Raiders running backs the ‘heartbeat’ of the new regime’s offense – NFL Nation

“The happiest individual within the constructing must be Josh Jacobs. I do know that.” — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on the workforce’s offensive system underneath new coach Josh McDaniels

HENDERSON, Nev. — Josh McDaniels landed in Las Vegas with the repute of an elite playcaller, one who leans closely on a roster of operating backs simply as huge as it’s versatile in ability units.

Energy backs? Verify.

Cross-catching backs? Verify once more.

Cross-blocking backs? Verify 3 times.

Certainly, with seven tailbacks and a fullback on the coaching camp roster, it may be a great drawback for McDaniels to have relating to slicing all the way down to an preliminary 53-man roster.

“It is fairly attention-grabbing,” McDaniels mentioned this week when requested in regards to the depth and variety of the operating backs room. “There are some younger guys which can be studying however play actually arduous and provides nice effort. We’ve some guys which can be type of multifaceted when it comes to what they do and produce. We have tried to provide all of them completely different alternatives right here within the first few video games to attempt to do a few of these issues.”

Living proof: the (comparatively) heavy workload Jacobs, a Professional Bowler in 2020 and presumptive starter this season, performed within the Corridor of Fame Recreation. Jacobs beginning and getting seven touches (5 carries for 30 yards and two catches for 14 yards) on the primary two collection raised eyebrows.

Or veteran Kenyan Drake, who’s getting back from a damaged proper ankle, seeing vital time in each preseason video games.

“I imply, the proof is within the pudding,” mentioned Drake, who has carried the ball 9 occasions for twenty-four yards whereas catching two passes for 17 yards mixed, after the Raiders beat the Minnesota Vikings within the second preseason recreation.

“You see all people on the sphere being productive, taking part in in each and any scenario — from four-minute with Brittain [Brown] ending it off to the two-back set that we now have, me and Zamir [White] within the first half, after which, clearly, to not point out the [two] different guys that have not performed which can be going to make a big effect on this workforce, so the sky is the restrict for this room. I really feel like we will be the heartbeat of this workforce and we will, each recreation, go on the market and be the engine.”

By way of two exhibitions, Austin Walter has rushed for a team-high 79 yards with a TD and caught a 3-yard move, whereas White, a fourth-round draft select of Georgia, has rushed for 65 yards on 16 carries and is tied for the workforce lead with 5 catches for 27 yards.

Brown, a seventh-round decide from UCLA, has rushed for 54 yards and a rating on 14 carries and caught two passes, whereas Ameer Abdullah has 7 dashing yards and a TD (his low-high roundhouse kicks adopted by a twirl kick as an finish zone celebration was a nod to the online game “Tekken” whereas additionally serving as inspiration to the children on “Cobra Kai”) and in addition has two catches for 23 yards.

Curiously, neither of the 2 backs who got here from McDaniels’ outdated stomping grounds, the New England Patriots, have performed within the preseason — tailback Brandon Bolden and fullback Jakob Johnson.

How a lot are you able to really glean, although, from two video games of a preseason for a brand new regime?

Nicely, it has been a reasonably balanced offensive assault this far, with the Raiders passing for a mixed 322 yards on 59 makes an attempt and dashing for 299 yards on 72 carries.

All eight backs survived the primary spherical of cuts, from 90 gamers to 85, this week. The Raiders should get all the way down to 80 gamers by Tuesday, three days after the exhibition on the Miami Dolphins (7 p.m. ET, Saturday).

“You simply take it at some point at a time,” mentioned Abdullah, who’s in his first camp with the Raiders after spending seven seasons with the Detroit Lions, Vikings and Carolina Panthers. “That is what my father has all the time instructed me — you possibly can’t stay an excessive amount of sooner or later, that breeds anxiousness. You’ll be able to’t stay an excessive amount of up to now, that breeds despair. Simply staying current. Maintaining the whole lot that is proper in entrance of you, which is what you possibly can management.”

So what number of backs would possibly McDaniels carry on that preliminary 53-man roster?

He is had as many as 5 in New England. So if that is the case, who may be the odd man out amongst Jacobs, Drake, Bolden, White, Abdullah and Johnson? Slicing Drake would carry an $8 million useless cash cap hit.

As Jacobs mentioned, the competitors has been “wonderful” in camp.

“I imply, it is enjoyable, man,” mentioned Jacobs, who’s taking part in for a brand new contract after not having his fifth-year choice picked up. McDaniels downplayed theories that Las Vegas was showcasing Jacobs in Canton for a commerce.

“I am a agency believer of getting a bunch of men that is able to compete. I consider that iron sharpens iron, [so] simply to be round them guys that is prepared to work day-after-day, that is good or higher in sure areas, and to have the ability to compete with them, it has been enjoyable. Having the ability to are available in, and being a vet now, and being with the rookies and having the ability to move that data alongside, that is what the sport is, that is what the sport is all about.”

And as McDaniels mentioned, he actually likes this group of backs, and the best way it’s coached by Kennedy Polamalu.

“I’ve all the time been an enormous believer in having as many good backs as you possibly can have in your workforce as a result of like I’ve mentioned earlier than, they get the ball greater than anyone else … aside from the quarterback, and normally they’re taking hits and getting contact once they have it,” McDaniels mentioned. “So, there’s an opportunity for nicks and bumps and bruises and accidents. You simply do not ever need to get caught quick in that space.

“I like what they’re doing. They push each other, they assist each other, they work actually arduous collectively. We have a number of maturity in that room that continues to attempt to pull guys alongside, particularly the younger guys.”