Plan of attack: Feed the Beast
Lynch has gained 124 yards on 25 carries since returning from a one-game suspension: ‘He’s come back with real zest, real exuberance to run the ball.’
ALAMEDA >> Marshawn Lynch has finally showed flashes of Beast Mode since returning from his suspension.
Since getting tossed from Oakland’s last home game against the Chiefs, Lynch has 124 yards on 25 carries for an efficient 4.96 yards per rush with two touchdowns. In the seven games before Lynch shoved an official in the second quarter that Thursday night, he carried 72 times for 266 yards (3.69 yards per carry) with two rushing scores.
Lynch’s longest two runs of the season, of 25 and 22 yards, also came in the last two games, respectively.
Riding his recent streak of efficiency, the Raiders (4-6) hope to get more out of their starting running back when the Broncos (3-7) visit Oakland today. Lynch’s highest carry count of 18 came in Week 1, and last Sunday looked destined for that range before the Raiders were forced to pass trailing by so much. Raiders coaches certainly hope they’re not in that position again, in part so they can allow Beast Mode to pick up even more steam.
“I just like the way he came back from that whole suspension,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. “I think he’s come back with real zest, real exuberance to run the ball and to be on point with things. I like the way he’s approached it. I think he’s getting a better feel for what we want to do with him, and we’re getting a better feel for what we can do with him.”
Lynch’s first regular-sea- son game as a Raider, in ac- cordance with his season- high 18 carries, resulted in a season-high 76 rushing yards. His underwhelming totals in the following weeks: 12 carries for 45 yards, six for 18, nine for 12 and 12 for 43. Whether it be the offensive line’s inability to create gaps or Lynch struggling to find them quickly, backup Jalen Richard emerged as Oakland’s most efficient runner over Lynch.
After a reasonable 63 yards on 13 carries against the Chargers, Lynch’s season took a turn in the second quarter against Kansas City. He only had two rushes for nine yards before he charged off the sideline to intervene in a scuffle near midfield. It ended with Lynch pushing a referee, being ejected and later receiving a one-game suspension that prevented him from flying with the team to Buffalo.
Yet with a 22-yard scamper up the middle to start the second half against Miami, complete with a juke and a strong finish, Lynch found paydirt and possibly revitalized his season.
The Raiders want to see more of that, feeling like some of it was lost with Lynch receiving only 11 carries against the Patriots.
“We were trying to get him rocking and rolling,” Raiders’ offensive coordinator Todd Downing said. “I’m pleased with where he’s at. Hoping to be able to feed him a little bit more.”
Denver boasts the NFL’s fourth-best run defense in yards allowed per game, only surrendering 85.5. Last time these two teams played in Week 4, Oakland ran 15 times for a meager 24 yards, with Lynch tallying only a dozen yards on nine rushes.
The last time the Broncos visited Oakland, the Raiders ran 43 times for 218 yards. Linemen bragged that at one point, Oakland ran the same running play 10 straight times since Denver couldn’t stop it.
The Raiders would love to reach that status Sunday, given a win would keep their season afloat for at least one more week and a loss would realistically end it. How effective Lynch can be, however, may determine that.
“I’d like to push him and get him a little more,” Del Rio said. “Obviously, that’s a matter of us doing things that I spoke to earlier in the week with getting the possessions offensively, converting on third down which allows more possession, more snaps and opportunities. That’s a big part of it.”