The Oakland Raiders enter the 2017 NFL season with the highest of expectations. After spending over a decade mired in mediocrity or worse, it’s a refreshing change, but it’s one team general manager Reggie McKenzie isn’t taking for granted.
When they had a chance to land Marshawn Lynch out of retirement this offseason, McKenzie jumped at the opportunity. So far, the Raiders have been pleasantly surprised at just how much Lynch has to offer, even after taking essentially a year-and-a-half off from playing the game.
However, McKenzie had a bigger reason for signing him than just what Beast Mode brings to the table as a running back.
“One of the reasons we brought him here was the toughness,” McKenzie said, per Peter King of The MMQB, who visited with the team during the early goings of training camp. “That weighed heavily. The mentality. The presence. That toughness. We didn’t want just him to be Beast Mode; we wanted this entire team to be Beast Mode. You saw on those plays what he‘s going to bring to us.”
Adding the toughness and Beast-Mode attitude that Lynch brings to every single down of every play in every practice and game can only bode well for this team.
The Raiders won 12 games last year and could have potentially challenged the best teams in the AFC in the playoffs if not for a season-ending injury to quarterback Derek Carr. They feature an outstanding offensive line, an exceptional receiving corps and a very intriguing set of tight ends in Clive Walford and Jared Cook.
Interestingly, Lynch might not do as much actual work on the field as many would expect. He’ll play plenty, but according to one local writer he might be on a big-time pitch count this year. That’s smart, especially because that should facilitate a fresh Beast Mode for the playoffs.
If this team stays healthy, the sky is the limit.