Tag: Zamir White

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).

Raiders, Broncos Week 5 injury report: Maxx Crosby among 8 Raiders starters missing

Maxx Crosby, Kolton Miller among 8 Raiders starters who missed practice Wednesday

Quite an injury report for the Raiders heading into Week five for the Raiders. In total they were missing ten players, eight of whom are starters.

Among those not practicing for the Raiders are starters WR Davante Adams (hamstring), TE Michael Mayer (personal), T Kolton Miller (knee/shoulder), T Thayer Munford, G Dylan Parham (Achilles), DE Maxx Crosby (ankle), and LB Divine Deablo (oblique).

Limited were RB Zamir White (groin), LB Luke Masterson (knee), and S Isaiah Pola-Mao (personal).

Several of these players missed Sunday’s game against the Browns including Adams, Mayer, Munford, Crosy, and Deablo.

Busters for Raiders Week 4 win over Browns

Busters for Raiders Week 4 win over Browns

We know the heroes for this come-from-behind win over the Browns. But it wasn’t all good in the hood. The Browns were able to stay within striking distance for a reason.

Busters

T Kolton Miller

Myles Garrett has a way of making opponents look silly. But this isn’t about judging the quality of the opponent. And there’s no softening things because of it.

Things started to go badly for Miller on the final drive of the second quarter. The Raiders got the ball with 1:20 left to the half. A 17-yard run on first down had them thinking they might be able to get a score before heading into the locker room. But that hope ended on the next play when Miller gave up the sack. So, they opted to just head for the locker room with a 10-10 tie instead.

The Raiders got the ball first in the second half and on their first third down, Miller gave up a big hit on Gardner Minshew that would have ended the drive if not for Garrett being flagged for roughing the passer. Still not good to get your own QB blown up like that.

To begin the fourth quarter, the Raiders were clinging to a four-point lead after a fumble return for a touchdown by the Browns. They had moved to midfield on their drive when on third and two, Miller gave up another sack to end the threat.

With 4:55 left in the game, the Raiders were hoping to keep possession long enough to drain the clock out. But on the very first play, Miller was late getting to his assignment, causing a tackle for a loss of five yards. It led to a three-and-out and just over a minute and a half off the clock, giving the Browns plenty of time to drive for the winning score, which they very nearly did.

RB Zamir White

While the rest of the offense came out of their running futility funk, White did not. He had a season-high 17 carries and the result was a season worst performance, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry with the team’s only turnover on a fumble that was scooped up and returned for a touchdown.

The team turned to Alexander Mattison after White’s fumble, but when they gave him the ball again, he was promptly stopped in the backfield for a loss of five yards.

In the second half, with the Raiders needing to score and then keep the ball away from the Browns’ offense, White had six carries for a combined four yards and a fumble, giving them their only points in the second half. During that same time frame Mattison had four carries for 36 yards. A change at feature back is forthcoming.

QB Gardner Minshew

14 of 24 for 130 yards and no TD’s with two rushes for negative two yards and two sacks. Yeah, the Raiders got the win, but it wasn’t on the arm or the legs of Minshew.

The first drive was dead in the water, but might have come out of it had Minshew been able to connect with DJ Turner who had gotten behind the defense on what would have been a huge gain. Perhaps even a touchdown. But Minshew overthrew him. Turner is very fast, so that’s not easy to do. The result was the Raiders were down 10-0 before Minshew had completed a pass.

To his credit, he did complete a few passes to help the Raiders tie the game up in the second quarter. But another drive would end with a bad throw to an open receiver. This time is was underthrown into the turf and Daniel Carlson had to connect on a 52-yard field goal as a result.

The first drive of the third quarter only got into scoring range due to a roughing the passer penalty. And it ended two plays later with Minshew overthrowing Jakobi Meyers. The touchdown drive on the next possession featured one completed pass and two overthrows. The final 35 yards came on the ground.

The fourth quarter saw Minshew convert zero third downs with just one first down total through the air.

