Making the Case for Michael Dyer as Oakland Raiders' No. 2 Running Back

Trent Richardson and Michael Dyer renew a rivalry in a competition for the No. 2 running back with the Oakland Raiders.

If you’re a fan of college football, you remember Auburn’s miraculous season that led to a BCS National Championship in 2010. Quarterback Cam Newton and Dyer led Auburn's explosive offense to 14 consecutive victories in an undefeated season. In the following year, Richardson’s Alabama Crimson Tide went 12-1 to win the BCS National Championship.

These collegiate rivals had more in common than their home state, a dominant ground attack. Dyer was a sophomore when Richardson declared to enter the NFL draft as a junior in 2012. If Dyer had been eligible, he might have been the second running back selected after Richardson, whom the Cleveland Browns drafted with the third overall pick.

Dave Martin/Associated Press

Instead, the former Auburn star missed the entire 2012 season due to transfer restrictions and dealt with legal transgressions off the field, per Al.com writer Michael Casagrande.

Dyer spent two years at Louisville, but his production dropped significantly. He wasn’t even half the player who once led Auburn’s potent ground attack, partially due to injuries, rust from inactivity and the rigors of breaking into a new system behind established running backs.

In his senior year, he showed some glimpses of what he used to be in an Auburn uniform against the No. 2-ranked Florida State Seminoles: 

In his best game as a Louisville Cardinal, he showed capabilities that Richardson has lacked in the previous two seasons in the NFL.

Dyer’s vision, decisiveness when hitting an opening and downhill running style make him an attractive asset in the backfield. He put all those qualities on display in 28 attempts for 134 rushing yards and three touchdowns illustrated in the video above. Clearly, he didn’t leave all of his game in Auburn.

He managed to average 4.4 yards per carry in his final year at Louisville. He also knows how to play within a pro-style offense and protects the ball well, per NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:

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Has experience in pro-style sets. Willing to keep his running track between the tackles. Not a physical runner, but has enough leg strength to break open-field-tackle attempts near his legs. Drops pad level and protects the ball at point of impact. Was at his best last season in big game against Florida State. Only fumbled once in 153 carries while at Louisville.

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Dyer has put the past behind him and passes the eyeball test as far as taking his football career seriously. He came into NFL tryouts chiseled:

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So I hear Michael Dyer is big. pic.twitter.com/IuQBxacqko

— RaiderTruths (@RaiderTruths) May 12, 2015"

His excellence in body conditioning off the field extends to his play on the practice field, per ESPN’s Bill Williamson:

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In addition to vet RBs, UFA Michael Dyer also has a chance to make roster if he has a good camp. He had good offseason. #Raiders

— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonESPN) June 25, 2015"

Dyer’s mind and body are invested in his attempt to secure a spot on the Raiders roster. Richardson has been on a continuous downward spiral since his rookie year with the Cleveland Browns, which led to questions about his longevity in the league. Richardson’s career 3.3 yards-per-carry average isn’t doing any favors for NFL teams.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

It’s questionable as to whether Richardson can be effective within a running back committee. In 2012, Richardson had 267 attempts, followed by Montario Hardesty with 65 attempts. Cleveland traded the former first-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts, where he struggled in a committee with Donald Brown, Ahmad Bradshaw and Dan Herron over the past two seasons.

Big, bruising running backs need volume to optimize their effect in wearing down the defense. Green Bay's Eddie Lacy and Seattle's Marshawn Lynch take the majority of carries for a reason with their respective teams. Richardson won’t get that type of volume in Oakland where there are options with Latavius Murray, Marcel Reece, Roy Helu Jr. and possibly Dyer.

The Raiders' running back situation remains fluid. It’s difficult to envision Richardson standing out from the crowd within a committee of three to four ball-carriers. He’s better suited as a third-down or goal-line back in this particular setting, which wouldn’t suit his expectations, per Pro Football Talk writer Michael David Smith.

Oakland needs a system running back content with complementing Murray, who likely gets the majority of the carries. Dyer is working hard to pull himself up after falling from the mountaintop of collegiate running backs. In his position, he's going to be more receptive and likely more productive in a lesser role than Richardson.

Helu will likely serve as the pass-catching running back, which offensive line coach Mike Tice made clear when reading in between the lines of his comments on SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Raiders.com):

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Tice also had some positive things to say about Roy Helu, Jr., a Raiders free agency pickup:

And then the young man we picked up out of Washington, a local boy out of San Ramon, I think he had an outstanding offseason and he shows good quickness, good awareness.”

I think the nice thing about the kid out of Washington, the Redskins, is that he has nice hands out of the backfield – he can catch the football.

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Whoever wins the No. 2 running back competition must accept the role of carrying the ball about 10 to 12 times a game on average. Richardson isn’t a solid fit for that role.

Dyer made the most of his situation, averaging less than 15 carries per game, in a backup role at Louisville. He could also serve as a solid option in case Murray goes down with an injury. Dyer has a solid combination of game speed to hit the creases and lower-body strength to push the pile—two qualities that once made Richardson a high-end ball-carrier.