The Raiders offensive line says it has no excuses for a running game that ranks at the bottom of the league at 3.1 yards per carry. Defenses have loaded the box with eight or more defenders on more than 30 percent of offensive snaps, a rate that rises to 32.1 percent when rookie running back Ashton Jeanty is on the field — the second-highest figure in the league among starters behind only Derrick Henry.
"It doesn't matter how many people are in the box," left guard Spencer Burford said. "It's our job to make the play work." Burford added that the heavy fronts show respect for the backfield, but the unit must take the right steps forward because every opponent will feed off recent film.
Coach Klint Kubiak said the offense needs to return to the efficiency of the season opener, when the team rushed for 130 yards. Jeanty has averaged 2.9 yards on 55 carries over the last three games but insists he is getting closer to full health after a preseason ankle injury. "We're not going to get all nervous and riled up," Jeanty said. "We're going to watch the film and we're going to fix what we need to fix, and we're going to get better."
Kubiak took most of the blame on himself and believes schematic solutions can be found. Center Linderbaum said preparation and communication at the line will be critical as defenses present different challenges each week. The Raiders invested heavily in the offensive line in free agency, signing Burford and making Linderbaum the highest-paid interior lineman in history.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has had success against the heavy fronts through the air, but the team views a functional ground attack as essential to reaching its goals. "At the end of the day, a lot of the run game goes when the offensive line is doing their job well," Kubiak said. "We have to play to a higher standard for ourselves to get the run game going. It starts this week."
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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