Raiders vs Cardinals 2022 Week 2: Things we learned
Josh Jacobs Still Runs Hard
In last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, Josh Jacobs was only given the ball 10 times and was barely a part of the offensive gameplan. In week two, McDaniels showed more faith in Jacobs by letting him carry the ball 19 times. He didn’t score a touchdown, but he did rush for 69 yards and had a couple nice runs to get the team in short-yardage situations. Jacobs also had a great carry that was later called back on a penalty.
If the Raiders hope to be the offense that they ultimately should be, then they must feed Jacobs and give him the ball early. Even with a diminished offensive line, Jacobs can find holes, break tackles, and gain positive yardage. And by running the ball effectively, Carr will be given more time in the pocket, as the opposing defense will have to play the run and the pass.
Another takeaway from Jacobs’ day is that the offensive line played better than last year. As most Raider fans probably remember, Jacobs talked last season about how he had no room to run when given the ball. That doesn’t seem to be the case this year. And as the line gains experience and learns to gel, they should make Jacobs that much more productive.