BILLS CAMP: Lynch a hit as team gets pads on

By Jonah Bronstein<br><a href="mailto:bronsteinj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Jonah</a>

PITTSFORD — Thump. Crack. Boom.

“Yeaaahhh!”

Football season made its genuine debut Monday at Buffalo Bills training camp.

One player in particular took advantage of the team’s first full-contact practice since the end of the 2007 season.

“Marshawwwnnn,” was how fans finished the above chorus after Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo’s star sophomore running back, made the first big hit of 2008, taking down newly acquired linebacker Kawika Mitchell during an early pass-blocking drill.

Lynch wasn’t done. Excused from special teams drills a few minutes later, he took a few reps on the blocking sleds with the linebacker corps, and during 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 work, Lynch ran aggressively, seeking more contact than his defensive teammates seemed willing to give.

Strong safety Donte Whitner, perhaps the Bills’ biggest hitter, came in on a blitz once and tried to stop Lynch by grabbing his jersey with both hands. Lynch shrugged him off and raced upfield.

The only less-than-impressive move Lynch made Monday was evading reporters after practice, a tactic he’s taken to since being involved in an early-morning hit-and-run in downtown Buffalo during the spring.

Fred Jackson, the Bills’ other promising young runner, said players are eager for the first opportunity to practice in pads — even though it hurts later.

“That’s the process we need to take to get ready,” he said. “It’s good to get back to it. We’ll be taking those hits during the season.”

Jackson said there’s no way for a player to prepare for the physicality of live football during the off-season.

“You can train all you want, you can lift all you want, but there’s nothing like coming out and doing it full speed,” he said. “You expect to be pretty sore for the first couple of days.”

Mitchell seemed to enjoy Lynch’s block almost as much as the fans a few feet away, getting up and smiling.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said later. “You get to fly around a little bit and you get to hit.”

Added Jackson, “Marshawn had a great block on Kawika. And Kawika’s a great pass rusher. We try to get our shots in whenever we can, like they try to get theirs in. It’s all in fun. We go back and we eat lunch and we’ll sit down and talk about it.”

Jauron’s reaction to the first full-contact practice was mixed.

“It was nice to get to it; it was nice to get through it,” he said. “It’s always a little tough from my perspective because both sides can’t do great on the same play.”

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New offensive coordinator Turk Schonert has indicated he plans to use his running backs as more than blockers in the passing game. That was evident Monday.

Quarterback Trent Edwards hit Lynch for a 40-yard gain down the sideline, in addition to a few screens.

On one occasion, Lynch and Jackson — who are sharing first-team reps during training camp — lined up in the backfield together, before Jackson motioned out to the end of the line.

Jackson, who later made a leaping grab over Mitchell and free safety Ko Simpson, said he had extensive receiving roles in college and while playing in the United Indoor Football League in 2005, and is comfortable doing the same for the Bills.

“It’s something that Eric Studesville, our running backs coach, and Turk have talked about doing,” he said. “It’s something I’m expecting to do, and something I’m ready to do.”

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We might see plenty of backfield combinations this season. Head coach Dick Jauron indicated that even with a true blocking fullback, Darian Barnes, playing a prominent part in the offense, tight end-full back hybrids like Derek Schouman and Derek Fine will also be utilized.

“Our tight ends, all of them will learn the fullback position,” Jauron said. “Two of them, we anticipate, will play a big role there at some point in time.”

Last year, the Bills exclusively used H-backs and did not carry a traditional fullback on the active roster.

Jauron refuted a suggestion that Schouman and Fine will only play in the backfield if Barnes gets injured.

Schouman has so far held off incumbent Robert Royal in the competition to start at tight end, even though Royal is fully recovered from off-season knee surgery, according to Jauron.

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NFL Sirius Radio personalities Pat Kirwan and Tim Ryan attended practice Monday, and then broadcast their show, “Movin’ the Chains,” from the autograph area.

Jauron and several players were interviewed on-air, following an introductory segment during which the hosts showered the Bills in praise.

“My first thought: This is a physical football team,” said Ryan, a former Chicago Bear who also broadcasts games for FOX.

Ryan also offered an opinion on Whitner: “He’s not great yet, but he’s headed there.”

Kirwan seemed most impressed with what saw from Marcus Stroud, the former Pro Bowl defensive tackle acquired from Jacksonville in a trade.

He also said positive things about Lynch’s running, Fine’s blocking, the Bills’ starting linebackers, and Edwards’ bulked up physique.

“He’s got hurdles,” Kirwan said of Edwards, “but physically, he couldn’t get any better looking.”

The former Jets personnel chief also gave a strong recommendation to Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters that he report to training camp because owner Ralph Wilson will not pressure his personnel guys to give Peters a new contract to end his holdout.

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Plenty of practice time was given to special teams work. Coach Bobby April put players through 2-on-2 kick coverage and onside kick drills, timed to run every 30 seconds.

The Bills also did a field goal blocking drill using soccer balls.

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The Bills ran their final nine plays of 11-on-11 in the St. John Fisher College gymnasium because there was lightning in the area. ... J.P. Losman hit Roscoe Parrish on a deep pass along the sideline. Parrish beat Leodis McKelvin on the play. ... Keith Ellison and Reggie Corner made interceptions during 7-on-7 drills. ... John Wendling forced a fumble by Xavier Omon during 9-on-7 work. ... John McCargo made a tackle in the backfield in 11-on-11 action. ... According to BuffaloBills.com, Losman nicked a finger on his throwing hand, and had it wrapped in tape after practice. ... There are no tickets available for today’s night practice.

Contact reporter Jonah Bronstein at 282-2311, ext. 2258.