Raiders look to recapture smash-mouth personality
Trent Brown was back at practice Wednesday but Josh Jacobs was not as the Raiders look to get their sagging running game back on track for the last quarter of the season.
It was Brown’s first practice since late October, as he rejoined the starters in limited fashion. Jacobs, who missed a 31-28 win over the New York Jets with an ankle injury, will have his availability determined Thursday and Friday.
Whether they play Sunday or not against the Indianapolis Colts, a significant part of the Raiders’ identity has been missing in action over the last three games and it’s difficult to envision a playoff push without the kind of steady forward progress which got them to 6-3
he Raiders are 7-5 and the Colts are 8- 4 and currently holding the third and final wild card spot in the AFC behind Cleveland (9-3) and Miami (8- 4).
“I haven’t been happy with the last couple games,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “We can be optimistic and we can be realistic. I’m going to be realistic. We’ve got to do a better job ... we feed our families with our running game. We’ve got to be able to run out the clock at the end of a game like we did at Arrowhead. We’ve got to be able to convert in short yardage. We’ve got to do better and we made the effort to get better today.”
Through Week 10, the Raiders were on a threegame win streak with the running game taking the lead. In wins over Cleveland, the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver, the Raiders ran the ball 112 times for 572 yards with six touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
The Raiders were ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing, fifth in attempts and fourth in first downs rushing.
In the last three games, which included back- toback losses to Kansas City and Atlanta followed by a 31-28 win over the New York Jets, the Raiders rushed for 201 yards on 65 attempts with two touchdowns averaging 3.1 yards per carry.
In weeks 8 through 10, the Raiders ran the ball 112 times and passed it 72 times. In weeks 11 through 13, they passed the ball 112 times and ran it 65.
Going in to the Colts game, the Raiders have dropped to 10th in the NFL in rushing and 11th in rushing first downs.
Power running has been a big part of Gruden’s philosophy in both tours in Oakland as well as Tampa Bay, and Colts coach Frank Reich doesn’t believe the last three games will deter him from sticking with his philosophy.
“I just feel like that’s when they’re at their best,” Reich said on a conference call. “My guess is the way they want to operate is to that run game, to get it going like it was going. I have
no doubt that will be a top priority for them this week and we’re going to have to be at our best in our run defense.”
Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner agreed.
“We’ve got to stop the run, which is a big thing with their offense and their big O-line,” Buckner told reporters in Indianapolis. “They want to get downhill.”
And the Colts have been very good at stopping the run. They’re fifth in total defense and seventh against the run, giving 100.9 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry. The only back to have any success is Tennessee’s Derrick Henry, who had 19 carries for 103 yards in their first meeting and 178 yards on 27 attempts in the rematch.
Aside from Henry, no back has exceeded 72 yards against the Colts.
Raiders guard Denzelle
Good attributed the difficulties running the ball to the ups and downs of an NFL season.
“It’s always important to try and impose our will on a defense but things just don’t go perfect,” Good said. “You can make the perfect game plan but it isn’t always going to go that way. That’s just how it was the last couple of weeks. We felt we were out of synch in the run game but trying to make that an important point this week as far as getting it back together and re-establishing ourselves as a running team.”
The Raiders beat the Jets with Derek Carr throwing a season-high 47 passes to go along with 25 runs when ideally they’d be much closer to a 50-50 split.
“Balance makes my job a lot easier,” Carr said. “It makes the O-line’s job easier. If we can do that, it helps. Having balance opens up play-action more. When you do drop back, they’re not just full- tilt, pinning their ears back. We want to run the ball well because it opens up a lot of things, but at the same way we’re in a single- elimination kind of mindset. Whatever we have to do to win it, let’s just do that.” BROWN’S RETURN >> Brown has played in just two games, three in the opener and then all 70 on Oct. 11 against Kansas City. Between a calf injury and his bout with COVID-19 that resulted in health complications, his practice appearances have been few and far between. His teammates were pleased to see the 6- foot- 8, 380- pound right tackle well enough to give it a go.
Carr said it was “lovely” to have Brown on the field and credited the way the line has played in his absence. Brown, however, is someone who could make a big difference.
“There’s just so much more space to move,” Carr said. “He’s the best in the world at what he does. You drop back, and there’s nothing there. You can manipulate people more, do more things as a quarterback. There’s more room in the run game and the pass game because he’s so dominant.”
Good said it was “huge” to have Brown on the field.
“You have seen him play. He’s going to help our run game for sure,” Good said. “Having him around makes everyone feel better.”
Tight end Darren Waller, whose physical skill set, whose size and speed inspire awe from teammates and opponents alike, had a similar feeling the first time he saw Brown.
“He is easily the biggest person I’ve ever been around in any walk of life,” Waller said. “But he’s real chill. He’s not overbearing or anything, has a great personality. You add that to his skill set and how big he is, he’s a great guy to be around. It’s awesome to see him out there. Great to have him back.”
NOTES >> Safety Johnathan Abram ( knee) was limited at practice after missing the Jets game. That’s a good sign because safety Jeff Heath was out with a concussion and would have to be cleared medically to face the Colts. Also out with a concussion and neck injury was cornerback Damon Arnette.
• Cornerback Daryl Worley was officially signed to the roster but Gruden said he won’t be available until the Raiders’ Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night, Dec. 17.
• Others who were limited at practice were cornerback Isaiah Johnson (groin), wide receiver Zay Jones (ankle), cornerback Nevin Lawson (knee/ankle) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (calf).
• Players who were rested included Good, center Rodney Hudson and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins.