Oakland Raiders training camp: 5 pleasant surprises
By Brad Weiss
Depth at running back
Marshawn Lynch was brought out of retirement last season to be the featured back in the Raiders offense, and towards the end of the season, he was finally hitting his stride. This year, he has come into camp ready to work, and based on the speed he showed on his called-back 60-yard touchdown run on Friday night, he has not lost a step.
The Raiders signed Doug Martin as a free agent this offseason to be the No. 2 running back, and he has looked very good since putting on the Silver and Black. Originally, it was supposed to be Jalen Richard vs. DeAndre Washington for that third running back spot on the roster, but a third challenger has emerged, and is making it hard for the Raiders not to keep him around.
With the way he is playing, Chris Warren III has a legitimate shot to not only make the Raiders 53-man roster, but slide in as the No. 2 back behind Lynch. He has been a head-turner so far this summer, and based on his size and speed, is going to be a devastating back at the next level.
So there you have it, five pleasant surprises for the Raiders so far this summer. There is a ton of football left to be played, including three preseason games, and with no cuts until the 53-man roster is released, all 90 guys are going to have their opportunities to win over this coaching staff the rest of the way.