Raiders Could be Building Dominant Backfield
The Las Vegas Raiders were not an efficient running team last season, even with Josh Jacobs running the ball.
The Raiders were 30th in the league in total rushing yards, 29th in rushing yards per attempt, and 26th in points added per game.
Jacobs is no longer a Raider, signing a contract with the Green Bay Packers in the first week of free agency. The Raiders got a glimpse of what life would be like without Jacobs at the end of last season when he missed the last four games of the year due to a quad injury.
In that stretch, second-year back Zamir White picked up the slack with 84 carries for 397 yards and two touchdowns. He gave the Raiders’ coaching staff much to look forward to as a potential lead back.
White officially has the title of lead back going into his third season and the Raiders hope he can build off his firm conclusion to the 2023 season.
There is reason to believe he can, too. White is a durable back, having taken 20 or more carries in three of the season's last four games. If the Raiders need him to be a workhorse, he has proven he can be one.
Coach Antonio Pierce wants his Raiders to be tough. What better way to out-tough an opponent than to establish the run and pound the ball, tiring the defense on the other side?
For several reasons, the Las Vegas Raiders could see their run game improve in 2024.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Or, if the Raiders want to split up carries among their backs, they have multiple players capable of filling in the blanks.
The Raiders signed Alexander Mattison this week, a player who can also catch the ball out of the backfield, and they also brought back veteran Ameer Abdullah for depth.
Mattison offers a complementary skill-set to White.
White can be a downhill bruiser in the running game, and Mattison provides a more quick and shifty style of play. A proverbial thunder and lightning, if you will.
The scheme is another element of the Raiders’ running game that should be vastly improved.
Luke Getsy, who comes over from the Chicago Bears, has become the offensive coordinator and his Bears teams finished second in the NFL in rushing attempts in 2022 and led the league in yards. In 2023, the Bears finished second in the NFL in rushing attempts and second in yards.
Getsy knows how to scheme up an efficient running game and get the most out of his running backs. He’ll look to do that again with White and Mattison.
Another reason the Raiders’ running game should be much more effective in 2024 is the quarterback situation. Whether Aidan O’Connell, Gardner Minshew or a rookie quarterback is the starter, the team will be able to lean on the running game and he quaterbacks won’t have to carry the bulk of the offense.
The Raiders offense struggled last season because they couldn’t run the ball efficiently. With all the factors above, including a new scheme, a new lead back and a capable free agent, Las Vegas could get back to running the rock and putting up more points.
The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.
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