Raiders' Inability to Stretch Field is Impacting Jacobs

The Las Vegas Raiders have seen more and more defenses stack the box to stop running back Josh Jacobs, but that isn't the only reason that is the case.

While there are many reasons why the Las Vegas Raiders went from having the league's leading rusher last year, Josh Jacobs, to now Jacobs having only 108 yards rushing through three games, most would agree one of the main reasons would be the lack of holes being created for Jacobs to run through.

"That's where it always starts, in pass protection and in the running game," Raiders Coach Josh McDaniels said. "If you get a hat on them, then you usually have a chance to get the runner started. But I would say through three games, it's probably been everybody's taken a turn at maybe not necessarily being as precise or perfect with their job.

"So, it's going to be details, it's going to be work, it's going to be a team thing. Running the ball is never one guy's job, it's going to be the job of everyone at the point of attack and then across the board; our receivers have got to block."

Las Vegas returned all of their starting offensive linemen from last season except one. The lone new addition on the line, Greg Van Roten, has played well so far. It would be reasonable to expect the offensive line to start playing better over the next few weeks.

However, even when the offensive line puts it all together and improves their play, the Raiders probably will still see many eight-man boxes out of respect for Jacobs. Most defenses are going to center their game plan around stopping Jacobs.

For Las Vegas, better blocking should lead to Jacobs getting on track, but another thing that could help Jacobs do so is the Raiders stretching the field or attempting to do so more often.

With wide receivers Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, Hunter Renfrow, and Tre Tucker, there has to be a way to draw up more deep passes and completions. 

The goal is to complete the long attempts when they happen. Still, even unsuccessful downfield attempts would give opposing defenses something to think about before stacking the box against Las Vegas as often as the case has been through three games. 

Last season, Jacobs faced the second most stacked boxes in the National Football League and still led the league in rushing. That proves Jacobs' lack of rushing this season isn't as much on the stacked boxes as on the Raiders' inability to challenge defenses vertically.

Opposing defenses are daring quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the Raiders offense to beat them vertically through the air, and so far, the Raiders have yet to take on the challenge consistently. Doing so more often, or at least attempting to do so, could lead to cleaner looks for Jacobs in the running game.

The Silver and Black return to the road next week in Inglewood, Calif., to play the Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) on Sunday, Oct. 1, at 4:05 p.m. EDT/1:05 p.m. PDT.

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