Oakland Raiders: Running Back Help Not High On The Priority List

Many expect the Oakland Raiders to target a running back to pair with Latavius Murry in the upcoming NFL Draft – but it’s not their biggest priority.

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The Oakland Raiders‘ running game was a lot better overall in 2015 than it has been in a little while. Latavius Murray, Oakland’s sixth round pick in the 2014 draft had something of a breakout season in which he ran for 1,066 yards – the first Raiders back to break the 1,000 yard mark since Darren McFadden did it back in 2010. Despite the modest success of their running attack last year though, the Raiders still find themselves in need of a back to complement to Murray – but it’s apparently not their biggest priority.

Oakland’s running attack improved by leaps and bounds over the 2014 version led by McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew. However, they still ranked just twenty-eighth in the league with 91.1 yards per game and twenty-first in the league with a 3.9 yards per carry average. Oakland needs some help and a running back to complement Murray – as well as to give him a breather.

But for those of you out there who are shouting from the rooftops that GM Reggie McKenzie and HC Jack Del Rio are fools if they don’t target Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott, you may wind up being very, very disappointed.

The Raiders do recognize the need to get Murray some help in their backfield. Taiwan Jones is a good change of pace back but will never be able to take on a featured back’s role. And Roy Helu Jr. – well – it’s tough to get a read on him since we rarely, if ever, saw him on the field. Neither Jones nor Helu is capable of shouldering the load in the backfield.

But that doesn’t mean that the Raiders are worrying – or putting a priority on finding a running back. At least, not in the early rounds. Which means that they likely don’t even have Elliot on their radars at this moment in time.

Said Del Rio:

"“We would like to add somebody in the backfield at some point, but it’s not like it’s a glaring need. We do have a good player there.”"

Murray’s 1,066 yards and fantastic effort in 2015 landed him an invite to the Pro Bowl, but he – and Del Rio – see plenty of room for improvement in his game.

"“It was good. If you get 1,000 yards it’s an accomplishment, even though it doesn’t mean quite what it did when you had 12 games (in a season). It’s a milestone, and he was solid. He would tell you there’s more out there. He’s still just scratching the surface. There’s a lot more upside and opportunities to break a tackle or make a guy miss or hit the hole just right. Another year in the system will help him as well.”"

Though some have noted that he slowed down as the season progressed – citing his less than three yards per carry average – in four of the season’s final seven games, some of that can be attributed to injuries on the offensive line as well as some suspect play calling by OC Bill Musgrave. Of course Murray has room to improve and grow, he’s shown that he can be a very good running back.

Murray has showed plenty of speed and power to his game. He’s shown an ability to grind out short yards as well as explode for long gains. He’s tough and he’s durable. Murray is ass complete a running back as Oakland has had in a little while.

The Raiders need somebody who can give him a rest – or fill in for him in case of injury. But nobody should be surprised if they wait until the later rounds to do it – after all, Murray himself was a sixth round pick.

Del Rio’s statement that it’s not a “glaring need” seems to indicate that the team is not targeting Elliot with their first – or possibly even second round – picks in the draft. It also seems to indicate that they are comfortable with Murray in an expanded role.

Next: Six Questions Raiders Must Answer This Offseason

Of course, they’ll likely find him some help at some point in the draft. It just seems to be a bigger priority for fans than it is for the team. So, just don’t expect it to be within the first few rounds, and don’t expect to hear Elliott’s name called when the Raiders are on the clock.