Las Vegas Raiders, Luke Getsy's Usage of RBs Will Determine Offense's Success

The Las Vegas Raiders decided not to re-sign running back Josh Jacobs, allowing one of the best running backs in franchise history to leave in free agency. However, the Raiders had a plan from before Jacobs led the National Football League in rushing in 2022 when they drafted running back Zamir White that offseason. 

The Raiders knew there would come a time when Jacobs could ask for more money than they were willing to pay him. So, they planned and drafted a capable running back, Zamir White, to sit and learn for a few seasons.

White did precisely that, seeing very little playing time on offense in his first two seasons. He played primarily on special teams while the team leaned on Jacobs as their workhorse in the backfield. White quietly waited his turn while one of the best running backs in the league continued to be the focal point of the Raiders’ defense. 

That would change this past season, as Jacobs entered this past season with much more wear and tear on his body after the 2022 season. He’d also enter the season after skipping training camp, which didn’t help the situation. This led to a down year for Jacobs in his last season with the Raiders, but it gave White the opportunity to showcase his skills in Jacobs’ absence late in the season. 

White showed he was more than capable of being the team’s starting running back moving forward. The Raiders were sure to re-sign veteran back Ameer Abdullah. They then signed back Alexander Mattison to give themselves a formidable trio of running backs. None of the three are household names, but together, the three have the potential to do what the Raiders need next season.

The Raiders need a running back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, especially on third downs. Abdullah specializes in this area. Las Vegas has almost always had a physical running back who can eat up yards and time off the clock, which White has shown the ability to do and which the Raiders would prefer to do to take the pressure of Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew. With Mattison, the Raiders have both Abdullah and White’s strengths all in one, as he is a physical runner but also fast enough to impact the offense with his speed, whether on carries or catches out of the backfield. 

The Raiders will either be starting a young quarterback in O’Connell or a veteran quarterback who is new to the team. Either way, their quarterbacks will lean heavily on their run game. How Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy decides to use the Raiders’ three talented running backs will largely determine the success of the offense.

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