It depends if we can actually establish the run this year

with the improvement in personnel we should be able to but I remember thinking that last year

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I can't remember where I read/heard this, but it's seems like I recall something about Olsen saying we would be featuring more emphasis on the running game this season.

Yes. Bradley and Caldwell have hinted at that as well. One of the catchphrases seems to be "take some pressure off of the QB."


Watching Oakland games from last year lately to find morsels for this thread - I'm coming away thinking that the Marrone hire may be a big part of this. I have much more to watch, but so far I'm seeing lots of failed power runs between the tackles. Makes me think Marrone was brought on to spice up Olson's playbook with some ZBS stuff.

Just a hunch at this point. When I have time I'll watch a couple more old games and post a couple more gifs...

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Yes. Bradley and Caldwell have hinted at that as well. One of the catchphrases seems to be "take some pressure off of the QB."


Watching Oakland games from last year lately to find morsels for this thread - I'm coming away thinking that the Marrone hire may be a big part of this. I have much more to watch, but so far I'm seeing lots of failed power runs between the tackles. Makes me think Marrone was brought on to spice up Olson's playbook with some ZBS stuff.

Just a hunch at this point. When I have time I'll watch a couple more old games and post a couple more gifs...

Marrone was the most important hire of the offseason

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Coughlin when asked if winning will be a focus: "What the hell else is there? This is nice and dandy, but winning is what all this is about."

If we are going to emphasize the run,I suspect we take a RB in one of the first three rounds.

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It's actually hard to find a game from last season in which the Raiders had real success on the ground. I'm pulling stuff from their mid-October game with the Chargers - who had the 25th ranked run defense last year. 

 

Halfway through the 2nd quarter - I've already seen more runs up the middle against a stacked box then I think this board could stomach in one game, but there are a few glimmers of hope. 

 

This one is only a four yard gain by MJD, but you see the pulling LG and motioning TE get involved to help out. (a little flashier than the mostly old school power runs I've witnessed so far in this game. The game started with McFadden up the gut for 3 yards against 8 in the box.)

 

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Here's another where they make no attempt to disguise the run and this time it's the FB and pulling guard trying to lead the way for McFadden. 

 



 

6 yard gain

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That one ^ isn't so bad.  What's bad is following it immediately with this:

 



 

While the play design did create some room between RG and RT  -- the telegraphing of the play allowed the OLB to cheat up in the box tighter to the line and make the play from the other side.  (clearly seen in the other angle of this play not posted)

 

I hope we see more creativity than this. 

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That one ^ isn't so bad. What's bad is following it immediately with this:




While the play design did create some room between RG and RT -- the telegraphing of the play allowed the OLB to cheat up in the box tighter to the line and make the play from the other side. (clearly seen in the other angle of this play not posted)


I hope we see more creativity than this.

My biggest gripe is that the best back they had, they barely used... Latavius Murray.


Even after he had his breakout game he was rarely used and then I believe he wound up getting injured.

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Coughlin when asked if winning will be a focus: "What the hell else is there? This is nice and dandy, but winning is what all this is about."

My biggest gripe is that the best back they had, they barely used... Latavius Murray.


Even after he had his breakout game he was rarely used and then I believe he wound up getting injured.

Yeah. The Raiders personnel decisions were a mess last year. No doubt it contributed to their poor offensive showing and eventually cost Allen his job.

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"Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry, he's a mile away and barefoot."

I have loved everything we have been doing in the off season except for Olson. I am ready to see what he can do with our offense, however, his track record so far is not the best. Hoping that it was mostly being put in no win situations and that we are primed up for a nice season. 

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I have loved everything we have been doing in the off season except for Olson. I am ready to see what he can do with our offense, however, his track record so far is not the best. Hoping that it was mostly being put in no win situations and that we are primed up for a nice season. 

Well, let's hope for a better season than what Olson had while he was in Oakland. 

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I y'ams who I y'ams and thats all I y'ams...