Josh Jacobs, an "Unconditional Competitor"

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Ezekiel Trezevant IV | Last updated Dec 3, 2023 12:00 PM ET

After leading the National Football League in rushing last season, Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders solidified himself as one of the best running backs in the league.

The first eight games of this season were a different story, though, as Las Vegas ranked last in the league in rushing. A coaching change later, Jacobs has returned to form, rushing for nearly 100 yards in three of the last four games.

Raiders Running Backs Coach Kennedy Polamalu spoke about what makes Jacobs special.

"He loves competing," Polamalu said. "He's an unconditional competitor. He just runs with a determination. The other thing that has been a joy for me is his off-the-field work. How he takes care of his body. We started that a year ago. He's learning to really have a good routine and prepare year-round. Its been fun watching him and being part of it."

Polamalu has witnessed Jacobs' growth as they've spent more time together.

"We can only say in our time, he's bought into building good habits," Polamala said. "That's a credit to him. The good ones have a good routine. Just today, I asked him how he's feeling, and he's like: 'Coach, I'm great.'"

Moving forward, Polamalu urges the Raiders' home run hitter to make the most of each rushing attempt.

"Just take the ugly," Polamalu said. "He and I watched the film and talked about there are going to be two or three [runs] where it's not going to be there, but you just take the ugly. He's doing that. He's getting those four- and five-yard gains, being efficient. So, we sit there on third and manageable."

Polamalu says Jacobs, who carries most of the load for Las Vegas' ground game on Sundays, is hard to get off the field.

"I've always been a bell-cow kind of guy," Polamalu said. "What has helped is Ameer Abdullah takes some of the third-down stuff off of him. Zamir [White] is ready to go at any time, but it's hard to take out that guy [Jacobs] when he's feeling good and healthy. It's no secret that when he touches the ball, we tend to do pretty well."

The Raiders rediscovered their ground game over the last few weeks and it is important to the Raiders that Jacobs continues his recent success.

The Silver and Black will return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 10, at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST.

This article first appeared on Las Vegas Raiders on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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