Via 4 video games, the Las Vegas Raiders are 2-2 and with a variety of room for enchancment. Probably the most important areas that wants a lift is their run recreation. Zamir White got here into the season because the lead again for the Raiders, with Alexander Mattison as the first backup, however issues haven’t been going effectively, and head coach Antonio Pierce could also be able to make a change.
White has struggled mightily on this first month, totaling simply 152 dashing yards on 3.1 yards per carry by way of 4 weeks. In the meantime, Mattison is averaging 5.1 yards on his 17 carries and has two dashing touchdowns, to not point out one other 80 yards receiving and one other landing by way of the air.
The Raiders have an enormous divisional recreation in opposition to the Denver Broncos in Week 5, and Pierce made it clear that Mattison deserves and can obtain extra snaps within the Raiders backfield, by way of Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com:
After Sunday’s exhibiting, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce implied Monday that Mattison ought to see extra motion in Las Vegas’ backfield going ahead.
“He’s deserved extra reps,” Pierce instructed reporters, “and he’ll get ’em.”
It is sensible that Pierce severely considers making some adjustments within the backfield based mostly on how poorly the run recreation has carried out. Not solely has Mattison been simpler than White, however Pierce even turned to speedy receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner, with every scoring on rushes within the Raiders’ victory over the Cleveland Browns, one thing that the top coach made clear will proceed going ahead:
Requested whether or not he would proceed to make use of his wideouts within the run, even when Adams returns from harm, Pierce was unequivocal.
“It needs to be [part of our offense]. It labored,” Pierce mentioned. “It needs to be.”
With Davante Adams’ Raiders future a giant query mark going ahead, the run recreation is that rather more necessary for the Raiders, particularly if their prime receiver is traded away. Pierce should do no matter he can to get the bottom recreation going, and it appears like he’s keen to just do that.
Jets, Saints Atop Raiders WR Davante Adams’ Most popular Commerce Vacation spot Listing
Talking of Davante Adams, it now appears very doable that his time with the Raiders might finish. The star receiver has reportedly requested a commerce and even has a few most popular locations.
The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints are reportedly on the prime of Adams’ record, which shouldn’t come as a shock. The Jets have former teammate Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, whereas the Saints, in fact, have one in every of Adams’ greatest associates, former Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, on the helm.
