Raiders RB Washington Seeks Breakout 2017 Season
When the Raiders drafted DeAndre Washington with the 143rd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, few knew his identity of skillset. Yet, Reggie McKenzie wisely ignores the wishes of others and sticks to his draft board. Washington falling to Oakland seems like a blessing in disguise. With a solid rookie year in the books, 2017 promises to be excitement for him. As 12-4 fades into the history books, Washington aims to carve out his own path.
Increased Touches: As Latavius Murray departs, someone needs to assume many of his carries/catches. With this is mind, expect Washington to grab a decent amount. As a matter of fact, look for him to see the ball inside enemy territory with regularity. For example, Washington tallied 5.6 ypc from the opponents 49-20 yard lines. Another key point is that both of Washington’s rushing touchdowns resided outside of the 20. Due to his explosion and agility, Washington presents a tough matchup for defenders.
Better Coaching: Although, the Raiders flourished under former OC Bill Musgrave, his play-calling bordered on the strange occasionally. Enter Todd Downing into the mix. Downing is closer to one player on this team than anyone: Derek Carr. Musgrave seemed detached from the on-field happenings, sitting up in the box. On the other hand, Downing appears more hands on. Washington rushed the ball four times in the playoff loss to Houston, and no one truly knows why.
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Mental Toughness: During the regular season, the Raiders deactivated Washington for two game. The reason? According to the Bay Area News Group’s Jimmy Durkin, a healthy Taiwan Jones was the cause. Most rookies, especially fifth-rounder would take that slight and crawl into a shell. Washington is different from most rookies. From that point on, Washington handled every carry with urgency.
Pressure: Washington enters the season as the starting running back. However, he will not remain there. The Raiders will inevitably draft a banger to gain those tough yards. Washington must still produce. Jalen Richard is the third running back on the roster. While Richard is needed on special teams, don’t underestimate his role. Should Washington struggle, Richard is there to unseat him.
On the whole, DeAndre Washington sits in a fantastic position. He can rack up the yardage while the power pack endures the damage near the goal line. Draws, screens and perimeter running plays will keep him busy during the season. Despite being second on the depth chart, the Raiders need Washington to provide that much needed burst. He captivated RaiderNation with his running style. Now, the league will pay attention.
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