Klint Kubiak looking for answers on offense

The Raiders rank no. 8 in the NFL in scoring offense through the first four games of the season, but there is still a missing element to head coach Klint Kubiak’s offense.

Looking at box scores, it’s the running game that hasn’t been producing and considering the Raiders are ranked dead last in the league in yards per carry (3.1 YPC), there’s a conversation that needs to be had about the running game.

Klint Kubiak said after Sunday’s game that fixing the running game is going to be a priority, but something that would go a long way toward helping the running game would be a vertical passing game that doesn’t allow opposing defenses to stack defenders at the line of scrimmage.

The Raiders have faced the second-most stacked boxes in the league this year, and if they are going to find success on the ground, they need opposing defenses to show more respect to their wide receivers.

Former Raiders’ linebacker says offense needs a fast and physical WR

Kirk Morrison is well connected within the Raiders organization, and he believes second-year wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr. has the skill set to fill the void at wide receiver.

“There’s not a guy outside of maybe Tre Tucker, but… you can knock him off his path. Dont’e Thornton is a little bit bigger of a guy that I think can get behind a defense. And that’s what I think the Raiders are lacking right now is a threat of a home run that can make your defense back up a little bit, force you into cover 2,” Morrison said on Raider Nation Radio’s JT the Brick show.

“Because right now, that’s why a lot of teams are stacking the box against the Raiders without the fear of nobody running right behind them.”

Thornton Jr. lacked physicality as a rookie

Maybe he has added strength in the offseason, but Thornton Jr. didn’t show much last year that would suggest he is capable of being more physical than Tucker.

At 6’5, 205 pounds, Thornton Jr. has the height and wingspan to make plays that Tucker (who stands 5’8) cannot, but the second-year wideout looked like he needed a lot of work based on the 398 snaps he was on the field as a rookie.

More than likely, the Raiders will need to look outside the building for a wide receiver, and there’s a chance that will happen before the November 10 trade deadline.

Until then, the Raiders have about a month to figure out what they have in Thornton Jr. and everyone else in the wide receiver room.