Raiders Reflection: Running Back Position Sharpens Focus -

The Las Vegas Raiders cleared up their running back issues. Now, how will they be used after a few key cuts?

Entering this year’s offseason, many expected the Las Vegas Raiders to come into the 2022 season with a two-headed monster from the running back position. In this assumption, Josh Jacobs would start games receiving a majority of snaps from rushing roles, and Kenyan Drake would take the field for pass setups. Now, with the release of Drake, the Raiders appear fully committed to a running back by committee. While a running back by committee can strike fear into the ears of fantasy football-focused fans, this is good news for fans of the Raiders.

Diversification

Running back committees (instead of a Derrick Henry-esque “powerback” role) not only keep a good amount of wear and tear off of the “starting” back, but they can keep defenses guessing as well. Previously, with Jacobs on the field, defenses could form assumptions that the Raiders were more likely to run the ball while leaning towards pass plays with Drake on the field. Now, the Raiders could feature three backs with similar attributes, but all possessing a talent that sets them out from the rest.

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The Banana In The Tailpipe

If the Raiders get to make defenses figure out running backs while trying to slow down their receiving corps, this offense will be impossible to get ahead of. Josh Jacobs is the only player returning to the Raiders, while Brandon Bolden came from New England and Zamir White was drafted out of Georgia. Jacobs fits a mold that is beginning to fall by the wayside in the NFL: the pure powerback. He will never shy away from contact and most likely prefers running through defenders instead of going around them, but his hands have proven unreliable enough to keep him from becoming a three-down back.

The Bold And The Versatile

Bolden joins the team as the veteran, as he will be 33 years old when the 2022 season ends, but also comes in as the closest back to a true hybrid back. The veteran has struggled to earn a starting role throughout his career but may have found his niche in 2021 that justifies him as a consistent role player. Initially used as a rusher, Bolden has made strides in his receiving game, and in his last two seasons saw his receiving numbers surpass his rushing yards for the first (and second) time in his career. Despite only starting nine games since joining the NFL in 2012, Bolden could very well find himself taking over Drake’s role when the season comes around.

Mount Olympus’ Favorite Son

Although it was in the fourth round, Zamir White was the Raiders’ second pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Compared to his counterparts, White is far more similar to Jacobs than Bolden, as his tendency for power over finesse and inexperience in the passing game shift the balance. White, despite clocking in two years younger than Jacobs, has enough injury history for the running back committee to share, as he has suffered major injuries in both knees. However, White does not let this slow him down, as he officially clocked in a full .12 seconds (4.40) faster than Jacobs (4.52) in the 40-yard dash.

Overview

Seeing White perform in the preseason may shed light on the Raiders’ reasoning to not extend Jacobs, but for the 2022 season, Las Vegas gets to utilize both players, while mixing in Bolden. Las Vegas using three backs, without a single one raising Jalen Richard comparisons, is a bit unusual. But, with the receiving talent the team currently boasts, power backs may have their time in the sun, as a pure pass-catching back should find a majority of their designed targets taken to spread the field.