Does Maurice Jones-Drew have anything left? (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)
Coach Jack Del Rio and running back Maurice Jones-Drew were a successful combination when they were together with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2006-11.
The two are now reunited now with the Raiders, and the new Oakland head coach is eager to see what the 29-year-old back can still accomplish.
“He thinks he does (have ability left),” Del Rio said Thursday. “That’s something we need to find out. The first thing would be that he keeps his weight where it needs to be so he can be explosive again. …
“I loved the time we had together in Jacksonville. He was one of the true warriors I had on the football field. He gave everything he had to the football team, and I will expect the same kind of commitment from all of our players here in Oakland.”
Last season, Jones-Drew appeared in 12 games for Oakland and managed just 43 carries for 96 yards. He didn’t score a touchdown.
Jones-Drew topped 1,300 yards each year from 2009-11, but he hasn’t reached 900 in any of the past three seasons.
Whether or not Jones-Drew plays a vital role, the Raiders figure to tweak their offense under new coordinator Bill Musgrave, adding some no-huddle action.
“We definitely will have that aspect of attack,” Del Rio said. “We want to be able to go at different speeds. If we want to go fast, we’ll go fast. If we want to play a no-huddle at a methodical pace, we’ll do that. If we want to huddle and really milk it, we’ll do that.”
Quarterback Derek Carr will remain a key cog in the offense.
“We want to make sure that not only he develops and does good things, but that we’re strong around him,” Del Rio said. “That we’re able to run the ball, put good players around him, and that his ability to be accurate and decisive will be something that we can take advantage of.”
