Raiders Offensive Line Struggles Undermine Running Game Early Season

The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled significantly with their offensive line, which has been a major factor in rookie running back Ashton Jeanty's slow start to his NFL career. Jeanty has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 57% of his rushes, limiting his ability to gain yards and showcasing the offensive line's poor run-blocking fundamentals and discipline. The Raiders have experimented with moving players to unfamiliar positions, such as Jordan Meredith to center, which has led to confusion and inconsistency in blocking assignments. Additionally, the team's skill-position players have also underperformed in run-blocking, further hampering Jeanty's ability to make explosive plays. Despite these challenges, Jeanty has shown power and elusiveness, and veteran quarterback Geno Smith has emphasized the need to support him better to unlock his potential. The Raiders are urged to address these line and blocking issues promptly to avoid a prolonged period of underperformance similar to the struggles seen by other teams with talented running backs like Saquon Barkley.