LB Luke Masterson

The only touchdown drive for the Browns was their first drive of the game. And it had Masterson mistakes all over it. First play he was out of position on a six yard run. A few plays later he would miss a tackle on a five-yard run. They had driven to the 12-yard-line and Masterson gave up a seven-yard catch. Two plays later, he gave up the first down run to put them in first and goal at the one. Two plays after that, he bit hard on the play action to allow a wide open touchdown to the tight end.

The next defensive series hadn’t even started yet and Masterson was already hurting them. He was flagged for being illegally downfield on the punt.

Late in the second quarter, the Browns were driving to try and re-take the lead. And they nearly did it thanks to Masterson giving up two catches for 36 yards.

I counted at least three missed tackles by Masterson, which means he had nearly as many missed tackles as he he solo tackles (4).

T DJ Glaze

Nothing went right on the Raiders first possession of the game. But the worst part was Glaze being flagged for holding on the second play which backed them up to their own eight yard line.

Glaze gave up a hit on Minshew in the third quarter. Then on the first play of the fourth quarter, he was beaten off the snap to get Zamir White smacked in the backfield and White fumbled it away. It was returned for a touchdown to make it a four-point game.

See the Ballers

Raiders to make change at running back

Four games into the season, the Raiders are making change at running back

For the first time this season the Raiders running game got something going. After three games averaging 51 yards rushing per game, they eclipsed their entire total from the first three games in this game alone.

They did it, in part by spreading out the defense sideline to sideline, utilizing sweeps and reverses. But the funny thing was, even with the sudden success they had, it didn’t seem to improve how starting running back Zamir White played.

Take a look at these yards per carry numbers:

DJ Turner — 18 ypc (TD)
Alexander Mattison — 12 ypc
Brock Bowers — 12 ypc
Tyreik McAllister — 5.5 ypc
Tre Tucker — 3 ypc (TD)
Zamir White — 2.8 ypc (fumble)

Coming into this game, the Raiders had the worst yards per carry in the league. They were averaging 2.8 yards per carry…same as White had in this game.

The bulk of the yards gained were by Alexander Mattison. The veteran had three of the top six longest plays of the game on runs of 24, 18, and 16 yards and finished with a team-leading 60 yards on just five carries.

White’s performance remained status quo for him this season. On top of that, he fumbled the ball away that was returned for a touchdown.

Mattison’s numbers may have took a leap in this game, but mainly that’s because he just hasn’t gotten a lot of touches. He got 12 carries combined in the first three games and 19 total touches. Despite his low touches (24), he leads the team in touchdowns (three) and has just one fewer yard from scrimmage than White who has 30 more touches (54).

Monday, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce acknowledged Mattison’s performance and said a change is coming.

“He’s deserved more reps,” Pierce said of Mattison. “And he’ll get them.”

Pierce said the same of guard Jackson Powers-Johnson last week and then Powers-Johnson started Sunday’s game and played every snap.

Raiders change up run game approach vs Browns, eclipse entire season rushing total

Funny what can happen when you try something other than running into brick walls over and over.

Three games in and the Raiders were averaging 51 yards rushing per game. Their offense was incredibly predictable and going nowhere fast. Something seems to have finally clicked with the coaching staff that starting nearly every set of downs with two runs up the middle was not establishing anything but how terrible the Raiders were at doing it.

So, today, the Raiders tried something new – give the receivers the ball.

And by that, I mean literally hand it to them.

Five times in the game, the Raiders gave it to a receiver either on a sweep or a reverse. The result of those plays was 44 yards and both of the Raiders’ touchdowns.

The first time came late in the first quarter and it went to Brock Bowers who picked up 12 yards on the play. That led out a long touchdown drive. That drive ended with Tyreik McAllister going for ten yards on a sweep and two plays later, Tre Tucker on the reverse for the touchdown from three yards out.

“You call it in the huddle and in my head it’s a touchdown because no one’s running me down. It’s three yards I had to get,” said Tucker. “I bet my life I can get three yards down there, so that’s what I did.”

Plays like that have residual effects.

The next Raiders drive, Tucker caught a pass in the right flat and then turned it into nine yards. The next play, Alexander Mattison got the ball up the middle and took off for the longest run of the season, going for 24 yards. It was a pull block by newly minted starter Jackson Powers-Johnson that helped open up the hole Mattison used.

