The Las Vegas Raiders present an interesting case study for the rest of the league if they end up as a top-five scoring unit next season. The Raiders were just 24th in scoring last season under Jon Gruden and offensive coordinator Greg Olson and returned almost exactly the same offensive depth table since 2019, so why should we expect significant improvement?
In addition to a natural regression that I think should push Las Vegas in that regard, the real superstar here is the five-player block for everyone else. The case study: is an elite offensive line “enough” to do it?
The Raiders’ “elite” status in that unit likely began with the signing of center Rodney Hudson in 2015, possibly a Hall of Fame member if he plays long enough. They had added Donald Penn and Gabe Jackson a year earlier, Kelechi Osemele a year later, but I really like to focus on the center of a team as the true anchor point for their collective success. So I am.
Penn and Osemele went to the Pro Bowl in 2016 and 2017, Kolton Miller was selected in the first round in 2018, replacing Penn, and Trent Brown signed a record contract to play on the right side in 2019. This is a potentially offensive line to on par with the Kansas City Chiefs of the early 2000s, but they have ranked 31st, 17th, 7th, 23rd, 28th and 24th in score since 2014.
What will change is time around?
Mike Mayock is clearly trusting his three rookie players, a future Hall of Fame tight end, and if none of that works, a former top three quarterback looking to rebuild his reputation. For the Raiders to become the offense they need to be, like in 2016 when they were seventh in points and went 12-4 under Jack Del Rio, who will be the most important players they will have available each week?
Is it Derek Carr even though some think Marcus Mariota will start?
Is Trent Brown even if right tackle is not traditionally an offensive line priority between the top two or top three?
Is he Henry Ruggs even though he is a rookie?
Is it Darren Waller even though he wasn’t on anyone’s radar a year ago?
Is it Rodney Hudson even if he’s a center or Josh Jacobs even if he’s a runner?
I’ll put it to a vote first, and we’ll see how things start to falter according to Silver and Black Pride readers. And here is the question: Who is the the most important on the offensive 2020 Raiders? This not only takes into account the value of the initiator in your eyes, but the value relative to its backup. The value relative to your position. The value relative to expectations for that particular player.
Survey
Who is the Raiders’ top offensive player right now?
-
60%
Derek Carr
(211 votes)
-
twenty%
Josh Jacobs
(72 votes)
-
0%
Darren Waller
(1 vote)
-
3%
Henry Ruggs
(12 votes)
-
0%
Hunter Renfrow
(3 votes)
-
0%
Tyrell Williams
(1 vote)
-
0%
Jason Witten
(3 votes)
-
two%
Kolton Miller
(7 votes)
-
0%
Richie incognito
(1 vote)
-
7%
Rodney Hudson
(27 votes)
-
0%
Gabe jackson
(1 vote)
-
0%
Trent Brown
(3 votes)
-
two%
Marcus Mariota
(7 votes)
349 Voices Total
Vote now
Survey
Who is the Raider’s second most important player on offense right now?
-
2. 3%
Derek Carr
(54 votes)
-
44%
Josh Jacobs
(104 votes)
-
two%
Darren Waller
(6 votes)
-
two%
Henry Ruggs
(5 votes)
-
0%
Hunter Renfrow
(0 votes)
-
0%
Tyrell Williams
(1 vote)
-
0%
Jason Witten
(1 vote)
-
7%
Kolton Miller
(17 votes)
-
0%
Richie incognito
(2 votes)
-
fifteen%
Rodney Hudson
(36 votes)
-
0%
Gabe jackson
(2 votes)
-
0%
Trent Brown
(2 votes)
-
one%
Marcus Mariota
(4 votes)
234 Voices Total
Vote now
Survey
Who is the Raiders’ third most important attacking player right now?
-
5%
Derek Carr
(11 votes)
-
18%
Josh Jacobs
(40 votes)
-
twenty%
Darren Waller
(44 votes)
-
14%
Henry Ruggs
(30 votes)
-
two%
Hunter Renfrow
(5 votes)
-
0%
Tyrell Williams
(0 votes)
-
0%
Jason Witten
(1 vote)
-
5%
Kolton Miller
(12 votes)
-
0%
Richie Incognito
(2 votes)
-
26%
Rodney Hudson
(55 votes)
-
0%
Gabe jackson
(1 vote)
-
4%
Trent Brown
(9 votes)
-
0%
Marcus Mariota
(1 vote)
211 Voices Total
Vote now
Survey
Who has not voted yet, who would like to vote now?
-
3%
Derek Carr
(7 votes)
-
6%
Josh Jacobs
(13 votes)
-
24%
Darren Waller
(48 votes)
-
13%
Henry Ruggs
(26 votes)
-
6%
Hunter Renfrow
(12 votes)
-
4%
Tyrell Williams
(9 votes)
-
0%
Jason Witten
(1 vote)
-
9%
Kolton Miller
(18 votes)
-
two%
Richie incognito
(5 votes)
-
17%
Rodney Hudson
(35 votes)
-
one%
Gabe jackson
(3 votes)
-
6%
Trent Brown
(13 votes)
-
one%
Marcus Mariota
(2 votes)
-
0%
Bryan Edwards
(1 vote)
-
0%
Nelson Agholor
(1 vote)
-
one%
Lynn bowden
(2 votes)
-
0%
Other
(0 votes)
196 Voices Total
Vote now
Survey
Which player do you think will be overrated in these polls?
-
9%
Derek Carr
(17 votes)
-
5%
Josh Jacobs
(10 votes)
-
10%
Darren Waller
(18 votes)
-
14%
Henry Ruggs
(25 votes)
-
4%
Hunter Renfrow
(8 votes)
-
7%
Tyrell Williams
(13 votes)
-
12%
Jason Witten
(22 votes)
-
two%
Kolton Miller
(4 votes)
-
one%
Richie incognito
(2 votes)
-
two%
Rodney Hudson
(4 votes)
-
one%
Gabe jackson
(3 votes)
-
two%
Trent Brown
(5 votes)
-
2. 3%
Marcus Mariota
(41 votes)
172 Voices Total
Vote now
