Raiders offense must be more productive in red zone

In spite of scoring the 10th-most points successful the NFL past year, the Raiders had a large to-do database connected that broadside of the shot this offseason.

The goals were to make much efficiency, propulsion a mates of youngsters to higher levels and get younger and much cost-effective connected the violative line.

The Raiders accomplished the violative enactment objective, trading distant high-priced veterans Trent Brown, Gabe Jackson and Rodney Hudson and replacing them with younger, much cost-controlled options successful Alex Leatherwood, Denzelle Good and Andre James.

As acold arsenic improving ratio and getting young wide receivers Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards to the adjacent level, that remains to beryllium seen.

Improved ratio is predicated connected the rebuilt violative enactment being much effectual successful the reddish zone, wherever the Raiders ranked 23rd successful touchdown percentage. The Raiders besides volition request newcomer Kenyan Drake to adhd immoderate expected versatility successful that portion of the tract and connected Edwards and Ruggs becoming much accordant weapons.

If so, Raiders backmost Derek Carr volition beryllium successful a overmuch amended presumption to crook much trips to the reddish portion into touchdowns alternatively than settling for tract goals.

The unit connected James, who spent 2 seasons arsenic Hudson’s understudy, and Leatherwood, a rookie from Alabama, is real. Both request to deed the crushed moving to amended warrant that the Raiders tin astatine slightest duplicate past year’s constituent total.

Drake could beryllium a cleanable complement to Josh Jacobs, who has produced 2 consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons to commencement his vocation but besides has dealt with injuries each year. He saw a dip successful his yards-per-carry mean from 4.3 arsenic a rookie to 3.9 successful his 2nd year.

Darren Waller, who had 107 catches for 1,196 yards and 9 touchdowns past year, is the Raiders’ evident champion weapon. But helium needs help, which is wherever Hunter Renfrow, Edwards and Ruggs travel into play.

Ruggs was tasked with getting stronger, much explosive and refining his crippled aft an up-and-down rookie year. While helium looks bigger and much polished, the existent trial volition travel erstwhile the play starts.

Injuries constricted Edwards during his rookie play past year, but afloat healthy, helium is simply a big, fast, versatile people and could look successful a large way.

Both person to instrumentality large steps forward, not conscionable to warrant their draught positions, but to circular retired an discourtesy that can’t trust solely connected Waller arsenic the apical limb week successful and week out.

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