The Raiders ranked 28th in total rushing yards last season, something they’d like to improve this season and something they made a step toward improving with a big free agent deal for guard Kelechi Osemele.
Osemele sounds up for the challenge. While his initials are K.O., Osemele says the reason that’s his nickname is because he is “trying to knock you out” and likes to “run people over and leave them there flat.” He believes that the Raiders are trying to take on the same mentality heading into the 2016 season, which makes him happy to be in Oakland.
“It’s going to feel good to be a part of an organization that is about really winning,” Osemele said, via the team’s website. “They want to dominate. They’re about not taking any mess from anybody. I feel like I’m the same way, kind of really building a bully and going out there and making teams fear playing us. We want to get to the point where you line up against the Raiders and you already know what you’re going to get. You’re not going to be ready for it, and it’s going to be cool to wear those colors.”
If the Raiders are able to generate better results on the ground, it should open up more space for a passing attack that took a step forward with the addition of wide receivers Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. That would provide further reason for optimism about a team that’s spent the offseason surrounded by it for the first time in a while.
