Oakland Raiders: Backfield in Motion?
By Jim Vickers
The Oakland Raiders backfield lacks an identity and it’s unlikely that free agency can resolve the problem.
This past season, only four teams in the league gained fewer yards rushing than the Oakland Raiders. So does that mean the team may need to use the 14th overall pick in the draft on Ezekiel Elliot or Heisman Trophy-winner Derrick Henry?
Much has been written about signing a back to “complement” Latavius Murray.
But entering free agency, the best-suited running backs available are off the market and they cashed in accordingly.
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For instance, Pro Bowler Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) would have made the perfect complement back. At 5’9″ and 223 pounds, Martin runs low behind big offensive linemen, catches the ball well and would add a dynamic element to Oakland’s offense. But general manager Reggie McKenzie wisely didn’t go all in on the scat back sweepstakes.
Due to injuries, Martin has been inconsistent over his four-year NFL career, rushing for 1,454 yards during his rookie season. He was limited to a total of 17 games the next two seasons and ran for a combined 950 yards.
Tampa elected not to pick up the fifth-year option on the former first-round pick and the former Boise State standout responded by finishing second in the NFL with 1,402 yards on the ground this past season. Via Spotrac, the Buccaneers ponied up $35 million over five years, including $15 million guaranteed.
But the Raiders have a featured, downhill 1,000-yard rusher in Murray. Doubling up makes little fiscal sense.
Lamar Miller, who signed with the Houston Texans (4 years, $26 million via Spotrac) has a similar skill set to Martin, rushing for 872 yards and adding 397 receiving yards. Again, the price tag for a role player doesn’t work for what the Raiders hope to accomplish overall.
There are plenty of viable free agents backs remaining. Ronnie Hillman (Denver Broncos) ran for 863 yards and seven touchdowns this past season, to go along with 24 receptions. But if Oakland doesn’t sign a player possessing these skills sets, then what?
Perhaps looking at the identity of the last Raiders contending team sheds some light.
The backfield of Oakland’s 2002 playoff club, led by head coach Bill Callahan and Super Bowl XXXVII bound, would utilize Charlie Garner – who could effectively catch, block, and run inside or outside. Power formations brought in battering ram fullback Jon Ritchie, known for ferocious blocking and blood streaming down his face during games. The Raiders also fielded the best short yardage tandem of Ritchie and Zack Crockett.
When the pair stepped on the field, everyone in the free world knew what was coming, and there’s wasn’t anything opposing defenses could do about it. Both were also respectable pass catchers out of the backfield.
Having these dimensions posed a threat that doesn’t exist currently. Fullback Jamize Olawale, at 6’1” and 240 pounds and just 26 years old, has exhibited enough ball skills overall to play most third-down situations.
Could Pro Bowl FB Marcel Reece and Olawale emerge as a defined short-yardage package? Both have respectable size, speed, rushing and receiving skills? Olawale’s role could also include third-down pass catching and blocking duties.
The Dallas Cowboys did that with Daryl “Moose” Johnston and the San Francisco 49ers did it with Tom Rathman. Depending on how the roster shakes out and the future of bench-ridden Roy Helu Jr., McKenzie may need to grab a free agent.
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However, if Reggie fills needs on both the offensive line and secondary, an opportunity to draft Elliot (Ohio State) or the 2015 Heisman winner Henry (Alabama) may present itself.
Regardless, the Oakland Raiders backfield will soon be in motion and hopefully define itself as dynamic and elite.