When looking at all of the additions the Raiders made this offseason, it doesn't seem that running back was too high on the list of priorities. Even with the retirement of Maurice Jones-Drew and the departure of Darren McFadden via free agency, Oakland didn't seem too concerned with this position.
Ultimately, that'll prove to be the right decision, because the team's 2015 starting running back was already on the roster.
The Raiders brought in Roy Helu Jr., but he'll be a supplemental part of the offense. When it comes to the starting job, the competition will come down to free-agency gamble Trent Richardson and the returning Latavius Murray.
In only three years in the NFL, Richardson has already failed to make an impact as a part of two different organizations. Murray, on the other hand, has flashed promise in limited opportunities.
When the first-string Oakland offense lines up for the first time on August 14 to host the St. Louis Rams, it should be Murray who lines up alongside Derek Carr in the backfield.
The 2014 Rushing Attack That Wasn't
Given that Oakland finished last season with a 3-13 record, plenty of things need fixing. But for all of the areas in which the team struggled, the one thing that stood out more than any other was the historically bad rushing attack.
The running game was glaring in its absence. Oakland finished the season with the worst overall ground attack in the NFL.
The Raiders struggled in a lot of areas including the passing game, pass rush and secondary. But there were some positive signs from Carr, including some games when he looked like a true franchise quarterback. On defense, the team has some promising talent in Kh...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
