Part of the Oakland Raiders’ struggle to put up points this season can be attributed to the offensive line’s inability to create holes for a ground attack that’s averaging an anemic 88 yards per game.

Offensive coordinator Todd Downing believes his blockers are still growing as a group.

“I think we’re an evolving unit,” Downing said during media availability Thursday. “I think we’re growing, I think we’re learning each other’s styles a little bit – getting Marshawn [Lynch] back adds an element into the run game there – so it’s going to be a growing process.”

Considering that we’re already in Week 9, the team doesn’t much time to complete that growing process.

At 3-5 for the season, the Raiders’ season is clearly on life support. Getting Lynch back could be a boost for the team’s running game that was porous in the Week 8 34-14 loss against the Bills.

The return of “Beast Mode” could also insert some new energy into a team that is at a cross roads at this point in the season.

Either the Raiders will find a way to jump-start the running game, which will naturally make things easier for quarterback Derek Carr, or it will continue to sputter and the pressure will only mount for Oakland’s franchise player.

Ultimately, the running game goes where the offensive line leads, and going up against the NFL’s No. 6 rush defense won’t be a cakewalk for Downing’s unit.