Jacobs earns ‘passing' grade

Josh Jacobs was a dynamic running back during his first year in the NFL and would have easily been the choice for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors had it not been for Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray.

But Jacobs wasn’t content with just being known as a good running back, even if he did break just about every franchise rookie rushing record. He wanted more. More opportunities, more carries, more touches.

Most of all, Jacobs wanted more out of himself. To get that, he spent a great deal of the offseason trying to enhance his professional portfolio and become more of an all-around threat in the Raiders backfield.

“I did a lot more of not putting myself in a running back aspect but like a receiver,” Jacobs said. “Whether it was going outside in the slot and actually learning how to get off a release, stemming the guy and learning leverage and all the different kind of things like that. And then watching Hunter (Renfrow) on his choice routes, just how creative he is and just try to put it in. Find what I like and make it my own.”

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden’s offense may have changed a bit over the years but the one constant has been having the running backs be active participants in the passing game for more than just their blocking.