Raiders running back room will be a serious threat in 2022
By Preston Seyl
The Las Vegas Raiders have incredible pass catchers, but the running back room could prove to be a serious threat as well in 2022.
Las Vegas Raiders running backs Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Ammer Abdullah, and Brandon Bolden will force the team to have a running back committee in 2022. Rookie Zamir White has been turning heads all camp and even put on an impressive showing for Josh Mcdaniels’ first game back as head coach, albeit a preseason game.
White Is holding his own in the running back room coming off an impressive debut in the HOF game with 75 Total yards from scrimmage.
The fourth-round draft pick from Georgia, a school known for producing incredible running backs, is a guy who should get some serious touches as a rookie. Sure, Jacobs is the feature back, and Drake and Bolden will figure into the offense as well, but it is White who has people talking this summer.
White has incredible raw power and possesses the strength to be a north-to-south runner, which will pay dividends in 3rd and short situations.
Raiders RB room could dominate in 2022
Jacobs and Drake will balance each other out, with Jacobs being the more bruiser back, and Drake is more of a make-you-miss back. Bolden is a guy who played under McDaniels during their time together in New England, so you can expect the familiarity there to carve out a role for him in this offense in Las Vegas.
For a team that has had to rely on mostly Jacobs since he came into the league after being selected in the first round back in 2019, this is going to be a breath of fresh air. We saw during the Hall of Fame Game that McDaniels’ offense relies on multiple weapons, and the Raiders were able to move the ball without stars like Darren Waller, Davante Adams, and Hunter Renfrow in the game.
Defenses are going to have to gameplan for the likes of that incredible receiving trio, which should open up the run game even more. In the end, I believe Jacobs is going to have his best season as a pro, and eventually, White is going to be so good that he could supplant No. 28 as the feature back in Las Vegas.
Stay Tuned.