Entering their second year with the Oakland Raiders, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington will have key roles to play in the run game.
During an Oakland Raiders training camp practice, a camera man happened to catch up with Jalen Richard on the field. Never one to shy away from a camera, Richard would let us into his world for a brief moment.
When asked about the training camp experience Richard gave us his view, per Raiders.com:
"“You have to enjoy it, have fun this is an opportunity.”"
“Rocket” Richard didn’t get a chance to fully showcase his talents during the preseason last year due to injury. But, man, when he did, he bursted onto the scene in his first professional carry in front of friends and family at the Superdome in hist hometown New Orleans. Who could forget the “Rocket” taking the inside handoff and blasting through the hole and scampering 75 yards to score?
More from Las Vegas Raiders
- 5 NFL teams that will definitely disappoint fans in 2023
- 3 Players the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders gave up on way too early
- 2024 NFL Draft: Who picks at the top of the draft in April?
- NFL Predictions: 5 Teams that will be drafting a quarterback in 2024
- 5 NFL Head Coaches that could be fired by the end of the 2023 season
The young guns, Richard and running back room stablemate DeAndre Washington, are currently alternating reps behind arguably the most sought after trade-piece in team history. On over 80+ carries apiece as rookies, both backs averaged at least 5.4 yards per carry in 2016.
Sharing only three rushing touchdowns between them, Richard is upbeat as always and looking to take every opportunity to work on his craft and spread some love for running backs coach Bernie Parmalee (per Raiders.com):
"“We are working hard, we understand we have a big part in this offense man, in every way in every aspect. Marshawn [Lynch] helping us out teaching us new little things, new little wrinkles things that he used…Bernie’s doing good, he’s coaching us up, he’s a crazy good coach.”"
Entering his third season as running backs coach, Parmalee has largely flown under the radar while turning in some very nice work as a coach. Last year, the Raiders saw fit to draft a pair of smaller backs. To be honest and keep with cliche, it doesn’t matter how big the dog in the fight is, but rather how big the fight in the dog is.
Parmalee has done a commendable job with his stable of running backs. 2016’s bell cow, Latavius Murray, has left for the frozen purple and gold of Minnesota and the team isn’t going to miss a beat according to Parmalee (per Raiders.com):
"“The running backs are working very hard, we’re taking it one day at a time and we’re going to keep grinding.”"
Richard carried the ball 83 times for 491 yards in his first year. Equally impressive were the 29 receptions for 194 yards and two scores, one of them coming when Richard lowered his shoulders and trucked two Texans defenders to make it into the end zone. Washington, meanwhile, carried the ball 87 times for 467 yards and a pair of 33-yard touchdown runs against the Indianapolis Colts in the 2016 season. Washington also caught 17 passes for 115 yards.
The pair proved to be the more explosive runners, capable of seeing the holes that others could not. Which is why these two dynamic young running backs need only to Enter the Beast Mode in order to take their game to the next level.
Parmalee is in agreement with the positive effects the addition of Marshawn Lynch is proving to have (per Raiders.com):
"“These guys really look up to the veteran guy. He’s been a great addition. He’s been great in the classroom, he’s been great on the field.”"
One thing is for sure, as long as offensive line coach Mike Tice is still coaching up the offensive line, Parmalee’s job will be easy. His top three ball carriers eclipsed the 1,500-yard mark and scored a total of 15 rushing touchdowns combined in 2016, and Murray broke the 1,000-yard mark and went to the Pro Bowl in 2015.
Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Best players by jersey number
Whatever Parmalee is teaching them is working and has them ready to go out and unleash fury on opposing teams.