‘As we go, they go’: Raiders focused on getting running game in gear

Given the significance the Raiders put on making their run game a foundational piece of their offense, no one was happy with a lackluster effort in their season-opening loss to the Chargers.

The Raiders ran for just 71 yards, with Zamir White leading the way with 44 yards and Alexander Mattison contributing 19.

It would be an understatement to say that was not what the Raiders had in mind. From coach Antonio Pierce down to the offensive line, the Raiders envision themselves as a big, powerful run team that sets the tone by pushing opponents around.

More importantly, they understand how important carrying out that vision is to their offensive operation.

“We talk about it all the time in the running back room how we want to be the legs of this team,” Mattison said. “As we go, they go.”

There was no finger-pointing trying to explain how the run game stalled in first gear Sunday.

As left tackle Kolton Miller often alludes to, everything starts up front at the point of attack. The Raiders lost that battle against the Chargers, and the offensive line accepts responsibility.

“Obviously as an offensive line, we take pride in being able to run the ball,” right guard Dylan Parham said.

But as White stood in front of reporters Wednesday, he wasn’t about to run from any blame. The Raiders’ failure to convert a first down on three early short-yardage situations was a collective defeat, but as he said, don’t look past the guy with the ball in his hands on all three occasions.

“Me,” he said, in accepting his share of the blame.

Even wide receiver Davante Adams raised an arm, making sure his room was held accountable.

“We got to get the run game going, and that means everybody,” Adams said. “Obviously, the receivers getting in there and continuing to block and getting a good push up front and all those good things.”

In that sense, a cleansing has occurred inside the Raiders’ building over the past three days. Maybe that is the first step toward fixing the problem.

But as physical as the Chargers were Sunday, the challenge gets even tougher against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2.

Helping passing game

Unless the Raiders get the run game going in Baltimore, their offense will again be severely limited. Yes, they boast some big-time playmakers. But quarterback Gardner Minshew is limited in tapping into them without a stout rushing attack.

“Yeah, can’t have play action without a run game,” Pierce said. “That’s what I’m going to go back to. We got to establish a run, we got to get Zamir going, we got to get (Mattison) going. We got to get our whole O-line going, right? The juice and the flow starts with those big boys.

“And I always say, when those guys are ripping and rolling and coming off the rock and finishing down the field, we’re a good football team. And that obviously will open up our passing game, our play action, our keepers, our boots, everything else for that nature.”

‘Our true identity’

Hence, the champing at the bit among the key run-game contributors inside the locker room to get back on the field.

Redemption is a big motivator.

“Just having this opportunity, to go up against a stout front, and have an opportunity to show our true identity,” is how Parham put it.

Mattison agreed.

“We know that we didn’t get to showcase exactly what we wanted in the run game,” he said. “We believe in what we have. We know what we’re capable of doing. So we want to make sure we go out there and try to execute that every Sunday.

“So this will be another chance for us to prove that, and another chance to make up for that lost time, that lost momentum that we didn’t come out with in that first game.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.