Oakland Raiders Versus The AFC West: Running Backs
By Kevin Saito
May 26, 2015; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Trent Richardson (33) carries the ball under the supervision of running backs coach Bernie Parmalee at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders
Given the issues mentioned earlier in this article, the Raiders are looking to improve upon their dismal rushing attack last season. Of course, simply improving upon it is still trying to clear a pretty low bar, so in 2015, the Raiders are looking to have a potent, possibly even top-15 ground game in the NFL.
To do so, they are going to be putting more trust in Murray, who showed them in very limited time last year, that he has the potential to be a dominant back in this league. Or at least, a very, very good one. On 82 carries last year, Murray racked up 424 yards – including a four carry, 112 yard performance against the Chiefs.
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The problem is that it is such a small sample size, Oakland’s coaching staff isn’t sure yet if Murray can continue that sort of pace over the course of a full season, and if he can be the team’s bell cow.
The Raiders also have a reclamation project in Cleveland Browns and Indianapolis Colts castoff Trent Richardson. The former third overall pick in the draft has failed to live up to his billing since joining the league. Truth be told, he hasn’t even come close to living up to that billing, and to some, is one of the bigger busts of the last five years or so.
Jack Del Rio and the Raiders though, believe that what Richardson is saying is true – that he’s just been a bad fit in the schemes run in his two stops in the NFL, that it’s been a “bad marriage.” Given that Oakland is running a system similar to the one he ran at Alabama – the same sort of system where he had the tremendous amount of success that led him to being the third overall pick – it’s possible that Richardson is going to be in plenty of positions to have some success.
If it pans out and Richardson can regain the form he had in college, it’s going to look like one of the most brilliant moves of the offseason. If it doesn’t pan out and Richardson looks like the bust he’s been in Cleveland and Indianapolis, the Raiders are out a very little amount of cash – no harm, no foul.
Though Helu isn’t going to be the every down back, he will provide a nice change of pace in Oakland’s backfield. He will also provide a terrific safety valve for Carr if he ever needs to check down and dump off a pass. Having a pass catching back as accomplished – and sure handed – as Helu, is going to pay huge dividends for the Raiders.
Next: Number Two