Raiders’ offense could be explosive, but has big line concerns

Editor’s note: This is the archetypal of 2 parts grading the Raiders’ roster entering the season. Today: the offense.

The Raiders scored the 10th astir points successful the NFL past year, which was much than bully capable to suffice for the playoffs. But 1 of the worst defenses sabotaged those plans.

In spite of however bully Derek Carr and the discourtesy were a twelvemonth ago, Jon Gruden and Mike Mayock believed alteration was necessary. Part of that is for wage headdress purposes and portion is to inject much versatility into an onslaught that struggled successful the reddish zone.

The effect is simply a rebuilt violative line, immoderate much-needed backfield assistance for Josh Jacobs and a perchance explosive wide receiver radical to complement prima choky extremity Darren Waller.

Here is simply a position-by-position look astatine the Raiders offense. (* — injured reserve; + — suspended list).

Quarterback

Personnel: Derek Carr, Marcus Mariota, Nathan Peterman.

What’s new: The Raiders are rolling with the aforesaid unit from past year, albeit with a presumably healthier Marcus Mariota. He was banged up astatine the process extremity of grooming camp, but if he’s bully physically expect him to beryllium the wide No. 2.

Bottom line: Coming disconnected the champion play of his career, Carr is heading into his 4th twelvemonth nether Jon Gruden and successful afloat bid of the offense. He is surrounded by the champion supporting formed successful his career, truthful expectations are high. Mariota, if healthy, could spot enactment arsenic a situational backmost taking vantage of his moving and passing skills. Peterman offers plentifulness of playbook bid successful his 3rd play successful the program.

Grade: 8 of 10.

Running back

Personnel: Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Peyton Barber, *Jalen Richard, (FB) Alec Ingold.

What’s new: The Raiders reeled successful Kenyan Drake aboriginal successful escaped agency, identifying him arsenic an perfect complement to Jacobs but besides a run/pass acceptable successful Gruden’s offense. Peyton Barber was a precocious summation and replaces the injured Jalen Richard.

Bottom line: For everything Jacobs has done good implicit 2 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, staying steadfast has been an issue. The summation of Drake helps mitigate that issue, portion besides adding versatility. Barber is simply a proven third-down back. In Ingold, the Raiders person arguably the champion fullback successful the NFL.

Grade: 8 of 10.

Wide receiver

Personnel: Henry Ruggs, Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow, Zay Jones, Willie Snead.

What’s new: Snead is the lone newcomer, with Nelson Agholor moving onto New England. But successful Ruggs and Edwards, a brace of second-year players, the Raiders are counting connected improved play.

Bottom line: The Raiders are banking connected Ruggs and Edwards taking large steps guardant successful their 2nd season, and if they calculated correctly it should mean a speedier wide receiver group. Renfrow represents the lone certainty, though, with Snead and Jones a brace of seasoned backups. Until Ruggs and Edwards beryllium it, it’s a batch of fingers crossed.

Grade: 6 of 10.

Tight end

Personnel: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Derek Carrier, Nick Bowers.

What’s new: Bowers, present successful his 2nd twelvemonth with the Raiders, made the squad retired of campy and fundamentally replaces Jason Witten successful the 4 choky extremity group. The existent alteration is the caller relation for Moreau, present steadfast disconnected a genu wounded and acceptable to blossom.

Bottom line: Waller is 1 of the NFL’s astir electrifying weapons and Moreau is an emerging young weapon. The Raiders tally aggregate dense choky extremity packages and person the close radical to bash it.

Grade: 9 of 10.

Tackle

Personnel: Kolton Miller, Alex Leatherwood, Brandon Parker, Jermaine Eluemunor.

What’s new: The Raiders chopped ties with oft-injured Trent Brown, and replaced him with Leatherwood, who they judge has the durability, passionateness and endowment to beryllium a decade-long stalwart astatine close tackle. Eluemunor was a precocious summation arsenic a plaything tackle candidate.

Bottom line: The Raiders are counting connected the durability of near tackle Miller, who is increasing into 1 of the champion successful the concern to make consistency. They person to due to the fact that it mightiness get dicey if the Raiders person to crook to backups Parker and Eluemunor.

Grade: 6 of 10.

Guard

Personnel: Richie Incognito, Denzelle Good, John Simpson.

What’s new: Gabe Jackson was traded successful the offseason to make salary-cap space, leaving large shoes to fill. His spot volition beryllium filled by Good, who showed capable past play to make assurance helium tin beryllium the full-time starter.

Bottom line: Incognito and Good are much than susceptible of providing the indispensable level of play, but Incognito has been incapable to decorativeness 2 consecutive seasons due to the fact that of injuries. Simpson looked acceptable to spell successful grooming camp, but tin the second-year Clemson imaginable clasp down the fort if asked?

Grade: 6 of 10.

Center

Personnel: Andre James, Nick Martin.

What’s new: James, who spent the past 2 years arsenic a improvement project, replaces long-time starter Rodney Hudson. While determination is assurance successful James arsenic a starter, it’s a interest until helium proves it. Martin adds acquisition down James and tin play defender if indispensable too.

Bottom line: Until James proves helium tin beryllium a full-time NFL starter, this presumption remains a question mark.

Grade: 6 of 10.

Contact Vincent Bonsignore astatine vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore connected Twitter.