The Oakland Raiders are moving up in the ranking thanks to big performances from Seth Roberts and Amari Cooper. Derek Carr as the passing game thriving in his second year with the team, but the run game is not following suit. The team continues to remain off balanced while Latavius Murray struggles as the workhorse running back. According to head coach Jack Del Rio, if the Raiders can get the run game to match the passing game, wins will follow.
The Raiders are dangling on the edge of the AFC Wild Card picture. If they can get a few more wins, there is a chance that they see the postseason while sitting at 5-6 on the season. Del Rio believes the run game is the biggest key to making that happen. Recently, Murray has struggled putting up 48, 28 and 59 yards in his last three games. As a team, Oakland ranks 23rd in the league in rushing and the head coach wants that to change.
"For us, we want to be as efficient and as productive as possible in all phases of what we do offensively," Del Rio said, via ESPN.com. "We weren't as efficient with running the ball as we would like to be. Certainly we go into games saying we'd like to throw it well, we'd like to run it well, we'd like to be really productive, score a lot of points. We threw it pretty well yesterday. We didn't run it as well as we'd like."
In the win over the Titans, the Raiders utilized Murray an Jamize Olawale as the two backs. Murary had 22 carries while Olawale had just two. Changing the rotation could help get things moving as Murray is only averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Murray is aware that the run game opens up the passing game. As the Raiders prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs, Murray can be critical to getting Carr to be more successful if he can find positive yardage and first downs.
"It may not be the 4-, 12- or 20-yard runs, but you're getting some first downs, and you're moving the ball enough so Derek can drop back and throw it," Murray said, via the Contra Costa Times. "You're doing what you need to do, but you want more."
With Roberts stepping up to help the passing game, Murray must do the same for the run game. If the Raiders can get better balanced on offense, the playoffs might not seem like such a stretch this season.
