Oakland Raiders: The good, bad, and ugly from preseason win over Seahawks
By Kevin Saito
Bad: Quiet Night For the Running Game
Given Gruden’s philosophy, Oakland’s offense is going to be centered around a bruising, banging, poweful running game. He brought in monster fullback Keith Smith to lead block for Marshawn Lynch – a powerful one-two punch.
With a mauling offensive line among the league’s very best – if not the very best – and some bruising running backs in Lynch, Doug Martin, Chris Warren III, and Smith, Oakland’s running game figures to be one of its strengths this season.
We all know what Lynch can – and will – do to defenses this year. His best years in Seattle came when he had a bruising blocking back – which he now has in Smith. Martin is a huge question mark, but the most pleasant surprise this summer, is the emergence of Warren III.
His bruising, banging style syncs perfectly Gruden’s philosophy. He’s strong, fast, and elusive. He can run around you, or through you. In a lot of ways, he is reminiscent of a younger Lynch, and should be a lock to make the 53-man roster.
Against Seattle though, that powerful running game that’s been on display this preseason, all but vanished.
Yeah, it’s the final dress rehearsal and it all needs to be taken with a boatload of salt, but the team tallied just 63 yards against Seattle’s scrub defense. Warren led the way with 42 yards, but it was on 12 carries, making for a less than scintillating average of 3.5 yards per rush.
Ultimately, yes, it’s meaningless. But still, to only be able to put up 63 yards against a defense filled with guys who won’t be on the roster after Saturday falls firmly in the “bad” column, and can’t really be put anywhere else.