Tag: Zamir White

Raiders rookie RB will get most extensive playing time of season vs. Denver

Antonio Pierce updated the Raiders’ running back health and indicated that a rookie could be in the mix for Las Vegas versus Denver.

As the Raiders (2-8) look to halt a six-game losing streak against a Denver team that is on the rise, Las Vegas could be turning to one of its youngsters to help carry the offensive load.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce revealed in his media availability that Las Vegas’ top two running backs, Alexander Mattison and Zamir White, did not practice on Wednesday.

“Yeah, so two running backs won’t practice and neither will Jack Jones today. So, next man up mentality. Get some of these younger guys some reps, see how they do, and hopefully we get these guys back by the end of the week,” Pierce said.

Pierce also outlined the Raiders’ running back plans if they are without both Mattison and White against Denver. It includes a 10-year NFL vet and a  rookie that fans will be excited to get an extended look.

“Yeah, I mean you’re looking at Ameer [Abdullah], looking at Dylan [Laube], and then we got Sincere [McCormick] there on the practice squad. So get him some reps, get him going. Obviously, with those two gentleman not practicing today, we’ll definitely ramp up everybody else,” Pierce said.

Abdullah, a 10th-year pro out of Nebraska, enters Week 12 with 17 carries for 82 rushing yards and one rushing score in this 2024 season. The 5-foot-9, 203 pound running back has also caught 17 passes for 76 receiving yards and a score in 2024.

Laube is a rookie out of New Hampshire and was selected in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft with the 208th overall selection. The 5-foot-10, 208 pound running back has carried just once this season in the Raiders’ 32-13 Week 6 loss versus Pittsburgh.

In his New Hampshire career, Laube rushed 544 times for 2,678 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Pierce shed light on what he’s seen from Laube thus far.

“The key word right there is work ethic, because he’s a scout team running back there, giving us a good look,” Pierce said of his rookie back. “Obviously, we had some fumbles early on, talked about that with the ball security. And again, here’s a great example, right? Well, here’s your opportunity. Are you ready?

“And we’ve been talking about that. I keep talking about rookies, our younger players, you never know when your name will get called, your number is going to get called. And if it’s this week, be ready for it. But I will say this, he shows up every day, he’s in the building as early as most of our vets. He’s prepared, he goes out to practice, practices hard. He gives us good looks, got a smile on his face, and he works.”

While Laube could suddenly turn into one of the key focal points of the Raiders’ rushing attack versus the Broncos, the health statuses of Mattison and White will obviously remain key storylines to track as this week unfolds.

Mattison leads the Raiders in rushing on the season with 320 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on 97 carries. White has tallied 183 rushing yards and one score on 65 totes this season.

Kickoff between the Raiders and Broncos is set for 1:05 p.m. PT from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The Raiders fell at the Broncos, 34-18, in the two teams’ first meeting this season on Oct. 6.

Scott Turner discusses potential Raiders run game fixes

Interim Raiders offensive coordinator Scott Turner discussed how Las Vegas can find fixes in their struggling run game.

One of the biggest issues that has ailed a struggling Raiders offense has been its inability to establish and find consistent success in the run game.

Entering their Week 11 date on Sunday at the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas ranks dead last in the NFL in rushing yardage with just 692 rushing yards. The Raiders’ 3.5 yards per carry average is also last in the league.

As Scott Turner takes over as the Raiders’ interim offensive coordinator, the former passing game coordinator discussed how Las Vegas can address its struggling rushing attack.

“We’ve had some issues, obviously. We know we’re not doing a great job right now of running the football. Trying to just make sure that the communication is great up front, so number one, we know who we’re getting to. Coach [Joe] Philbin, he’s going to do a great job, even in practice yesterday.

“Just really focusing on the fundamentals of hat placement, understanding what we’re trying to get out of every run. Hopefully we can stay a little healthier and have some continuity, which will help us get going
up front. And then the backs, just being decisive, don’t worry about making a mistake or putting the ball in the wrong place, just go hit it and run and get your pads going forward,” Turner said.

As Turner pointed out, the Raiders also have to give themselves more chances to run the football by extending drives.

Las Vegas’ 199 rushing attempts on the season are second-to-last, ahead of only the Dallas Cowboys.

“And then we got to get first downs, like you got to get first downs, whether it’s in the run or pass, to give yourself more attempts to run the football, because that’s where we’re lacking too. We’re lacking at attempts. We haven’t had great efficiency, but we’re also low at attempts as well,” Turner said.

