You simply won’t see a worse run game than the one the Raiders are attempting to deploy this season. What they’re doing in just not working. So, what’s the problem? Is it scheme? Personnel? Both?
It could be both, sure. But if you look back at the line last year and this year, it wasn’t that much different personnel wise. And they were running the ball really well late last season with Zamir White. Now? Abysmal.
White averaged nearly 100 yards per game over the final four games last season behind much of the same offensive line (only one guard and one tackle have changed). He has 102 yards in the first the weeks combined this season and he had just 14 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers.
“Last year is last year. We are where we are now. Worst running team in football,” said Pierce. “That’s not something I’m proud of, our staff’s proud of and I’m sure our team is not. And again, we’re going to get in here and chip away after we make the corrections from today and be honest with one another.”
Pierce would not rule out a change is blocking scheme, saying “I think there’s going to be a lot of changes.”
As far as personnel, rookie tackle DJ Glaze most of game at right tackle after the injury to Thayer Munford. That didn’t seem to change anything in terms of the run game issues. They put rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson in for a time and that didn’t seem to make a difference either.
They had a total of three first downs on the ground in the game Sunday and didn’t have a single first down in the second half.
And then there’s this:
The Raiders are averaging -0.51 EPA per rush attempt, which is tied for the worst for any team in Weeks 1-3 this millennium.
— Austin Gayle (@austingayle_) September 22, 2024
At this point either they need to change back to the scheme that works with these guys or just stop running it.
