There've been a lot of excuses made for the struggles of this Raiders ground game. Some of them seem somewhat valid. But today there will be no excuse for a poor performance in the run game. If they can't put up a respectable performance, something will have to give.
Why? Well, I will give you several reasons.
Jackson Powers-Johnson is a couple weeks removed from a concussion that had him miss the week two home opening loss to the Chargers and the loss to the Commanders on a short week. Alex Cappa played in his stead and was somewhere between not very good and terrible. Though, he wasn't the worst lineman on the field in either game, you'd have to figure JPJ returning should help matters.
Pete Carroll has said many times that they just need time on the field together. Well, outside of the right guard spot, the other four have all been on the field for every snap. Maybe three games isn't enough to say they're a well-oiled machine yet, but you'd expect at this point to see some improvement.
Chicago has allowed 5.5 yards per carry this season. That's second worst in the league. The Raiders have the third worst run offense at 3.1 yards per carry. You'd expect at very least the Raiders to put up something between those two numbers.
Two of Chicago's games this season they've been without starting LB TJ Edwards. He will miss this game as well. He will be joined by starting DT Grady Jarrett . So, yeah, one of the worst run defenses in the league will be weaker still.
This isn't the same lackluster backfield the Raiders were dealing with last season. They spent the sixth overall pick on the draft's top running back. In the few instances Jeanty has had any room to run, he's made plays. He has just been dealing with pressure in the backfield on a consistent basis. If the line can keep the backfield clear and perhaps clear a path now and then, Jeanty has shown he can take advantage of it. His yards after contact this season proves that.
This is an ideal set of circumstances for the Raiders' ground game to show up for the first time this season. If that doesn't happen, the questions will get louder.
So far the questions have mostly surrounded their use of Powers-Johnson. For instance, why is the Rimington Award winning center playing guard ? Or why, even after he was healthy from his concussion, was Alex Cappa given another start?
Those questions will only get louder if they can't begin putting things together today in their return to Allegiant. With perhaps some added questions surrounding offensive line coach Brennan Carroll. Because if it's not the personnel, the next question would naturally be about the coaching.
That being said, a respectable performance today would quiet those voices. At least for a week.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: If Raiders cant run on this Bears team big changes are needed
