Las Vegas Raiders Alabama connection in for big day against Chargers
By Brad Weiss
![Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) is pursued by Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) in the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Oct 25, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) is pursued by Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebacker Devin White (45) in the third quarter at Allegiant Stadium. The Buccaneers defeated the Raiders 45-20. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F15114823-850x560-c244e672401c9dc6607f347498bc930402e8dfee082794674b708d362ae9979d.jpg)
The Las Vegas Raiders have a divisional matchup against LA on Sunday, and their star offensive players from Alabama could be in for a big day.
With one of their three first round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, the then-Oakland Raiders selected Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. As a rookie, Jacobs took the NFL by storm, becoming the first Raiders rookie to rush for over 1,000 yards, and it looked like he would be a shoe-in for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year honor.
Well, that went to Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray, but that did nothing to diminish what Jacobs meant to the team in 2019, and what he will mean to them moving forward. The following year, the Raiders dipped back into the Alabama pool in the first round, this time taking Jacobs’ former teammate, wide receiver Henry Ruggs III.
While Ruggs has not put up incredible stats during his rookie season, his impact on this offense is huge, and having him in the lineup makes defenses have to gameplan for his speed, and ability to score at any moment. This is a dimension that makes the Raiders offense very scary, and one that will be the difference on Sunday.
To come away with the victory, Henry Ruggs III and Josh Jacobs need to be the focus of this Raiders offense.