Raiders News: Josh Jacobs Sets Goal Of Catching 60 Passes In 2020
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs had an incredibly efficient rookie season. In 13 games, Jacobs rushed for 1,150 yards, finding the end zone seven times in the course of the season.

Playing a full 16 may had netted him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but the honors eventually went to Kyler Murray.

Where Jacobs struggles – or more so wasn’t a factor – was in the passing game. On a team with a lack of consistent receiving options, Jacobs mustered just 20 catches for 166 yards. While 8.3 yards per catch is certainly impressive, the 20 catches leave some room to be concerned.

Jacobs wants his second year to be different, as he is looking to improve the receiving part of his game, with a goal of 60 catches, via Raiders.com:

“I’ve kind of established the run aspect of my game. I feel like I want to improve that even more, but also blocking, I want to put some of that on film. Obviously catching too. My goal is to catch at least 60 balls this year.”

Jacobs plans on doing this by playing more like a receiver off the line of scrimmage, not just doing simple flat and screen routes that running backs often do:

“I worked on a lot of things that receivers do, not necessarily just running back routes. Whether it’s getting off the line, or how to stack on top once you get vertical or anything like that. I’ve just been working on all the little technical things that receivers do and just trying to implement that into my own style and bring what I can to the table.”

Adding a receiving element to his game – especially one where he winds up with 60 catches – would certainly add a deep layer to the Raiders offensive attack.

Especially now that the Raiders have improved their receiving core in general, it could open things up for the second-year back to take his game to another level.

Josh Jacobs ranked No. 2 on PFF’s most elusive running backs

A part of Jacobs’ game that may help him as he tried to shift to more of a dual-threat back is his elusiveness. Jacobs was praised for his ability to force missed tackles all throughout the 2019 season and was rewarded for it with Pro Football Focus’ most elusive running backs list.

Jacobs took the No. 2 spot on the list, with only Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb ranking higher. However, PFF acknowledged that a list strictly based on 2019 would have Jacobs at No. 1.