This preseason, all 32 NFL teams are evaluating their talent. The Denver Broncos are trying to find a suitable replacement for Peyton Manning, the Dallas Cowboys are hoping Dak Prescott can replace Tony Romo, and the San Diego Chargers have yet to see what they’re getting in first round pick, Joey Bosa. Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders find themselves in a peculiar situation, as they have a fullback controversy.
Marcel Reece vs. Jamize Olawale
This is peculiar, because, in 2016, most teams don’t even carry one fullback, let alone two. The few fullbacks that remain in the league are mostly expendable and change seasonally. In all reality, the few fullbacks that can keep a job in the NFL these days are small tight ends or big running backs used to create mismatches on defense or pick up short yardage.
Oakland’s fullbacks, Marcel Reece and Jamize Olawale are no exceptions. In fact, the two are pretty exceptional. Oakland’s duo had a combined 73 touches for 499 yards and four touchdowns in 2015. For comparison, former Green Bay Packer John Kuhn and Atlanta Falcon Patrick DiMarco combined for 29 touches, 194 yards, and four touchdowns. Oakland’s fullbacks had exceptional seasons, and they did so playing on the same team.
The unfortunate thing is that no NFL team should carry two fullbacks. As previously stated, most teams don’t even carry one, and having two on a 53 man roster is just ridiculous. For a team that is beginning to develop depth across the board, every roster spot matters, and losing a player with All-Pro potential so they could alternate a gimmick position makes no sense.
Marcel Reece
Ever since he became the starting fullback back in 2010, Reece has been a crucial piece of the Raiders offense. A converted wide receiver, Reece’s versatility out of the backfield is unrivaled in the NFL. Despite being a fullback, Reece has racked up 2,859 yards and 15 total touchdowns over the last five seasons. Kuhn has played twice as long, and he only has 1,191 yards and 23 touchdowns. Reece has been considered by many to be a vital and underutilized tool in Oakland’s offense.
Unfortunately, Reece is also 31 years old and will count for more than $3.5 million dollars against the cap this year. For a player that is being used less and less frequently, that’s a lot of money. Throw in the fact that he’s also going to miss the first three games of the season thanks to a suspension, and it’s hard to see where he fits into Oakland’s plans moving forward. Cutting Reece now would save the team $2.6 million dollars, and that money could help as they attempt to re-sign the likes of Derek Carr and Khalil Mack.
Jamize Olawale
Olawale went undrafted back in 2012 and actually spent most of his rookie year on the practice squad of the Dallas Cowboys. When rushers Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson were lost to injuries, Oakland signed Olawale. Over the next couple of years, Olawale would become an exceptional special teams player for the Raiders.
However, in 2015, Olawale began to show up on the field as an active member of the Oakland offense as well. Olawale received 24 carries over the course of the season and rushed for 110 yards and a score. He also proved he could contribute to the passing game, catching nine passes for 84 yards. He did all of this for the offense while also leading the Raiders in special teams tackles (10).
Olawale is younger, cheaper, and brings more to the table than Reece does. While he might not be as explosive on offense, Jack Del Rio, and the Raiders haven’t been keen on making Reece a huge part of the offense. Despite the pleas of the Raider Nation, Reece has been delegated to being nothing more than a blocker who occasionally catches passes. Reece has been a fan favorite in Oakland for most of his career, but it’s time to move on. The Raiders are ready to return to greatness, but sadly, it looks like Reece may not be able to join them.
