The Las Vegas Raiders use fullback Connor Heyward to play a major role in their new offensive scheme.
The Las Vegas Raiders are getting contributions from a lot of unsung heroes these days, and fullback Connor Heyward is one of them. He’s not a name a lot of people know, even some hardcore Raiders fans, but coach Klint Kubiak is well aware of his value.
Levi Edwards of Raiders.com did a piece on Heyward, and he said the fullback's play is all about “the little things.” That sounds like a cliche, but Edwards also laid out the example of a play in the third quarter of the Raiders’ Week 1 victory over the Miami Dolphins.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins faked a handoff to the fullback, and Heyward went on to make a chip block on linebacker Willie Gay Jr. The run fake froze star rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, and that gave running back Ashton Jeanty to get free in the flat.
It was a new look off an action the Raiders had used before, and to Heyward is was an example of what the offense can do when everyone is on the same page. Jeanty praised Heyward for bringing another “great piece" to the offense with his blocking, and Kubiak wanted the fullback based on the way he blocked back when he was with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who used similar actions and groupings.
The coach said fullback was the “key position” on the team, and he also noted that Heyward plays special teams and protects in addition to “cleaning up little things” in the running game.
Heyward has another unique role as well. He’s been the runner in the “tush push” play to help protect Cousins, and as a result Heyward has two first downs on the plays he’s run. Heyward noted that it’s “funny seeing Kirk back there” in a tailback’s stance, but he’s seen some of the hits Cousins has taken and he’s fine playing the role.
There’s room for improvement, though, as Edwards noted. The Raiders haven’t run well since that Week 1 win, averageing just three yards a carry with a -16.3 EPA.
Heyward explains that it’s just the NFL, so there are times when you’re going to “get stuck,” which is how he described the tough stretch. He talked about sustaining his blocks, which is the collective improvement the Raiders are trying to make based on the film they’ve watched.
They’ll need to get it right against the Kansas City Chiefs this week, though. It’s going to be the most challenging game of the season for the Raiders, and don’t be surprised if Connor Heyward ends up playing a big role.