Turner reiterated that communication will be the key up front for interim offensive line coach Joe Philbin and his bunch.

“I think our focus has got to be on communication. Like those guys got to communicate, and like I said, hopefully we can get some continuity. We have had changing lineups there, and you’re right, we’ve got some talented guys up front. And I think we got some guys that are young guys that are going to continue to get better.

“And I think the more they play, the more they communicate, if we can make things – again, you can’t just say we’re going to be super simple because you’ve got to go try to make plays – but as much as we can walk that line, that helps those guys as well. Because when guys know what to do, that allows them to play fast, which builds confidence, and then you play better,” Turner said.

The Raiders’ leading rusher heading into its Week 11 date in Miami is Alexander Mattison who has carried 92 times for 301 rushing yards with three touchdowns on the ground.

Zamir White also has 60 carries for 174 rushing yards with one rushing score thus far this season.

Raiders 2024 midseason Busters

Those who have had the roughest time in an ugly season for the Raiders.

Now that we’ve separated the positive performers aka the Ballers, let’s move on to those whose performances led most directly to the Raiders’ 2-7 record and their five-game losing streak.

Busters

HC Antonio Pierce, OC Luke Getsy

A head coach who preaches not riding the emotional rollercoaster but who lets every loss cause him to make unwise public statements and every week not commit to his starting quarterback. And who always seems to make the wrong decision on 4th down.

We knew these were going to be issues of his coming into the season, which is why he surrounded himself with former head coaches on his staff. But their influence has not been able to curb his worst tendencies. The team is falling apart at the seams on both sides of the ball and all we hear is the same old lines about execution and taking care of the ball.

Days before Getsy was fired, he clapped back at a question about the team’s inability to keep up the offensive success past the first scripted drive. His response was that there is no such thing as a scripted drive, even though that’s a very commonly known concept. And the Raiders have been terrible at sustaining anything past the first drive.

It seems like after that first drive, his game plan seems to consist of simply trying to do what the defense least expects. Even though the reason defense wouldn’t expect it is because it’s just a bad idea. For instance, he will call for runs when the pass has been working, and vice versa. And it has cause many drives to stall either at the doorstep of scoring range or in goal-to-go situations. And this team can ill afford to miss opportunities like that.

The previously successful run game has been an unmitigated disaster in the zone blocking scheme he implemented and the offense as a whole has looked completely lost.

LT Kolton Miller

Three times this season Kolton Miller was the Top Buster with four times a Buster overall. He just hasn’t been himself. He has given up six sacks this season, which puts him on pace for 11 sacks which would be by far his most sacks allowed since his rookie season.

QB Gardner Minshew

Speaking of guys having their worst seasons…Minshew has thrown more interceptions (8) than touchdowns (6) this seasons. There’s also been several instances where he panicked at the first sign of pressure and just bounced around inside the pocket until he was sacked.

RB Zamir White

Nothing has gone well on the ground for the Raiders. However, Alexander Mattison for outplayed White which is saying a lot. And it’s the reason Mattison ended up taking his job.

In his first season as the named starter, he has averaged just 2.9 yards per carry and has two fumbles. Despite being a strong back, he hasn’t had success in short yardage, often going down at first contact. He also has just six catches on the season.

C Andre James

Three times this season, James was a Buster. He was injured in Week eight which had rookie Jackson-Powers Johnson move over to center from left guard, and the difference was obvious. JPJ had his best game of the season and was named a Baller. Something James has not accomplished this season.

DT John Jenkins

Jenkins has done almost nothing this season. Unless you consider getting routinely pushed up field on the block as doing something. The Raiders run defense has been abhorrent this season and the door is often opened when he gets sent backward. He had 61 tackles last season and he won’t come close to that this season on his current pace. He also has yet to record a tackle for loss and has just two QB hits.

T Thayer Munford, T DJ Glaze

Between the two of them, they have five times been Busters over the first nine games. Munford started the season and held up well in the season opener. But the next week he was the Top Buster on a team that otherwise had a great game. He was injured the following week and Glaze stepped in.

In his six starts this season, Glaze has been a Buster three times, including two of the past three games.

Munford came in last week as the team’s third string left tackle and absolutely lit up, including Trey Hendrickson putting up three sacks on him. He has given up five sacks this season despite playing in just two full games.

