Silver And Black Pride
Pete Carroll wants his team to be able to run the ball, but do they have the horses?
Running the ball effectively and a sound defense.
Two things Pete Carroll noted in what to expect from his Las Vegas Raiders.
What the Silver & Black’s new head coach wants isn’t new or revolutionary. In fact, his predecessor, Antonio Pierce, wanted much of the same. But the neophyte head honcho couldn’t install a much-needed identity and was one and done as a full-time lead man.
Now, Carroll enters the fray.
With him comes a reputation for culture setter and identity instiller. And we saw a resounding slash in that regard when Carroll and the Raiders landed Chip Kelly to lead the offense. The Ohio State Buckeyes offensive coordinator is taking that same position in Las Vegas.
Joining Kelly on the offensive side of things is Carroll’s son Brennan Carroll, who will coach the offensive line.
Carroll’s intent to run the ball melds perfectly with Kelly’s offensive philosophy. If there’s a play caller that loves to ground and pound as much as Carroll, it’s Kelly.
During Kelly’s four-year stint in the NFL — three as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach and play caller, one with the San Francisco 49ers in the same capacities — Kelly’s offenses were in the Top 10 in rushing attempts and yards gained in all but one year — 2015 in Philadelphia. His highest ranking was his first year as Eagles boss in 2013 (fourth in attempts, first in yards, and second in touchdowns).
Most recently, Kelly orchestrated Ohio State’s offense that finished 18th in the nation in rushing yards (2,662).
Before that, he was UCLA’s head coach and chief play caller from 2018 to 2023. His highwater mark was leading the Bruins to the sixth ranking in the nation with 3,097 rushing yards in 2022.
Kelly’s arrival in Las Vegas comes at an opportune time as he and Brennan Carroll take charge of a Raiders team that finished dead last (32nd) in rushing yards (1,357) and 30th in rushing attempts (380).
The well-compensated Kelly is going to roll up his sleeves and get to work installing his philosophy and scheme this offseason. And fortunately for Kelly, there’s nowhere to go but up. The Raiders finished 29th in points scored (309) and 27th in yards gained (5,154) in a trying 4-13 campaign that resulted in another regime reset.
But the key question for Kelly, Pete Carroll, and general manager John Spytek — when it comes to the ground game — do they have the horses to run that kind of race?
The optimist wills say perhaps. The pessimist a resounding hell no.
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