Oakland Raiders: 5 Things To Look For In Preseason Game #3

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Aug 22, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Michael Dyer (40) runs with the ball in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Oakland Raiders 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Running Back Competition

Trent Richardson has been a – disappointment – this exhibition season, to say the least. His five carry for five yard performance against the Vikings certainly didn’t do anything to help make his case to be Oakland’s primary backup to Latavius Murray.

Michael Dyer on the other hand, overcame a rough outing against the Rams in week one of the exhibition season to have a very productive game against the Vikings with 12 carries for 45 yards. Obviously, they’d like to see him improve that 3.8 yards per carry average, but with Murray getting very limited touches during the exhibition season, Dyer has come on to make his case for the backup job.

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Arizona surrendered just under 109 yards a game on the ground last season, good for thirteenth in the league. But there is no telling how the losses of key defensive players like Dan Williams and Darnell Dockett will impact the Cardinal defense.

But it could be a good opportunity for the Oakland running backs to exploit those losses and put together another solid game on the ground.

It would seem reasonable to think that if Richardson can’t put together a solid performance on the touches he’s given – and based on his performances thus far, they may be few and far between – he is going to lose the competition and his roster spot to Michael Dyer. Conversely, if Richardson performs and Dyer struggles, he may be back on the bubble.

This could be a key game in determining how the Oakland backfield is going to look when the regular season starts.

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