Run-game revival is on Raiders’ Florida to-do list
Oakland (4-2) was first in the league in rushing through three games, but has sputtered and is now 13th (averaging 110 yards a game) heading into back-to-back games at Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
The Raiders do plan to have starting running back Latavius Murray out of mothballs, after he missed two games with a toe injury.
Murray was injured in the Oct. 2 win at Baltimore, and the Raiders have averaged 72 yards rushing in the past three games, less than half of the 148 they averaged the first three.
Rookie running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard (each of whom is 5-foot-8) have shown flashes of ability but might be better suited to a third-down role.
In Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, the Raiders were stuck in the mud, running for 28 yards on 10 carries in the first half, before finishing with 65.
Fullback Jamize Olawale, who has more rushing touchdowns (two) than Washington and Richard combined, was not given a touch despite the conditions calling for a bigger back.
When you look at running the football and getting everybody their carries, typically you’re going to do some of the things outside of the running game to help that happen; converting third downs, playing better defense. ...
Quarterback Derek Carr was careful to praise the two rookies when talking after Sunday’s game about how much the offense missed Murray.
The 26-year-old had 14 carries in the season-opening win at New Orleans, and dating to his first career start in December 2014, the Raiders are 10-4 when Murray gets 14 or more carries.