The Raiders’ 2-0 start has them in a good spot, but the first thing that stands out from Sunday’s win is that not everything looked clean.
Head coach Klint Kubiak has reason to keep the focus on the Saints this week, especially with a possible 2-0 showdown against the Chiefs looming in Week 4 at Allegiant Stadium. But before the Raiders can get there, there’s still some work to do - and the run game is the most obvious place to start.
That point came up on Raider Nation Radio this week, when JT the Brick zeroed in on one issue he couldn’t ignore.
“What I didn’t like about the game was only one thing. Only one thing I didn’t like about the game,” JT said on his Raider Nation Radio show.
“I don’t think they ran the ball well. I don’t think they got the push.
Chargers are a good team. A very good team.
I thought at times the Raider offensive line was getting pushed back in the running game. That was a huge problem last year.
A massive problem last year, and I thought that they were kind of getting pushed around a little bit in the game. And I haven’t seen the All-22.
I’m going to watch that later today. Maybe I’m wrong.
Maybe I’m right on that.”
The numbers back up the concern. Through two games, the Raiders are averaging just 2.8 yards per carry under Kubiak, whose background is built around the run game. Ashton Jeanty, who didn’t appear to be at full strength in Week 2, has been stuck dealing with traffic in the backfield on several carries, and his 3.4 yards per carry this season sits below his 3.7 average from a year ago.
According to Pro Football Focus, the Raiders are the sixth-worst run blocking team in the NFL so far this season. That doesn’t make run blocking the whole story, but it does confirm what the tape and the production have already suggested: this part of the offense needs to get better.
The flip side has been much more encouraging. PFF ranks the Raiders third in pass blocking, a huge change from a year ago when they allowed 64 sacks, the most in the NFL. Kirk Cousins has been sacked only twice in two games, and that clean pocket has helped fuel a 100.5 quarterback rating and a share of the league lead with six passing touchdowns.
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