The Oakland Raiders haven't even given Marshawn Lynch a helmet at OTAs, limiting his on-field work early in the offseason, which is the right move.
Any palpable excitement that came with Marshawn Lynch signing to play for the Oakland Raiders is still there for fans, but it has been tempered a bit at the start of OTAs. That's because the veteran running back and Oakland native has been quite limited in terms of workload.
By design from head coach Jack Del Rio and the rest of the staff, Lynch has yet to hit the practice field with the Raiders. Per Paul Guitierrez of ESPN, the 31-year old running back is present at OTAs. However, he's yet to be given a helmet as he acclimates himself with his new teammates and the staff that will be guiding him.
Considering that Lynch is coming out of retirement and off of a year not playing, the fact that he's not participating on the field might raise red flags to some. After all, the jump in logic to say that Beast Mode isn't on the field because he's not ready isn't a hard one to make. However, it's also the wrong thought process to have. In actuality, the Raiders holding Lynch out right now is the right call.
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First addressing conditioning and any worries there, all reports indicate he's ready to go in that regard. A bevy of players that have worked with him say he's in the best shape of his life and could go right now. And looking at him, that appears to be the case. Granted, that remains to be seen in action, but all signs point to it not being any kind of issue.
What makes this decision by the Raiders the smart move, however, is that this process shouldn't be rushed. Even if Lynch is in great shape, he's coming into a system he's unfamiliar with. And though he may be familiar with his hometown of Oakland, he's largely unfamiliar with the Raiders locker room and the dynamics on the field.
Subsequently, allowing him to be an active observer (conditioning on the sidelines and so on) is what's best for the veteran running back right now. Having him run through plays when he's not up to speed with the playbook does no one any good. It puts a hindrance on the rest of the team and doesn't benefit Beast Mode in the slightest.
The move that Lynch is trying to make this season is largely unprecedented. We don't see running backs with potential to still be effective retire and then come back. Thus, there is reason for both optimism and tepidness when thinking about what Lynch will provide the Raiders offense.
With that being said, the Raiders and Lynch are taking the proper approach. He's going to be well adjusted to his new home before taking the field. What's more, he's going to running behind the best line he's ever had. Moreover, he could arguably be a part of the best overall offense of his storied career.
Given all of that, there's no rush for him to get on the field for voluntary workouts. Let him get comfortable, let him get fully in shape if he needs to and then let him get to work. While him sitting out may ring alarms initially, it's the best move for all parties.
