Lynch takes on lead role for Cal

Huskies expect to see plenty of Bears' tailback

By MOLLY YANITY

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Marshawn Lynch is getting used to the idea of being The Man in Berkeley. "To be the every-down back now is his big challenge," Cal coach Jeff Tedford said.  Lynch, a 5-foot-11 sophomore tailback, was the complement and the supplement to Cal's running game last season, when he teamed with J.J. Arrington to produce the Pac-10's best rushing offense.  But with starting quarterback Nate Longshore breaking his ankle last week, and junior college transfer Joe Ayoob making his first career start Saturday against Washington at Husky Stadium, Lynch's challenge got a little bigger.  "With the injury to the quarterback, he becomes even more important," Huskies linebacker Scott White said. "I'm anticipating them to come out -- especially with the success they had last year with the two 100-yard backs on us -- to focus on getting him the ball early." Lynch had the best day of his career against the Huskies, rushing for 121 yards and two touchdowns -- from 32 and 70 yards. He also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in Cal's 42-12 victory.

"(Lynch has) great vision, tremendous speed," Huskies defensive coordinator Kent Baer said. "You've got to make him run east and west, not north and south. He's a game-breaker kind of back, the kind of back you'd love to have on your team. He's a tremendous ballplayer."  Against a hapless Sacramento State team on Saturday, Lynch rushed for a career-high 147 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. He led the conference with 8.8 yards per carry in 2004.  Limiting Lynch will be the Huskies' challenge Saturday.

"He's one of the best backs we're going to play this year. He's a hard runner, the kind of person, when he gets hit, he don't want to go to the ground," defensive tackle Mike Mapuolesega said. "So, for us to bring him down, it's going to take a team tackle. For us to bring him down, we have to bring the whole defense to the ball." A seasoned, strong offensive line contributes to Lynch's success. Four of the five current starters made at least All-Pac-10 honorable mention last season. Tackle Ryan O'Callaghan was first team all-conference.  The Bears' offense also presents a significantly different look than the triple-option the Huskies saw last week in a 20-17 loss to Air Force.

"It's hard because it's like, pick your poison. It's a different attack, but it's an easier attack because it's more conventional," White said. "Air Force, they're going to do a good job using cut blocks and the option and a ball-control type of offense. Cal, they have better personnel." The tailback's success also has to do with Tedford's scheme. "One thing they're not is not predictable. I don't see (Tedford) changing. I really don't," Baer said. "They run their offense. They threw a couple nice long balls, but the big thing he does (is) such a good job with the running game ... A lot of times, it's the same run with different personnel, blocked different for the personnel. You really have to condense it down and look at it that way."

The defense UW fans will see against Lynch and the Bears should more resemble what Baer has in mind, as opposed to what they saw against Air Force. "Air Force is so different that (now the Huskies have) got to shut down everything you've done for the last week or two weeks, and go back to what you've been practicing, getting back to basics, getting back to the playbook again," he said.  "They should (see a more typical Washington defense). We're not saving anything. We can't afford to."