Oakland Raiders’ Passing Game Looks Promising

Oct 13, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece (45) catches a pass against Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (29) in the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. Kansas City won the game 24-7. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

Match-up Nightmare 

Fullback Marcel Reece was the only Raider invited to the Pro Bowl last year because he is a match-up night mare for linebackers. The fullbacks that are in the NFL are known as third guards in the I formation but Reece is different. Like Ausberry, Reece was a big receiver in college with 4.4 speed and Raiders’ deceased owner Al Davis moved him to fullback after trying him at tight end.

Now, the Raiders have an old school, Clem Daniels-type fullback that can catch and run the football as well as block. And since he’s been the Raiders’ starting fullback, no linebacker has been able to cover him with his receivers skill-set. Many around Raider Nation want to see him used more but it’s the way they use him that concerns me.

Instead of all the typical underneath routes fullbacks run in the West Coast offense, the Raiders need to sneak him out on deep routes more. I love Greg Olson as an offensive coordinator but he needs to send Reece deep the way former Raiders’ head coach Hue Jackson did. Sometimes, when you get go a team, you need to use player the same way they were used before you got there.

That is especially the case when it works!

Reece doesn’t even have the opposing defenses fastest linebacker on him.