The Oakland Raiders are not looking to become the next team to buy into the read-option trend. As multiple teams spent most of the offseason looking at how they can change their offensive scheme to better fit the change in the NFL, the Raiders are more content with looking at how they can better change their offensive scheme to fit the players. As new coordinator Greg Olson and head coach Dennis Allen aim to change the team for the better, they want their system built around the talent they already have instead of forcing players to become something they are not.
Olson wants to put new life into the offensive playbook and knows that will only happen if he builds around the skillsets that already exist instead of forcing players into a strict scheme.
"So I've been exposed to a number of different systems and if there's one thing that I've learned, you'd better adapt to the players you have on your team. You'd better not pigeon-hole yourself as in, 'This is my system and this is what we're going to do' because that personnel may not match that system," Olson said.
As of now the Raiders' personnel do not match that of the read-option offense. Oakland has three pocket-passing quarterbacks and one mobile quarterback. The Raiders have toyed with the option of trading away Terrelle Pryor. They know his value is as high as it is going to be with many teams looking for a quarterback that will become the next Colin Kaepernick or Russell Wilson. Matt Flynn and Tyler Wilson have emerged as the better players and Oakland is ready to build the team around them.
Allen is thrilled with the players that Oakland has on the team and believes that with the right system in place, it is a group they can build off of and bring long-term success. After wrapping up OTAs and minicamps, Olson is aware of the strengths in his players and is prepared to make packages off of that.
"We're not sitting here claiming we have Peyton Manning, Drew Brees and Tom Brady. We never made that statement or that claim. But we've got guys we feel are very capable of running an NFL team and an NFL offense and they both possess different types of skills, so we'll try to play upon those skills until someone separates themselves," Olson said.
Quarterback Flynn is loving the playbook Olson has put together so far. He believes the team is feeling more comfortable with the change and training camp will only help in that process.
