Oakland Raiders: Keys to beating the Miami Dolphins in week three matchup
By Kevin Saito
Pound the Football
Jon Gruden’s offense is supposed to be predicated on a powerful running game. Or at least, the threat of having backs who can break one off, and score from anywhere on the field. It’s why he went out and got himself a big fullback. Kept Marshawn Lynch. Brought in Doug Martin.
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Oakland’s running game was supposed to be strong, dynamic, and open things up for the passing game. We were throwing the game back to 1998, remember? And if you recall Gruden’s first go ’round as the skipper, his offense was indeed based on the power running game, led by guys like Tyrone Wheatley.
So far this season though, the Raiders aren’t doing a whole lot of running, power or otherwise.
Oakland’s 50 rushing attempts so far this season put them in the lower half of the league, but more disturbingly, of those 50 combined attempts, only 20 have come after halftime – while the Raiders were clinging to leads. In both games.
Miami’s ground game is tough, there’s no question. As of this writing, the Dophins have the league’s eighth-ranked run defense. But again, you have to wonder, if it’s a case of the Dolphins run defense being that good, or being tasked with stopping two underwhelming backfield units in Tennessee and the Jets.
There is one way to find out. And with an elite offensive line, a big, bruising fullback, and a lead back in Lynch who can still put it to people, the Raiders should test that Miami defense. Make them prove they can actually stop a power run game.
Running more often will control the clock, dictate the tempo of the game to Miami, wear down the defense, and will open things up in the passing game as well. Gruden’s offense is supposedly predicated on a dominant rushing attack. It’s time we see it.