How the Oakland Raiders Can Make it Any Given Sunday Against Patriots

Sep 7, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Oakland Raiders fullback Marcel Reece (45) carries the ball against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Use Reece

Marcel Reece is has been grossly underutilized in the first two game and Allen needs to turn him back into a play-maker. He doesn’t need 25 touches a game because that will take away the affect he has—he needs about 10-12 touches. These will be quality touches set up for big plays to make every touch count the way former head coach Hue Jackson used him.

In the run game, Reece should be used on draws and some cross-buck type action with McFadden going the other way. Sure, hitting Reece out in the flats as a safety valve is good but he also needs to be used on screens to run after the catch. But sending Reece deep is what the Raiders really need to do as that is what he does best with linebackers on him.

But that part of the game isn’t all on the coaching staff as Reece has been open a few times and quarterback Derek Carr needs to look for him. On the first interception Carr threw, Reece was open deep as he left the linebacker that was trying to cover him way behind. I’m sure that Carr has seen the film on that by now and has it in his memory bank for when the opportunity presents itself.