Even though the Las Vegas Raiders signed Kenyan Drake in free agency, head coach Jon Gruden is still widely expected to lean on Josh Jacobs to lead the backfield.
Jacobs is coming off a productive 2020 campaign and is poised to build upon his success in the upcoming 2021 season. The talented running back can churn for extra yardage after contact and has shown some solid receiving ability after catching 33 passes last season.
The receiving aspect is something that Jacobs showed in college at Alabama, and although he has previously stated that is one part of his game that he hopes to grow at the professional level, he is now focused on other aspects to better the team via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN:
#Raiders RB @iAM_JoshJacobs‘ goal this year? No, not 60 catches, as was his goal last year. “More to just put my stamp on this offense…be a leader for the team.”
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) July 31, 2021
The addition of Drake may be why Jacobs has shifted his goals from being a more productive receiver as the former will likely handle third-down situations while the latter controls the bulk of the carries. Gruden could also conceivably play both backs simultaneously, taking advantage of their skillsets and making life more difficult for opposing defenses.
Entering his third year, Jacobs has a good understanding of his role and impact on Las Vegas, and it is encouraging to hear him talk about wanting to grow as a leader. Derek Carr has earned his reputation as a leader in the locker room, but Jacobs is more than qualified to lend his voice and be someone the roster can look to throughout the year.
Seeing Jacobs grow and develop as a player and leader will be one of the more fun storylines to watch this upcoming season, and it will be exciting to see how far he and the Silver and Black go.
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