Raiders Should Depend Heavily on the Run Next Season

Running back Josh Jacobs left the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency, but the team should still depend heavily on the run.

The Las Vegas Raiders have been known as a run-heavy team over the last few seasons.

In recent years, their run game was led by former Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, one of the best running backs in the National Football League.

Two seasons ago, Jacobs led the entire league in rushing, but last season, the Raiders were one of the worst rushing teams in the league. Their lack of a dependable rushing attack greatly hampered their offense and, therefore, their team as a whole.

As they enter next season, the Raiders will do so with a different offensive mindset regarding their rushing attack. After spending the last few seasons with Jacobs as their primary back, the Raiders will now lean on young yet up-and-coming Zamir White but will do so with the plan of going with a running back by committee instead of having only one primary back.

Regardless of the running backs the Raiders have chosen or will choose to use next season or how many carries those backs get, the importance of their run game is almost just as crucial as before.

With new Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy calling the plays, the Raiders could take their offensive play-calling in many different directions. However, they will enter next season with many new players along the offensive line, a new offensive line coach, at least one new running back, and at least one new quarterback.

While Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell gained valuable time on the field last season, he will still only be in his second season in the league. Quarterback Gardner Minshew just joined the team and will undoubtedly have a learning curve, likely a more significant one than O'Connell. Giving the two of them a respectable run game would go a long way toward the Raiders having a productive season.

This means the Raiders will have to find a way to get all those moving parts working together during the offseason and, more importantly, during the regular season. While it will take the first few weeks of the regular season to get everyone up to speed, which is usually the case in the NFL, the easiest way to do so is to have a serviceable run game.

The Raiders may not depend on a single back or even their run game as a whole as much as they did in the past. However, the quickest way to get any offense going is by running the ball as successfully as possible.

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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