Raiders Run Out of Gas : Pro football: Tyrone Montgomery and friends have been stopped cold in season’s first two games.

Nine carries for 15 yards in two games.

Those are not numbers to brag about when you are a starting tailback in the NFL. Just ask the Raiders’ Tyrone Montgomery.

Other backs around the league--Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk, for example--get as many as nine carries in a single drive. Montgomery holds the dubious distinction of being the NFL’s least-used starting tailback, with an average of only 4.5 carries a game.

Frustrating? You bet. Especially when everyone from national commentators to Coliseum security guards blame the Raiders’ running game for the team’s 0-2 start.

“The running game has been taking an unjust beating,” Montgomery said. “In order for us to move the ball on the ground, it takes all 11 guys on offense to click together.”

Critics are correct when they point out that the Raiders’ 133 yards rushing leaves them last in the AFC and 25th in the league in that department.

In Sunday’s 38-9 loss to Seattle, Raider running backs Harvey Williams, Tom Rathman and Montgomery combined for only nine carries and 45 yards.

“It’s tough to look at that and say that our running game is off,” Coach Art Shell said. “We just didn’t run the ball enough. We should have run the ball a little more than we did. We have to give our running backs more of chance than we did.”

Unfortunately for Montgomery, much of the criticism has been directed at him because he is listed No. 1 on the team’s depth chart.

“Yes, it is very frustrating,” said Montgomery, who gained 106 yards in a part-time role last season and accounted for 79 yards in total offense in the Raiders’ wild-card playoff victory over Denver. “No one wants to be criticized. I just go out there and give 110% effort whenever I am on the football field.”

Becoming the focal point of the Raiders’ running game has happened quickly for Montgomery, who is the younger brother of former NFL running backs Wilbert and Cle. Only two seasons ago, Montgomery was a rookie developmental squad wide receiver who doubled as a running back.

“Sometimes, I do think about how fast the change has been made,” he said. “But, it’s a situation I prefer to be in. I like the weight on my shoulders.”

The Raiders’ game plan each week has called for them to establish some type of rushing attack. Once the game starts, however, execution has been a problem. San Francisco and Seattle both forced the Raiders to go to the air early after taking first-quarter leads.

“We’ve made adjustments to run the ball against every opponent, but we haven’t executed well as a team,” Montgomery said. “So far, we’ve played against two aggressive teams that take pride in their run defense, and it just so happens that we’ve come up short.”

On Sunday, the Raiders may get the break they need against Denver, which is 17th in the league in run defense and will be without injured linebackers Mike Croel and Dave Wyman.

“As Seattle and San Francisco were aggressive, Denver has a more laid-back defense,” Montgomery said. “This could be the week that we start clicking.”

Before the season began, it was obvious that Montgomery could be a strong pass-catching threat in the backfield. But the Raiders have used him mainly as a decoy or as a dump-off receiver. He has only two catches for seven yards.

“There’s no question that I would like to do more because I’m a competitor,” Montgomery said. “Whenever you’re content, you stalemate yourself and, of course, I would like to contribute more to help us win. But, that’s the way everyone on this team feels.”

When training camp began in July, many figured that Montgomery’s status as the Raiders’ starting tailback was in name only because of the off-season addition of Williams, who signed as a free agent from Kansas City.

Despite limited play in the first four exhibition games, Montgomery remained as starter, then clinched his starting role with a solid effort against Houston in the final exhibition, gaining 53 yards in 10 carries.

“Having Harvey here is good for me because we all need competition to make us better,” Montgomery said. “It has never been Tyrone versus Harvey. It’s just been for us to work together and help get our offense going.”

Montgomery realizes that the Raiders are desperate to get more production from the running backs and that a lineup change is a possibility.

“A move like that would not surprise me because a lot of moves are made every day in this league,” he said.