes and dicing through the D this is a good problem to have there both competitive guys and hopefully this will bring out the best in both of them.

[jamze132]

Re: Regarding Lynch

In Miami WK 4, Fred should get the first series, after that, you go with the hot hand.

[BillsWin]

Re: Regarding Lynch

split the carries and play the hot hand. Lynch can wear out the defenses and Freddy can come in and completely wreck them. That is what a change of pace back does. That is what Freddy is, and he probably is the best COP back there is in this entire league.

People get caught up in production (which Freddy is producing great) but they forget that Lynch is a feature back on almost any nfl team out there and that if we can find a way to utilize both Freddy and Lynch, this offense is scary.

[Billz_fan]

Re: Regarding Lynch

I remember a time when we had 2 backs that could start on other teams. We played them both but rarely at the same time, Seemed to work out great the way they split playing time then.

I suggest a similar setup for Fred and Marshawn. It worked for Thurman and Kenny Davis.

[Night Train]

Re: Regarding Lynch

The key term being ".. a good coach "

[LifetimeBillsFan]

Re: Regarding Lynch

I think that Jauron and Van Pelt have to be mindful of the lockerroom in how they handle this.

Fred Jackson has earned the right to start, but you must also remember that Lynch is one of the leaders of the team and very popular with his teammates--who may not feel that he deserves to be punished further after his suspension or demoted because of it.

One way that they could potentially solve this problem is by doing something that they have talked a lot about doing: put both Lynch and Jackson in the backfield for the first couple of plays of the game--they way they will both be starters.

After that, they should let them split the touches pretty much evenly. It's not unusual for teams to do that in the NFL, especially this season. Before Marion Barber got hurt, he was only getting one or two more touches a game than Felix Jones for Dallas. Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams pretty much split the touches for the Bucs against the Bills last week (with E.Graham getting only a couple).

Neither Lynch nor Freddy should object to that. After all, Thomas Jones led the league in rushing last year, but there was an article in the NY Daily News this week stating that, in spite of Jones' productivity, the Jets are trying to get Leon Washington 20 touches a game this season and were able to do so last week against the Pats. If the league's leading rusher has to give up 20 touches a game, IMHO neither Lynch nor Freddy really would have any grounds to complain about splitting the touches with one another.

[Luisito23]

Re: Regarding Lynch

Combined yards rushing and receiving

Player Team Yards
Johnson Ten. 352
Jackson Buf. 328
Peterson Mn. 314
Gore SF 294
Benson Cin. 247

I know it's early, but I can't believe Jackson and this young line have more yards than Peterson and the Vikings.