Running Back: Latavius Murray vs. Trent Richardson
The battle for the starting running back job in Oakland this summer should be fierce and exciting. Unlike almost every other position on the roster, there's no incumbent starter. Latavius Murray got a few starts late in 2014, but the job is by no means secured. The Raiders are heading into this summer with no favorite at the position. It'll be a wide-open competition, and the job is entirely up for grabs.
The Candidates ----------- Height Weight Age Exp. and Games Played Latavius Murray 6'3" 225 25 3 Seasons 15 Games Trent Richardson 5"9"" 225 24 4 Seasons 46 Games
Murray: After spending his entire rookie season on injured reserve, Murray began the 2014 season struggling to find playing time behind Darren McFadden and Maurice Jones-Drew. That tandem of big names was, to put it nicely, ineffective. Murray didn't really get a chance to play until Week 10, when he had 43 yards on four carries. The following week, he had his breakout performance, gaining 112 yards and two touchdowns on only four carries before being knocked out of the game with a concussion.
The last four weeks of the season saw Murray get the most extensive playing time of his career. He had 68 carries while averaging 3.9 yards per attempt. Thus far, Murray's career is essentially comprised of six games. It's a very small sample, but he's impressed given the limited opportunities he's had.
Richardson: A decent rookie season (950 yards, 11 touchdowns, 3.6 yards per carry) turned out to be Richardson's best season as a pro. His lack of vision on running plays is evident on film, and the results show it. He's looking at his signing in Oakland to be a turning point in his career, and the Raiders hope that turns out to be the case.
It's never a good sign when you're on your third team in five years since entering the NFL as the third overall pick. That's the situation Richardson is in, and he has a long way to go in order to prove that the "bust" label doesn't apply to him.
Projected Starter: Murray
As great as it would be for Richardson to regain the form he showed while in college, that was a long time ago in football years. As of now, he's the same ineffective running back who can't see open running lanes that he's been for three years.
Murray, on the other hand, has shown more potential more recently. While he's really only played six games as a running back in the NFL, he's exhibited good vision. And, as we saw last season in Week 11, he's a bona-fide big-play threat. More touches, plus an improved offensive line and passing game that has to be respected, are only going to increase his productivity.
Murray is a true every-down back. He can run both on the outside and between the tackles. Richardson could be an effective change-of-pace back, but Murray will be the starter.