The Raiders reportedly signed veteran running back Theo Riddick on Thursday, but don’t look for his presence to have much of an impact on Josh Jacobs.
The Raiders are hoping to manage Jacobs’ workload after a rookie season that was shortened by injury, but the player that will be impacted most by Riddick (should Riddick make the final roster) is probably rookie running back Lynn Bowden Jr., who is reportedly having some growing pains in Jon Gruden’s offense.
What Gruden knows about Riddick is that he can take carries out of the backfield, but can also split wide and become even more dangerous. Riddick could have made a career in the NFL as a slot receiver and Gruden might be thinking about using him as the Raiders’ “joker” on offense until Bowden Jr. understands the intricacies of the offense (and improves in pass protection).
The Raiders can’t have five running backs on the final roster so if they do keep Riddick, there wouldn’t be a power runner on the roster behind Jacobs. Fullback Alec Ingold will be used in short yardage situations, but no one will confuse Riddick and Jalen Richard with power backs. So there would be some risk involved in keeping Riddick, especially since Jacobs wasn’t able to stay healthy last year.
Planning ahead for a potential worst-case scenario (as every GM has to do), what exactly would the Raiders do if Jacobs was forced to miss significant time (knock on wood) again this year? As of now, Devontae Booker might be the only early-down back Gruden would trust to carry the load.
So much to figure out and so few preseason games to do it.
twitter: @raidersbeat
THIS YEAR, thus far, Raiders Management has, in my opinion, TRIED to adequately address the runningback position by bringing in numerous people to give Josh Jacobs a break and add QUALITY depth to the position. I WILL scathingly criticize Raiders Management when they don’t live up to the Commitment To Excellence credo BUT WILL equally praise them when they make great strides in the right direction. IT SEEMS as if Raiders Management has, at least, “gotten the hint” that it’s time to field a deep and talented team AND GET BACK IN THE HUNT. THUS FAR, I am liking what I am seeing from Raiders Management, with respect to personnel decisions. I see them as identifying any “loose or weak links” in the chain and doing their best to shore up those areas. NOW, if only Raiders Management can come up with a formula for covering other teams tight ends, a MAJOR problem, and adding some “punch” to their Special Teams THEN boys, we’re in business. I sincerely hope that the Raiders can get it done, this year. It’s certainly NOT OFTEN that I have said this, about Raiders Management, BUT, so far, based on what I’m seeing and hearing, NICE JOB.
Keep riddick he is good insurance, an he does not have a problem of staying healthy
Riddick is good and so is Jacobs it’s too bad we couldn’t get a Derrick Henry or a Napoleon Kaufman