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Oakland Raiders: A Few Keys To Victory Over Tennessee Titans

By Kevin Saito

Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews (26) runs the ball against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Titans defeated the Raiders 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews (26) runs the ball against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at Oakland Alameda Coliseum. The Titans defeated the Raiders 27-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oakland Raiders
September 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs past Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Deion Jones (45) during the first quarter at Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Keep The Ground Game Rolling

The fourth and two call giving it to Richard rather than the larger, stronger, Latavius Murray or Jamize Olawale last week notwithstanding, Del Rio and OC Bill Musgrave have been pushing all the right buttons. Most of the time, anyway.

Their running back by committee approach seems to be paying big dividends already. The Raiders – who haven’t had much of a running game in quite some time – currently have the NFL’s second ranked rushing offense.

Oakland Raiders
September 18, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Jalen Richard (30) runs with the football past Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (56) during the third quarter at Oakland Coliseum. The Falcons defeated the Raiders 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Oakland is checking in with 161 yards per game and is second only to Carolina in the category.

With youngsters like Richard and Washington providing some relief and helping to shoulder the load, Murray is off to a terrific start to the season. He is running with more authority this season, not to mention the fact that he’s running with some real power. Rather than avoiding contact, Murray has been frequently seen to lower his shoulder and initiate it.

For the season Murray is averaging 5.3 yards per carry – 116 yards on 22 carries. He’s also scored twice. Richard is second on the team with 101 yards on just nine carries, and a touchdown. And fifth round pick Washington has 60 yards on twelve carries.

As a unit, Oakland’s running game has accounted for 322 yards on 51 carries and four touchdowns. And given the fact that the Raiders scored just seven times on the ground all of last season, it’s safe to say, they’re off to a good start. Equally as heartening is the fact that as a team, the Raiders are averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

That’s all good news as an effective and potent ground game paves the way for the success in the passing game we’ve seen over the first two weeks of the season. And Oakland is going to need that to continue.

They will have some opportunities to run against the Titans, who enter the game with the league’s thirteenth ranked run defense.

They can be tough to run against – as Adrian Peterson and the Vikings found out in week one. But their run defense isn’t without its holes – as the Detroit Lions can attest to.

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The Raiders need to get their running game on track early. They need to attack that defensive front and beat them back. They need their running backs to establish the tone early to soften up Tennessee’s defense for Carr and the passing game.

If the running game can set the tone and dictate the pace, Oakland’s offense is going to be in good shape again on Sunday.

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