What Might The Raiders Bring Offensively To The Table In 2021?
It’s not farfetched to agree that the Las Vegas Raiders ran a pretty decent offense in 2020, right? In all honesty, if it wasn’t for the fact that LV didn’t play their best ball on the defensive side of the game, thanks to former DC Paul Guenther, one could argue that the Raiders were a playoff worthy team last season. Well the Silver and Black crew did some much needed work on defense which will help them look better and better for NFL odds experts, but what about their offense.
The offensive roster that Las Vegas has is a very good one, they can score points like if it was no one’s business, but will it be enough to carry them into the playoffs this year? With a revamped offensive line, a QB is in dire need of showing the league why he’s considered one of the premier but underestimated talents around and a crop of elite offensive weapons, what will the Raiders bring to the table offensively this upcoming season?
This Season Will Be Derek Carr’s To Win or Leave LV
Raiders QB Derek Carr will be entering his 8th season in the pros with Las Vegas. He has somewhat become a symbol of the Raiders’ ground and pound fighting spirit. Even with the constant slew of rumors putting him away from the silver and black, he always comes back for another go at it with the Raiders.
While many Carr haters will always find a way to find and exploit as many of the QB’s flaws as possible there is absolutely no denying that this man gets better and better as each season goes by. He has thrown over 4,000 yards in each of his last three seasons as a starter with only 17 interceptions and a pass completion rate of 65%. Apart from that, it’s very easy to see how he has become a true leader of the Raiders football team and culture all around.
2021 will definitely be the year in which Carr takes everything to the much deserved next level, especially including all of the offensive weapons he has surrounding him. He has an elite running back in Josh Jacobs plus a great backup in Kenyan Drake and an elite tight end in Darren Waller.
Add to that the likes of second year WR Henry Ruggs III, John Brown and Hunter Renfrow and the man will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Carr will easily throw for over 4,500 yards in 2021 benefitting not just from his array of weapons accompanying him but also from the extra game to be played. Expect career high numbers from Carr.
Jacobs and Drake Will Be Terrific For LV, Terrifying For Opponents
What makes a running back stand out above competition game in and game out. Yeah, they could have the brute strength and speed that a player like Derrick Henry offers or the sleek moves that a Saquon Barkley style player has. But when you’re able to have a running back who can run the ball with power and also catch it on the go with a quick pass, then you have money and the Raiders have that in both Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake. While the majority of the running game will still be Jacobs’ work in the Raiders’ offense, the addition of Kenyan Drake from Arizona to lighten up the load will only make both of them explode even more.
It’s not out there to believe that if played properly by Gruden, both Jacobs and Drake will easily be able to have stellar seasons in 2021. Last season Jacobs rushed for over 1000 yards and had over 200 yards receiving while Drake held his own with almost 1000 yards rushing as well and over 100 yards receiving. Once these two get going, seeing them both have over 1,000 all-purpose yards in the 2021 season is very easy to predict and expect.
2021 Will Be The Year Henry Ruggs III Comes Out To Ball
So Nelson Agholor left for New England, leaving the WR1 position up for grabs, you know what that means? It’s time for Henry Ruggs III to step up and show the league why he was a dominating force in Alabama in his college playing days.
Sure his rookie season was not what everyone expected from him, especially after being selected as the first ever draft pick by the Las Vegas Raiders with only 26 catches and 450 yards. But the man has skills, he has poise and he showed some of that off last season.
2021 will be the year in which Derek Carr and the Raiders will surely see Ruggs take over at the WR1 position and if kept injury free he will rock that position. His speed and skill to find all the deep gaps needed for Carr’s long ball game will make him shine with John Brown and Hunter Renfrow backing him up accordingly.
Once he takes over the top WR position for the Raiders Ruggs should easily go for over 1,000 yards and position himself as the best passing weapon Carr will have for years to come in the silver and black.
