Oakland Raiders: Five Things That Must Happen Against New England

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One of the most confounding things about Downing’s offensive system is that to him, the running game literally seems to be an afterthought. Something that he hasn’t truly factored into his offensive game plan.

Proving the point is the fact that Oakland’s running game is so seldom used.

In 2016, the Raiders were eleventh in the league in rushing attempts, clocking in at nearly 28 rushes per game. And the three-headed beast of Richard, Washington, and Latavius Murray responded, averaging a tick over 120 yards per game, scoring 17 touchdowns, giving Oakland the league’s sixth-best rushing attack.

And that effectiveness on the ground is what helped pave the way for Carr and the passing game to flourish as they did.

This season though, Downing’s taken one of the more effective running games in the league, and for whatever reason, dropped it in the toilet and flushed it. On the year, Oakland’s rushing game is averaging roughly 21 carries (dead last in the league) and 88 yards (twenty-seventh in the league) per game.

The difference is in how the workload is being distributed. Last season, Richard average just over five rushes per game, Washington averaged just over six. And Murray took up the rest of the load, averaging just about 14 carries a game.

This season though, Richard is still averaging just five carries a game and Washington has slipped to four. Marshawn Lynch, brought in to be the team’s new bellcow, is averaging just 10 carries a game.

Is it any coincidence that as Oakland’s run game has been neglected, the passing game has declined as well?

The belief was that Lynch, a far more physical runner than Murray, would add some edge and nastiness to the run game. That he would punish defenders and help wear a defense down. Unfortunately, under Downing’s offense, opposing defenses don’t really have to worry about Lynch or the running game as a whole.

It’s understandable, given his age and injury history, that the Raiders are a little more cautious with Lynch. But, they’ve got other backs who can help pick up the slack.

But then again, with the season on the line – as it will be for the remainder of the year – it’s time to pull out all the stops. The time for half-measures and playing it safe is over. If the Raiders want to make a run through the back half of their schedule and return to the playoffs, they’re going to need to remember the importance of their running game.

And that means getting Lynch far more involved than he’s been to this point in the season.