Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs was a revelation in his rookie year. One of the reasons he had such an impact on offense was his tackle-breaking prowess.
Head coach Jon Gruden pretty much telegraphed the Raiders were planning to select Jacobs in 2019. Before the draft, Gruden talked about how much he liked the running back and how he could boost the team’s offense.
In the end, Jacobs had the impact Gruden expected last season. The first-year back had 1,150 yards and seven touchdowns. That isn’t half bad considering he missed three games with a shoulder injury.
Punishing Defenders at Ease
One of the reasons why Jacobs got hurt was because of how hard he runs. This in turn led him to break many tackles. According to Pro Football Focus, the running back forced 69 missed tackles in 2019. That was three more than the second back in the list, Nick Chubb.
Josh Jacobs: Nice pic.twitter.com/69LPAy7W9P
— PFF (@PFF) May 18, 2020
Related: How Can Raiders Maximize RB Lynn Bowden Jr’s Talent?
It’s important to point out Jacobs was rookie, and no one else in the PFF list was. From his very first down in the NFL, he showed why he was worth a first-round selection. Even if the position doesn’t carry as much value at that point of the draft.
Cause for concern for the Raiders?
Having said that, Jacobs already missed three games last season and it’s fair to wonder if his bruising running style could slow him down once again. The Raiders must ease his workload. Rookie Lynn Bowden Jr. should help them achieve that if he turns to be that Swiss knife many think he is.
Jacobs is key to the Raiders offense. While they will likely monitor his number of carries, they will likely keep relying on him and his ability to force tackles.
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Top Photo: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images