The Oakland Raiders game plan doesn’t require a fancy diagram or a complicated film study to notice what the coordinators should try to accomplish against the Cleveland Browns in Week 3.
Cleveland’s run defense hasn’t just sprung a leak with a steady drip; it’s gushing at a steady flow. In Week 1, the New York Jets gouged the Browns’ interior defense for 154 yards, and the Tennessee Titans gained 166 yards on the ground in the following week.
The Browns obviously know about their poor run defense, so one would assume they’ll do everything to address the weakness. However, until the Browns prove they can stop the run, the Raiders should plow through the defensive line using a dynamic running back.
Attacking Browns’ Poor Run Defense
The “Tay Train” has yet to leave the Raiders backfield in full throttle. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave leaned on the arms of his quarterbacks in the first two weeks of the regular season.
In fairness, Oakland played from behind from start to finish against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1.
Musgrave decided to keep the ball in quarterback Derek Carr’s hot hands in critical moments, and his choice yielded positive results.
Cleveland’s secondary features two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden and veteran cornerback Tramon Williams, who’s providing exceptional coverage, per Pro Football Focus.
This week, Musgrave must tailor the game plan to exploit the Browns’ obvious weakness.
Key Player: Latavius Murray
In Week 2, running back Latavius Murray carried the ball 15 times for 65 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
After two weeks of light emphasis on the rushing attack, Murray doesn’t seem overly concerned. However, he does express desi...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
