Fansided

5 burning questions the Raiders must answer in 2019

By Russell S. Baxter

Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images)
Oakland Raiders running back Doug Martin (28) celebrates a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif. (Hector Amezcua/Sacramento Bee/TNS via Getty Images) /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Running back Josh Jacobs poses with a jersey after being selected by the Oakland Raiders with pick 24 on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – APRIL 25: Running back Josh Jacobs poses with a jersey after being selected by the Oakland Raiders with pick 24 on day 1 of the 2019 NFL Draft on April 25, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

3. Can rookie RB Josh Jacobs rejuvenate the ground attack?

In each of the past two seasons, the Oakland Raiders have finished 25th in the league in rushing yards per game. The overall numbers were a bit better this past year but this is an area that the club is hoping to improve. The Raiders featured balance back in 2016 when it was on its way to the playoffs. All told, the Silver and Black ground game has been inconsistent at best as of late and it is but one of many reasons that the defense spends far too much time on the field.

Earlier this year, the team added reliable running back Isaiah Crowell via free agency. But the one-time Cleveland Browns and New York Jets performer wound up suffering a season-ending injury and is on injured reserve. The club wound up re-signing veteran Doug Martin, who led the club in 2018 in carries (172), rushing yards (723) and has four of the team’s nine touchdowns on the ground. But could the team’s second of three first-round draft choices in April wind up being the focal point of the backfield?

NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein apparently thinks so. In his spring scouting reports, he said the former University of Alabama standout was “a decisive runner with outstanding one-cut talent to become a bellcow lead back.” The numbers with the Crimson Tide are far from overwhelming thanks to their stable of backs. But in 2018, Jacobs totaled 887 yards on 140 touches and scored 14 touchdowns – including 11 rushing.

Can you say fresh legs?

Next: No. 2

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