Running back Josh Jacobs needs to break a trend
The Raiders have had some really great running games and they also have had duds where there have been no open lanes at all to run through. Las Vegas is 3-0 this season when Josh Jacobs gets 20+ carries and 75+ yards in the running game. They need to feed Jacobs the ball from the start. Keep in mind, Jacobs gets stronger with the more carries he gets, and as the game progresses.
This week’s matchup will be tough for the Silver and Black. The Buccaneers have allowed only one rusher to get over 50 yards rushing this season (Week 2 vs. CAR). This is no fluke either as they have gone up against some of the more notable backs in the league this season.
- Week 1: (NO) Alvin Kamara – 12 carries, 16 rushing yards
- Week 2: (CAR) Christian McCaffery – 18 carries, 59 rushing yards
- Week 3: (DEN) Melvin Gordon III – 8 carries, 26 rushing yards
- Week 4: (LAC) Joshua Kelley – 9 carries, 7 rushing yards
- Week 5: (CHI) David Montgomery – 10 carries, 29 rushing yards
- Week 6: (GB) Aaron Jones – 10 carries, 15 rushing yards
This Bucs front-seven is no joke (we will dive into them deeper shortly) and the Raiders should have some concern if this game ends up becoming a shootout. The Raiders’ primary game plan should be committing to the ground game even if they don’t see results early. Should the running game get going, this will keep the Bucs defense honest and on their heels on RPO’s and the play-action.
Gruden loves games that come down to fighting for every yard and grinding for first-down conversions. This will be his club’s first test against an elite defense led under coordinator Todd Bowles.