Run, Raiders, run: Floor sport breathes life into Las Vegas offense

HENDERSON, Nev. — Antonio Pierce performed linebacker within the NFL for 9 seasons, so the Las Vegas Raiders coach has greater than an inkling as to what can frustrate and take the starch out of a protection.

And it has little to do with an opposing offense airing issues out.

“That is one factor that performs in your thoughts,” Pierce stated Monday in his weekly information convention. “You may throw the ball for 500, 600 yards, however when a crew is operating the ball on you, that will get into your head — mentally, emotionally and bodily. And it simply wears on you.

“So, the extra you do this, it opens up our play-pass, our play-action, our keepers and issues of that nature.”

In different phrases, it is about taking the need out of your opponent.

Take a look at the Raiders’ run sport lastly displaying up in Week 4, then, in opposition to the Cleveland Browns.

Take into account: Las Vegas, which entered the sport with the worst speeding assault within the NFL, averaging 2.8 yards per carry and operating for 153 complete yards in three video games, gouged the Browns for 152 yards on the bottom whereas averaging 5.2 yards per rush.

Then contemplate the Raiders acquired greater than operating backs Zamir White and Alexander Mattison concerned, with receivers Tre Tucker and DJ Turner each operating for touchdowns on gadget performs, and rookie tight finish Brock Bowers getting a 12-yard pickup.

Throw within the drama enveloping All-Professional receiver Davante Adams, who’s now open to being traded, league sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and, nicely, it is apparent the Raiders must pound the rock. Once more. As a result of Adams missed his first sport in three seasons with Las Vegas on Sunday with a hamstring challenge … and the operating sport thrived, associated or not.

Passing stats are fancy, however operating video games journey … and the Raiders are going to want one thing of a repeat efficiency Sunday on the Denver Broncos, who restricted the New York Jets to 64 speeding yards on a 2.8 yards per carry common in a Week 4 win.

And sure, the Raiders had been the primary crew this season to have a number of speeding TDs by extensive receivers in the identical sport, based on ESPN Analysis.

“I imply, it retains the protection on their toes, it retains them pondering,” stated Mattison, who rushed for a game-high 60 yards on simply 5 carries. “They do not know who’s getting the ball, they do not know the place the ball’s going. So for us to have the ability to preserve them … pondering like that, it is massive.”

One thing else for the Broncos’ protection to ponder going ahead: What is going to the Raiders’ new-look offensive line appear to be?

Rookie second-round draft decide Jackson Powers-Johnson acquired his first NFL begin at left guard, between left deal with Kolton Miller and heart Andre James, and later moved to proper guard when Dylan Parham aggravated an Achilles’ tendon. Fellow rookie DJ Glaze began at proper deal with, instead of Thayer Munford Jr., who’s coping with ankle and knee accidents.

Cody Whitehair got here in for Powers-Johnson at left guard when the rookie made the swap for eight second-half snaps.

“If it wasn’t for [Powers-Johnson] and the massive guys up entrance, there is no operating sport, and it was his coming-out social gathering,” Mattison added. “He had an incredible, nice day on the market, and I simply can’t wait to maintain going ahead and get all of the O-line wholesome, get them on the market and shifting ahead, we’re simply going to proceed to journey the wave and emphasize our run sport and, hit it.”

Powers-Johnson, who was slowed in coaching camp and didn’t play within the Raiders’ first two video games due to harm, credited his “superb operating backs” for the run sport displaying out in opposition to the Browns (sure, even with White’s pricey fumble on the primary play of the fourth quarter leading to a scoop and rating for the Browns).

The Raiders had eight speeding first downs in opposition to Cleveland, after having 5 speeding first downs of their first three video games mixed.

And sticking with the run, slightly than panicking, helped allow Las Vegas to get its second double-digit comeback win up to now, after not having any such victories final season.

Plus, with the scores by Tucker (a 3-yard reverse) and Turner (an 18-yard inside handoff jet sweep), it marked the primary time the Raiders had a number of speeding TDs outdoors the tackles in the identical sport since Devontae Booker and Josh Jacobs did it in Week 9 of the 2020 season, on the Los Angeles Chargers.

“Everyone did their job,” Powers-Johnson stated. “Everybody did their ‘one-eleven,’ and we simply performed complementary ball. We blocked for one another; we did not simply block for ourselves. We blocked for one another, and I believe that is why we had a great week.

“And what’s nice is we get to go show it subsequent week.”

The Broncos, using a two-game profitable streak, have restricted their previous two opponents to a mixed 155 speeding yards.

All of the extra purpose for the Raiders to ascertain their floor sport early and sometimes in Denver, no?

As Pierce stated, it has been a objective of his crew since coaching camp.

“Hey, man, let’s get this operating sport going,” Pierce stated he advised the crew in Costa Mesa, California. “Let’s get some constructive yards. Let’s get these chunk runs, these explosive runs.

“And that basically confirmed up. Once more, for a protection, you do not need that.”

Duly famous.