The Autumn(Re)Wind: Breaking down the Raiders offense

Running game

The Raiders are basically a zone running team. Wide zone and inside zone make up about 80-90% of the Raiders rushing scheme. Players like Kolton Miller, Richie Incognito, and Rodney Hudson were made for the zone because it requires great lateral mobility from blockers who need to cut the defensive line off and create creases that lead into the second level.

Zone plays also require a fair amount of anticipation and burst from running backs who need to be able to set up defenders and accelerate into the second level. Josh Jacobs does a great job in this scheme because of his physical and mental abilities.

Gruden will also call a few different types of running plays outside of the zone scheme principals when he wants to catch defenses off-guard. Gap schemes like Power, Counter, and Duo are used in short yardage situations by the Raiders to mixed success. These schemes require a different kind of vision and Jacobs was less consistent when asked to run these schemes.

The best change-up pitch in the running game however is the toss play. This play saw multiple first downs and produced some of the Raiders best highlights on the year. Once Jacobs improves in all the areas of this game, the running game should have very little limitations in 2020 and beyond.