The Raiders are getting back to their roots under interim coach Antonio Pierce, who grew up cheering for the Raiders when the franchise was in Los Angeles. So it’s only fitting that one of the greatest Raiders from the LA era helped Las Vegas win against the Jets Sunday night.
After the game, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs revealed that Bo Jackson, the mythical ex-Raiders running back and former two-sport megastar, gave him advice during practice that helped Jacobs top 100 rushing yards for the first time this season.
Here’s Jacobs’ comment and a bit of context, courtesy of The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
Jacobs took a pounding on his first 16 carries as he mustered just 45 yards. His desire to keep getting the ball stemmed from a conversation he had with legendary ex-Raiders running back Bo Jackson at practice earlier this week.
“He told me, ‘Man, when you run a mother—-er over, you pick ’em up and you say, All right, I’m (gonna) come back 40 seconds later,’” Jacobs said. “I tried to have that mentality today.”
Jackson was notorious for his size at 230 pounds and his blazing-fast speed. There’s simply never been anyone who’s possessed Jackson’s natural skill. But judging from his advice for Jacobs, Jackson also had a persistent mean streak that suits the style of play the current Raiders want to emulate.
That suits Jacobs as well. He hasn’t backed down all year and has increased his aggression under coach Pierce. Against the Jets, his desire to keep running against a defense geared to stop him eventually led to a 40-yard run. The play set up the only touchdown on Sunday night, which put the Raiders ahead for good.
The Raiders need all the toughness and determination they can muster in their next game against the Dolphins. If Las Vegas can establish the run with Jacobs, it could help keep the Dolphins’ high-flying offense off the field. It’s a safe bet that Jacobs is ready to face the challenge head-on, one play after another.
