Why the Oakland Raiders Should Increase Jamize Olawale's Workload

The Oakland Raiders coaching staff set the transition from Marcel Reece to Jamize Olawale in motion.

Based on a report from ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave drew comparisons between Reece and Olawale, which explains the recent shift in ball-carrier duties.

Olawale presents the same skill set as Reece as a downhill rusher with soft hands as a receiver. To Raider Nation's dismay, the three-time Pro Bowl fullback will likely take a backseat to a younger version of himself.

More Olawale, Less Reece in the Backfield

Every week, questions flood Raiders media circles expressing interest in Reece as a solid No. 2 running back. Clearly, the coaching staff has little interest in handing off to the 30-year-old fullback at this stage in his career. The last time Reece handled a carry out of the backfield, the Detroit Lions stuffed him at the goal line.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise. Contrary to popular belief, Reece isn’t accustomed to pounding the rock past the goal line in short-yardage situations, per Associated Press writer Josh Dubow.

Typically, Reece has been utilized more as a receiver than a ball-carrier.

Year	Rushing Attempts	Rushing Yards	Receptions	Receiving Yards
2010	30	122	25	333
2011	17	112	27	301
2012	59	271	52	496
2013	46	218	32	331
2014	21	85	37	265
2015	7	30	22	210

The decision to use him as a modified tight end suits his skill set, but the Raiders must do a better job of integrating his capabilities into the passing offense. 

As for Olawale, he’s the best option in the backfield behind starting running back Latavius Murray. 

The 26-year-old is a power rusher with the ability to break tackles and move the pile.

Olawale also shows reliable ball security, unlike Taiwan Jones, who’s susceptible to strip tackles. The young fullback doesn’t provide spry lateral ability, but he’s helped put the Raiders in manageable situations on second and third downs.

Unfortunately, the Raiders haven’t fully assimilated Olawale's short power runs as a consistent threat in the backfield. He’s currently averaging 4.3 yards per carry in a minimal role.

Preserving Murray, Closing Games

James Kenney/Associated Press

The Raiders shouldn’t increase Murray’s workload unless he’s gashing a defense. Oakland's starting running back ranks seventh in rush attempts. It’s important to preserve Murray. Without him, the Raiders don’t have a chance at moving the ball consistently on the ground.

Murray averages slightly more than 16 carries per game, which seems ideal for a decent running back prone to big hits. As an inside rusher, a constant pounding works against his run style as the game progresses. Dubow provided a telling statistic that adds context to the aforementioned conclusion.

Oakland needs a fourth-quarter closer to seal the deal. It’s not about going conservative. Why throw the ball and risk stopping the clock on incomplete passes with a sizable lead?

The key to closing a football game lies within the ability to drain the clock, limit the opponent’s possessions and shorten the game. Conservative play alludes to hanging onto a one-possession lead with ample time left in the contest. 

In inclement weather, the Raiders justifiably leaned on the ground attack against the Tennessee Titans, which played out successfully until quarterback Derek Carr bobbled a snap in Raiders territory. 

Field Position	Down	Play call	Result
Oakland 23-yard line	1st	Murray Run	6-yard gain
Oakland 29-yard line	2nd	Murray Run	5-yard gain
Oakland 34-yard line	1st	Murray Run	No gain/Penalty on Titans
Oakland 39-yard line	1st	Olawale Run	7-yard gain
Oakland 46-yard line	1st	N/A	Fumble

Some spectators were critical of the play-calling in that particular series, but the rushing attack moved the ball effectively while establishing ball control. The only necessary change would involve Olawale taking a majority of the late carries. Of course, that wouldn’t prevent Carr’s fumble.

However, Murray averaged 2.6 yards per carry on Sunday. The ground attack draws a conservative connotation when it’s ineffective. When the chains are moving, it’s not considered playing scared. The Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks and Minnesota Vikings attempt 30-plus carries per game, but no one accuses those teams of playing not to lose as opposed to playing to win.

The point is that if Murray runs the ball at a higher rate per carry, all the conservative talk flies out of the window. Obviously, he’s not the guy to carry the rushing offense on his back alone.

The Raiders rank No. 27 in rush attempts per game, which signifies an imbalance as a heavy passing offense. A powerful closer would provide the Raiders offense with another strength.

The Raiders cannot expect to contend for playoff contention as a one-trick pony. The offense must find alternative ways to beat a defense when the passing attack fails to click for whatever reason.

Oakland should further develop Olawale. At the very least, he keeps Murray fresh down the stretch and adds much-needed depth to a struggling ground attack.

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All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings unless otherwise noted.