See the Ballers

Raiders vs Bengals final injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on TEAMA’s injury report ahead of a Week X game vs. TEAMB.

The final injury report for the Raiders and Bengals for their Week 9 matchup is out. With it, the Raiders have one player OUT and three others whose status is Questionable.

Raiders, Bengals injury report

Andre James injury update

James has been ruled OUT with an ankle injury. He will be replaced at center by Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Dylan Parham injury update

Parham is Questionable to miss his third straight game with a foot injury. Jordan Meredith has replaced him at right guard in each of the past two games.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane is Questionable with a knee injury with Antonio Pierce saying he will be a game time decision. If he can’t go, Tommy Eichenberg would most likely start at middle linebacker.

Zamir White injury update

White returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday’s practice. He is officially Questionable. Alexander Mattison is expected to get the bulk of the carries regardless, but the team has said they would like to get White going if he’s healthy.

Raiders vs Bengals injury report: Latest updates, news for Week 9

All the latest updates and news on Raiders injury report ahead of a Week 9 game vs. Bengals

Thursday can be a good litmus test for the week’s injury situations. If only to see which players may have gotten rest days or were being eased into things.

Raiders, Bengals injury report

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Andre James injury update

James missed practice again Thursday as he is dealing with an ankle injury. If he can’t go, he will be replaced by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson

Dylan Parham injury update

Parham was still limited, but the fact that he’s practicing at all opens up the possibility he could return after missing the past two weeks. He was replaced by Jordan Meredith and that would continue if he is not healthy enough to return this week.

Robert Spillane injury update

Spillane missed another practice as he deals with the knee injury he sustained early in the team’s loss over the Chiefs last Sunday. He played the remainder of the game and head coach Antonio Pierce insisted he won’t miss any time.

Zamir White injury update

White was downgraded to missing practice Thursday, putting his status in doubt for the game.

Raiders looking to ‘get Zamir (White) going’ in run game

Could we see former Raiders starter Zamir White get more carries week 9 vs the Bengals?

At the end of last season, the Raiders really thought they had something in Zamir White. He came in for an injured Josh Jacobs and had some great looking performances over the final four games.

My response was simply to slow down a bit on the talk of him making Jacobs expendable. If for no other reason than what we saw was a running back who was completely fresh come in and face worn down defenses down the stretch. I wanted to see how he performed against fresh defenses and how he held up over a full NFL season.

Well, we didn’t have to wait a full season to see White struggle to get things going in 2024. He fumbled twice in four games with no touchdowns while averaging 3.1 yards per carry. The team then switched to Alexander Mattison as the starter.

White missed a couple games with injury, but has been back the past couple weeks. Meanwhile the run game has been inconsistent, including this past Sunday when the Raiders running backs averaged less than a yard per carry.

“I think [Alexander] Mattison’s still the starter, but we got to get Zamir [White] going,” Antonio Pierce said. “I mean, Zamir, I hate to keep referring, but last year we saw a lot of positive stuff from Zamir and seen a little bit of it earlier in this season. I think he’s just got to get out of the funk as well. I know those fumbles early on really got to him, then he had the injury, but it’s always good when we got him going downhill. I mean, he’s a big gentleman who’s physical, and obviously, I don’t think you ever see one running back in. You look at the whole league and everybody’s using two backs.”

The Chiefs loss was Mattison’s roughest outing of the season. He averaged 1.1 yards per carry and failed to get into the end zone despite four tries from inside the five. So, naturally the discussion has turned to whether White can help get things going.

The problem is, no matter how Mattison has looked this season — some good, some bad, depending on the opponent — White has always looked worse.

Now, maybe White’s had enough rest the past few weeks that he can provide a boost with fresh legs. It’s worth a shot. Got to try everything in your arsenal, rigtht?

Raiders worst in NFL in every turnover statistic after Week 7

Every one of the primary turnover statistics has the Raiders dead last. In some cases by a wide margin.

I don’t know how rare this is, but the Raiders are sitting in quite a spot in terms of turnovers. Seven weeks in, the Raiders are the worst is every turnover statistic. Some by a wide margin.

