Raiders outlook: Can Zamir White be an all-around running back?

Being one dimensional will cut into the tailback’s playing time and role this season

Equal parts ball carrier and pass catcher? Up until this point, an all-around back Zamir White is not.

Dating back to his career as a Georgia Bulldog to now as a Las Vegas Raiders running back, White’s participation on the passing game was near non-existent in college and fleeting thus far in the NFL.

White compiled all of 17 receptions for 132 yards during his three-year stint at Georgia and has 15 catches for 98 yards in the pros since arriving to Las Vegas as a fourth-round pick (122nd overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft.

That’s about as one-dimensional a tailback can get. But can White become an all-around running back?

History portends to no, unfortunately.

While the pass-catching skillset can be developed and honed — especially since White is only 24 (25 on September 18) — the third-year tailback appears to be better off as a ball carrier only. There’s potential that White can be used more frequently as a pass catcher under new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. And without an unquestioned starter head of him, incorporating White fully into the offense is plausible, too.

But the Raiders may be wise by not reinventing the wheel when it comes to White. He has his strong suite and instead of packing more onto his plate, accentuate his calling card.

White embodies the physical, downhill running style head coach Antonio Pierce wants from his football team and White showcased shining moments when he stepped in as the starting tailback last season. When the Raiders needed the tough yards, White displayed improved vision and decision making along with speed and power.

It’s something both starting center Andre James and right guard Dylan Parham appreciate about White’s game.

“It makes your job easier as offensive linemen,” James said about the starting running back. “Not having to withstand those blocks as long when they are hitting. It is awesome to block for a guy like that. He is physical at the point of attack.”

“The game versus the Chiefs, Part 2, we had the opportunity to run the ball and let us go and watch Zamir just put his head down, run through somebody and get the first down,” Parham added. “And end the game on the field. I was like, ‘That’s one of the best things you could have playing offensive line.’”

That game was White’s 22-carry, 145-yard effort in Las Vegas’ Christmas Day 20-14 win in Kansas City, of course.

But being a pure ground oriented running back will obviously eat away at White’s snaps on passing downs and as the third-down back.

And that’s likely the Raiders’ plan all along.

General manager Tom Telesco hinted at a running back by committee style backfield when he was hired to be Las Vegas’ chief personnel man noting tailbacks that can do different things helps the team overall.

That’s where veterans like Alexander Mattison and Ameer Abdullah come into play. Both have 100 career receptions under their belt — Mattison with exactly 100 catches for 718 yards and six touchdowns over his five-year career; Abdullah 163 grabs for 1,207 yards, and eight touchdowns — and are accustomed to pass protection requirements from the running back position on third downs and passing downs.

In preseason contests, Mattison and Abdullah were the spell backs that subbed in and that’s unlikely to change heading into regular season play. There’s also rookie Dylan Laube who brings all-around collegiate production from New Hampshire.

Just how much Getsy incorporates running backs into the passing game will be intriguing, in itself.

During his two-year run as the Chicago Bears offensive coordinator, David Montgomery paced the tailbacks in 2022 with 34 catches and 316 yards. In 2023, Roschon Johnson led he group with 34 grabs and 209 yards with Khalil Herbert pitching in with 20 receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown.

Ultimately, the Raiders running back room’s effectiveness — both on the ground and through the air — will be predicated on the success of the offensive line and starting quarterback Gardner Minshew.

If the Silver & Black Express is clicking though, White has the skillset to inflict pain and punishment as a ground and pound back while the other tailbacks can mix it up as receiving targets.

We’ll find out plenty come Week 1 when the Raiders visit the Los Angeles Chargers on September 8.