Oakland Raiders: Five reasons they could miss the playoffs in 2018
By Kevin Saito
Running Game Falters
Given his age, personality, salary, and a 2017 that was just okay, production-wise, it was a bit of a surprise that Gruden made the decision to bring back Marshawn Lynch.
While it’s true Lynch was very productive over his last five games of the season or so, the fact that he was far less so in the first 11, was a bit alarming. But, for the good, or ill, Lynch is back to be the bellcow for the team in 2018.
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Even more surprising though, was Gruden’s decision to sign Doug Martin to serve as Lynch’s primary backup. Martin has had some very solid seasons in the NFL, but it feels like they were a lifetime ago. Over the last two seasons, Martin has been less productive on the field than Tony the Peanut Vendor — at least Tony is giving people what they paid for.
But, in Gruden-world, Lynch and Martin – assisted by the likes of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard – are going to revitalize Oakland’s running game with power, thunder – and occasional doses of lightning.
Anybody else getting Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner flashbacks here?
And who knows, Gruden and his staff might just be crazy (and good) enough to pull it off. They might be able to dig deep into those guys and squeeze every last drop out of them.
However, if Lynch looks more like the running back he was through last season’s first eleven games and less like the back through the final five – and Martin looks anything close to the back he’s been over the last two seasons – Oakland’s offense is going to be in big trouble.
With a massive line, a bevy of blocking tight ends, and fullbacks galore, Gruden is predicating his offense (again) on a punishing, smashmouth style of football. Running hard to open up the passing game.
In theory, that works. You do need both components and a somewhat balanced offense to consistently win games in this league.
But, if Lynch and Martin falter and Oakland’s ground game was as abysmal (or worse) than last year’s unit, it’s going to stifle the passing game. Which will lead to the Raiders looking a lot more like they did under Todd Downing, than the unit we expect to see under Gruden/Greg Olson.