Unsung Playmaker: FB Olawale Gives Raiders An Unlikely Weapon.
Marcel Reece helped rejuvenate the fullback position in Oakland. An athletic receiver-turned-fullback, Reece provided big-plays from the three-point stance. In reality, it was more of a tease. Despite what he could do, Reece wasn’t used enough. The Raiders passed mantle of wow plays to another pass catcher-turned-fullback Jamize Olawale. Also, to no surprise, he became an offensive afterthought.
Like his predecessor, you won’t hear a complaint from Olawale. “I enjoy winning, Olawale said. “Whatever I have to do to help the team win. Sometimes it’s blocking, sometimes it’s catching, sometimes it’s both. Whatever I have to do.”
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The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Olawale became an adept lead blocker and has the same athletic ability as Reece. That translated into a three-year, $6 million extension in 2015. Reece, on the other hand, was axed after his four-game PED suspension ended. A more bruising blocker than No. 45, No. 49 has the same set of (fast) wheels.
Examples? A 68-yard catch-and-run against Tampa Bay and a 75-yard touchdown haul-and-sprint against Houston on a Monday Night in Mexico.
“Well, there was an argument to use it earlier rather than wait until things are looking somewhat bleak,” then offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said of the play. “So, we had a good experience with it down there in Tampa Bay also and Jamize does a super job for us. “So, his role is ever-expanding because he’s showing multiple traits.”
Ever-expanding? While Olawale played in more snaps (263) than last season (156) and produced more yards 274 total to 194, his touches decreased from 33 last year to 27. Part of it was the Raiders adapting to pistol or shotgun snaps due to quarterback Derek Carr’s broken finger. But, after the Monday Night game in Week 11 (Nov. 21), Olawale caught just four passes for 38 yards to close out the season that saw him haul in 12 passes for 227 yards.
That’s simply not enough involvement for the fifth-highest paid fullback in the league. Olaswale’s $1.79 million salary in 2017 alone demands more touches. He’s a dangerous weapon from a position that is all but dead in the NFL.
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