Here are the bottom five in each of the turnover stats for this season:

Interceptions:

28. Chiefs 8
28. Packers 8
28. Titans 8
31. Panthers 9
32. Raiders 10

Gardner Minshew 8
Aidan O’Connell 2

Fumbles lost:

27. Patriots 5
27. Vikings 5
27. Broncos 5
27. Saints 5
31. Cardinals 6
31. Raiders 6

Gardner Minshew 2
Zamir White 2
Ameer Abdullah 1
Dylan Laube 1

Turnovers:

26. Packers 11
26. 49ers 11
26. Cowboys 11
26. Saints 11
30. Panthers 12
30. Titans 12
32. Raiders 16

Turnover differential

28. Eagles -6
28. Cowboys -6
28. Panthers -6
31. Titans -9
32. Raiders -13

Robert Spillane 1 INT
Tre’von Moehrig 1 INT
Nate Hobbs 1 INT

To make matters worse, they have yet to recover a single forced a fumble this season. So, they’re tied for the worst in that category as well.

These stats are why their turnover differential is twice that of the teams just two spots ahead of them.

Four times this season the Raiders have turned the ball over at least three times. Sunday against the Rams they turned it over four times. The first three turned in to touchdowns. The fourth ended the game.

Injury update: Maxx Crosby among several Raiders starters back at practice Friday

Raiders get some potential good news Friday with several key starters back at practice in prep for the Steelers.

With the Steelers coming to Las Vegas Sunday, the Raiders will need all the healthy bodies they can get. Friday’s practice will see several starters who had missed the first two practices this week return to the field, opening up the possibility that they will play Sunday.

None are more important than Maxx Crosby who has missed more practices than he’s particapted the past few weeks as he battles through a high ankle sprain. He played last week despite missing two practices, and is expected to do the same this week.

One of the more worrisome missing players this week is WR Jakobi Meyers. So his return to practice Friday was a welcome sight. With Davante Adams not playing with his hamstring injury and trade request, the Raiders were already digging into their depth chart at receiver. Meyers’s absence would have them woefully thin at the position.

Rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson missed Wednesday and Thursday with a knee injury and is returning Friday. Antonio Pierce expects he will play and is hoping the second round pick can hold up against All Pro DT Cameron Heyward.

Also practicing Friday after missing last Sunday’s game and the first two practices this week is RB Zamir White. It was expected that even if White were able to play last week, he would lose snaps to Alexander Mattison. White’s status is uncertain for the game.

Raiders, Broncos final Week 5 injury report: Maxx Crosby Questionable

Maxx Crosby Questionable on Raiders injury report

Finally some good news on the Raiders injury report. After seeing their already lengthy list of injured players who missed practice get even longer on Thursday, Friday brought the return of some key players to practice along with the chance that they are able to play Sunday in Denver.

Most notable, of course, being Maxx Crosby who returned from his ankle injury Friday and is officially Questionable for the game.

Also returning to practice Friday after missing the first two practices of the week were LB Divine Deablo, G Dylan Parham, WR Tyreik McAllister, and LB Kana’i Mauga. All of whom are officially Questionable for the game.

Those officially out include WR Davante Adams (hamstrong), T Thayer Munford (knee/ankle), CB DeCamerion Richardson (hamstring), TE Michael Mayer (personal), S Trey Taylor (knee), RB Zamir White (groin), and LB Luke Masterson (knee).

Replacing Munford at RT will be rookie DJ Glaze. Replacing TE Michael Mayer will be Harrison Bryant. Replacing WR Davante Adams is Tre Tucker. Replacing LB Luke Masterson is Tommy Eichenberg.

Out for the Broncos is RB Tyler Badie (back).

Raiders, Broncos Week 5 injury report: Raiders already long injury list grows longer

Raiders already long injury list grows longer

Funny how the Raiders can get a player back at practice, but the number of those missing from practice actually grew. That’s because while they got Kolton Miller back at practice, RB Zamir White is now down with a groin injury, as is LB Luke Masterson with a knee injury

Everyone else who missed practice due to injury on Wednesday was still missing Thursday.

Masteron was replacing Divine Deablo who is still missing with an oblique injuty. Which means if neither of them can go, the Raiders would have to dig even deeper into their linebacker depth chart.

Zamir White had been the team’s feature back the past four weeks, but was expected to see his snaps decrease in favor of Alexander Mattison.

Others still not practicing for the Raiders include starters WR Davante Adams (hamstring), TE Michael Mayer (personal), T Kolton Miller (knee/shoulder), T Thayer Munford, G Dylan Parham (Achilles), and DE Maxx Crosby (ankle).