Las Vegas Raiders: RB Kenyan Drake ready to take offense to space
By CJ Errickson
The addition of Kenyan Drake to the Las Vegas Raiders offense could pay big dividends, and he is ready to take the group to the next level.
With training camp less than ten days away, a certain Las Vegas Raiders running back is already thrilled about the offense. Former Arizona Cardinal running back Kenyan Drake signed with the Silver and Black this offseason, despite knowing that former Alabama teammate Josh Jacobs was at the top of the depth chart.
Fortunately, Drake is a team player who is committed to winning and knows that he can still play a pivotal role on an exciting offense. Kenyan recently appeared on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football and had this to say about Las Vegas’ offense:
"“I know who for sure is going to space, and that’s this offense this year, this team. I feel like we’re definitely taking off to another trajectory, you know what I mean? You like how I kind of threw that in there?” ~Kenyan Drake -via Good Morning Football & NFL.com"
The former Crimson Tide standout truly believes that the team’s offense can be out of this world in 2021; here is what he can contribute.
Kenyan Drake is a multipurpose back that bears a team-first mentality that the Raiders need
There are quite a few NFL players that enjoy talking about themselves a lot. Self-confidence is great, but if you ask Raiders head coach Jon Gruden, he believed an energy vampire was present on the 2020 roster.
I do not believe any names need to be said of the past, but it is clear who Gruden was speaking of in Vic Tafur’s piece. Reluctantly, the new Raiders running back Kenyan Drake is the exact opposite of an ‘energy vampire’.
In fact, he is a selfless player that believes in the team first and has done so since his collegiate days at the University of Alabama. This excerpt is also from Drake’s interview on Good Morning Football:
"Up to this point in my career from Alabama, really started from high school because I played a little receiver, I kind of came out as an athlete, then going to Alabama, obviously with being there, I was able to play a little receiver as well,” he said. “But then playing in Miami, I came in as a third-down back. Going to Arizona, I was mostly used as a first- or second-down back. Now I just feel like it’s a full-circle situation where I can kind of come in, obviously spell Josh in that situation, be a first- or second-down back, prove I can do that, come in and be a third-down back in certain situations and also play a little receiver. So like I said, I just feel like it’s come real full-circle for me in my career and I just kind of look forward to putting it all together.” ~Kenyan Drake -via Good Morning Football & NFL.com"
Kenyan has consistently proven that he can and will contribute regardless of his role or the situation. For the Raiders, he figures to not only spell Jacobs, keeping him healthy throughout a tough 17-game slate, but will also be a weapon for Derek Carr in the passing game.
Overall, what had originally looked like a questionable move, has turned into one that could significantly upgrade this offense.
He is a football player first and possesses a contagious can-do attitude that can ultimately help the Las Vegas offense become elite in 2021.