With a 16–12 victory over the New York Jets, the Raiders are on the rise. The squad’s performance on offense, defense, and special teams should inspire the coaching staff despite the valiant effort’s lack of beauty.
Following an examination of the All-22 coaches video, the following are some insights and ideas from a former NFL scout.
The straw that stirs the Raiders’ beverage is Josh Jacobs.
The Raiders’ return to form after putting a lot of work into making Jacobs the focal point of the offense is no accident. The explosive runner that won the 2022 NFL rushing title had the strength, power, and competitive endurance to manage a demanding workload as an old-school RB1.
This was seen in 2022 when he averaged 4.9 yards per attempt and racked up 1,653 run yards on 340 carries with 12 touchdowns. Despite having a slow start to the season, he has improved since Week 9, amassing 214 run yards on 53 attempts and two touchdowns.
In order to make sure the Pro Bowler feels comfortable touching the ball on runs when he can see and feel spaces opening up between the tackles, interim offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree appears to have designed his call sheet around the player’s preferred routes. Because of his strength, wiggle, and explosiveness, Jacobs is difficult for defenders to gauge in the hole.
The 5-foot-10, 223-pound player also has a “dawg” mindset, which welcomes roughness and contact. The Raiders are drawn to his directness and enthusiasm. Regaining Jacobs’ role as the offensive focal point has allowed the Raiders to reposition themselves as a gritty, physical squad that is predicated on toughness, relentlessness, and physicality.
It’s the perfect fit for Aidan O’Connell.
With only four games (three starts) as a rookie starter under his belt, O’Connell lacks the experience, but he has the poise, confidence, and skill to succeed as a “game manager” for a team that needs professional and reliable performance at the position.
Plus, he knows that the way to play “winning football” is to follow the plan and play to his limits as a player. Despite not having particularly impressive statistics (63.5% completion percentage, 2:3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, 76.4 passer rating), the star Purdue player has made wise selections with the football while making sure the Raiders’ best players receive enough touches to have an effect on the game.
Hardegree’s player-centric gameplanning, which places an emphasis on getting the ball to the blue-chip players as much as possible, is partly to blame for O’Connell’s success. Flashes of elite playmaking ability are displayed by the youngster, who is a wonderful touch and anticipates the play. The first-year player’s seven-yard touchdown throw to Michael Mayer is the ideal illustration of how he gives one of his pass receivers an opportunity to make a play on a 50-50 ball.
To help the Raiders advance, O’Connell will ultimately need to go from being a game manager to a playmaker, but the rookie has already demonstrated the ability to create big plays out of the pocket. After a brilliant play fake that stopped the defense’s second level, he connected with Davante Adams on a long crosser, opening up a wide gap for the All-Pro pass catcher.
Because of his skill with the ball, timing, and anticipation, O’Connell seems to be a good fit for a scheme that sets him up for big plays on supplementary action. The rookie quarterback for the Raiders is making good development as a rising QB1 with the skill and intangibles for the position. He is expected to have more downfield opportunities as opponents concentrate on stopping Jacobs with eight-man boxes.
