The Las Vegas Raiders offense will be a storyline throughout training camp as they integrate new pieces.
Head coach Antonio Pierce’s biggest decision will come at quarterback as Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew battle for the starting spot. Meanwhile, the pass-catching corps should be headlined by Davante Adams though the team did draft Brock Bowers with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Another interesting subplot is the running game, as Josh Jacobs is no longer in the fold after signing with the Green Bay Packers in free agency. Instead of drafting a running back replacement, Las Vegas seems intent on handing the rock to Zamir White, who’s in line for a bell-cow role during the 2024 season.
New offensive coordinator Luke Getsy hasn’t worked with White long, but is excited to see what he’ll look like during practice once the pads go on.
#Raiders OC Luke Getsy on Zamir White: “When he gets that rock, there’s a cool explosiveness that I can’t wait to see people bouncing off of him as we get the pads on.”
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) July 29, 2024
White was originally a fourth-round pick by the Raiders in the 2021 NFL Draft and was considered a solid pick after helping lead his alma mater, Georgia, to a CFP Championship. White spent the beginning of his career as a backup to Jacobs but now has the keys to the running game with the former’s departure.
While White doesn’t have the home-run play-level ability, he’s a tough grinder who can churn out extra yards and keep an offense on schedule. He’s even shown some flashes of pass-catching ability though he profiles better as an early-down back.
From the early accounts of training camp, Pierce and Getsy sound like they want to be a physical team which plays right into White’s wheelhouse. To date, White’s production looks meager as he’s only recorded 521 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, but he’ll likely eclipse those numbers this season as the full-time starter.
Players like Alexander Mattison, Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube all figure to be in the mix for touches but this is clearly a situation where White will dominate the backfield snaps.
Raiders’ Gardner Minshew talks quarterback competition with Aidan O’Connell
Minshew signed a two-year deal with the Raiders and figured to be the starting quarterback, but is competing for the honors. Recently, he discussed the competition with O’Connell and is willing to let things play out.
