Just when you thought the Raiders offense might be built to spread out the defense and let Derek Carr go to work, head coach Jack Del Rio seems prepared to double down and do just the opposite.
“I want to have more rushes,” Del Rio told Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. “I don’t want [Murray] to have less. If anything, maybe a little more, but I want him to be more productive. We’re working on becoming a team that’s capable of running the ball well. We never really, truly established that last year.”
It’s hardly a new philosophy in Oakland. Reggie McKenzie has long favored smashmouth football and Del Rio, another former linebacker, is of similar mind.
The only problem? The Raiders haven’t run the ball well in years. Sure, Latavius Murray ran for 1,066 yards last year, but that total was largely the product of his ability to stay healthy which translated to a massive workload.
#Raiders best offense is to spread it out and throw the rock. Just the reality of who they have. Can't force the run game. Let it rip
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) August 19, 2016
As many have pointed out, despite their size, the strength of the Raiders offensive line is in pass protection. With the addition of Kelechi Osemele and the return of Menelik Watson, maybe that will change – but if preseason was any indication, the Raiders still don’t have a bully in the run game.
The good news is the Raiders travel to New Orleans for the season opener. The Saints defense is among the worst in football and if there was ever a venue to jumpstart a stagnant rushing attack, it’s the Mercedez-Benz Superdome.
twitter: @raidersbeat
Let Carr go to work! Your gona get fired if your run more plan doesn’t work !
Run, pass, kick.. sounds like fundamental football to me. Raiders win division hands down…