Las Vegas Raiders offense will be adaptive and explosive in 2022
By Preston Seyl
Raiders’ new head coach Josh McDaniels will run a balanced yet explosive offense that is showing a glimpse through two preseason games.
Las Vegas Raiders new head coach Josh McDaniels said from the very beginning at his introductory press conference he wants a “smart, explosive and adaptable team that can overcome opponents in a variety of ways”. This offense will be balanced and very efficient with a multitude of ways to create mismatches for each defense based on whatever the defense is in.
The players will have the keys and information to make the necessary checks while receivers mostly come out in the empty will give Derek Carr quick underneath reads to get the ball into his best players the fastest with the most space for YAC.
Former offensive coordinator Greg Olsen loved to run the zone running scheme while McDaniels loves to get into 11,12 personnel with a gap run scheme. This will benefit the offensive line, which is a question mark for the team.
This gap scheme should hide some weaknesses and shed light on the strengths of this line as they continue to develop. Without thinking too much and getting leverage on the defenders creating holes backside or stretching them out to get the backs down the sidelines.
The heavy set formations McDaniels brings are predicated on running north and south with the Dive concept or counter concepts with his gap scheme is very adaptable to whatever the front of the defense is in.
Raiders’ offense will have several advantages
McDaniels philosophy in the run game is unique, yet creates a number advantage for the offense, giving the running back 1 or 2 players to miss if they are out-leveraged or don’t have enough defenders in the box.
To complement the run game, the offense will come in empty to create a quick game approach, stretching you out and hitting you over the middle like Hunter Henry and Jacobi Myers excelled at in New England.
This will allow Hunter Renfrow more option routes in the slot while creating more one on one matchups with Darren Waller and Davante Adams. His offense in 2021 ranked ninth in DVOA which goes to show the versatility he brings to this refreshed offense.
Exciting times are ahead for the Raiders and the fanbase as this refreshed coaching staff with lots of experience and the ability to get the most out of their players should be fun to watch, expect a leap in production from this offense this season.