“Definitely a domino effect,” said Powers-Johnson of one good run leading to another. “You just gain confidence. Sometimes you just need…I mean you look at a pitcher who practices his curve ball. Doesn’t get it right, doesn’t get it right. And then he feels that perfect flick of the wrist and just curves right over. That’s how it is. You see that one pop where pads are popping and you feel that crowd and you’re like, ok let’s go.”

That 24-yarder wasn’t just the longest run of the season. It was TWICE that of their previous longest run of the season. And by halftime the Raiders had 95 yards on the ground, which already nearly doubled their previous yards per game average. It’s no accident it came on the heels of several successful plays on the outside.

“It keeps the defense on their toes and keeps them thinking,” Mattison said of getting the receivers involved in the run game. “They don’t know who’s getting the ball, they don’t know where the ball’s going. So for us to be able to keep them operating and thinking like that, it’s big.”

Come the third quarter, Mattison broke off another big run. This time for 16 yards. And the Raiders used that run to throw the curve ball and hand it to DJ Turner on a sweep. Turner got a nice block from Brock Bowers to get around the edge and another great block from Tre Tucker to finish it off with a touchdown.

Turner has no shortage of speed. But Turner knows even the quickest players need their teammates doing their jobs to turn good gains into paydirt.

“He told me before the game ‘once you get the ball I got you’, Turner said of Tucker. “So I just followed him and it happened.”

“It was awesome,’ Tucker said of the play. “It’s one of those things where I can’t really see what’s going on behind me. I’m just blocking and blocking and next thing I know I’m like I just hear the crowd go crazy. I’m like what happened and DJ’s in the end zone and I’m out of bounds blocking. Like they say that’s a touchdown block.”

With that touchdown run, the Raiders went up 20-10 and led the rest of the way. And by midway through the fourth quarter, they had already surpassed in this game alone, their entire rushing total over the first three games coming in.

Funny what can happen when you stop simply banging your head against the wall over and over.

3 causes for concern as the Raiders face the Browns Sunday

The biggest causes of concern for the Raiders in their Week 4 matchup with the Browns on Sunday.

I know what you’re thinking right now. What about this Raiders team *isn’t* a cause for concern right now? That’s fair. But I suppose some things are more glaring than others. Here are three big ones that come to mind.

Myles Garrett

Antonio Pierce was asked for his thoughts on Myles Garrett and he summed it up with one word – “Scary”. Garrett is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and for good reason. He was in the top ten in sacks (14), tackles for loss (17), and QB hits (30), and pressures (86). Now, you can argue Maxx Crosby was better considering Crosby had better numbers in every one of those categories, but that’s not really the point here.

The point is Garrett is a problem. And the Raiders offensive tackles have not exactly shown the ability to keep even decent pass rushers out of the backfield this season. Even Kolton Miller has been uncharacteristically susceptible to getting beaten. And rookie DJ Glaze will be making his first start on the other side.

Stars injured

No question the Raiders have exactly two stars on their team. Maxx Crosby on defense and Davante Adams on offense. Neither of whom will play Sunday. Crosby is officially listed as Doubtful by Antonio Pierce said Friday Crosby would be OUT. Adams suffered a hamstring injury in practice this week and he’s been ruled OUT.

Even with Crosby playing last week, the defense gave up 36 points because Crosby was hobbled and not destroying the offense’s game plan. Now, to be without him entirely? Yikes.

The only game the Raiders won this season was when Adams was caught nine passes for 110 yards and had some masterful late game heroics. He won’t be an option in the pass game this week.

League worst ground game

Despite Raiders OC Luke Getsy’s laughable comment that the Raiders run game showed some improvement last week, it hasn’t. Their 2.8 rushing yards per attempt is easily the worst in the league. 

And get this, they are ALSO the worst run DEFENSE in the league, giving up a league worst 5.4 yards per carry.

The Browns are decent both in terms of yards per carry on the offense (4.3) and yards per carry allowed by the defense (4.4). Both stats are above league average.

Also see: 3 Reasons for optimism for Raiders vs Browns