Folks, we're less than two months away from draft day. In the wake of the combine, it's safe to say that the long-held perception of this year's draft class as "weak" has been affirmed.
Between marked deficiencies at certain key positions, and a myriad of questions, both medical- and character-related, surrounding some of the draft's few "elite" talents, this year's draft class is far from perfect.
Needless to say, any discussion of this year's elite prospects invariably includes analysis of former Hog superstar Darren McFadden, a prospect who has been "under the microscope" in the past month, to say the least.
I've long touted "DMac" as one of the best draft prospects in recent memory, regardless of position, and I won't be rescinding that claim.
There is, however, an accumulation of opinion among some "experts" that McFadden might not be quite the prospect he previously was cracked up to be.
First, there are "character" concerns. Talk about a timely topic, given the troubles of numerous high-profile NFL players of late. McFadden has been involved in two scuffles outside and around bars over the course of his career and also has children from two different women due this summer.
To be frank, I think the paternity issues are non-issues. They're personal matters, and they don't seem to bear any relevance as to whether McFadden is worth a lucrative contract.
The issue of late-night altercations outside of bars, though, is where things get hazy.
On the one hand, the burgeoning paranoia of NFL clubs relating to "character issues" and late night incidents is justified. Every time a player finds himself in trouble, many times it's a late-night altercation or incident, often times at or around a night club or bar.
On the other hand, evaluating the significance of such incidents is not a cut-and-dry task. It's difficult to sift through a prospect's past and determine whether said encounters indicate "character issues" or just instances of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In my opinion, though, both of McFadden's "incidents" merit consideration in making determinations of his off-the-field makeup, but neither one seems to be serious or indicate a "character" problem.
This lack of "character" problem with McFadden is further corroborated by his humble, down-to-earth demeanor in interviews.
In my opinion, it's easy to see this guy isn't the second coming of Pacman Jones—a player whose surly, cocksure attitude that reflects his troubled past makes itself evident in just about every interview he conducts.
Anyway, enough about McFadden's character, and on to discussion of his "game."
I watched McFadden dominate the nation's toughest conference for three consecutive years. During his sophomore season, when he vaulted himself into Heisman discussion after a phenomenal November, he established himself as the nation's most respected and feared player.
He entered the 2007 season the epitome of a "marked man" and responded by collecting his second consecutive Doak Walker Award after putting up even gaudier numbers than in years past.
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10 months ago
This guy has all the tools. What he did in the SEC while playing for middle of the road Arkansas shows it. What would he have done on a GA, FLA or LSU team? Hope he can clean the act up.
10 months ago
Awesome write-up. That was the best way to describe McFadden. Absolutely fantastic.
10 months ago
Go watch tape of him running over Alabama players time and time again in '07 to get needed first down yardage, watch any number of games over the course of his career when, upon contact, defenders (and their helments) go flying in all directions while he powers through, and realize that Fulmer hit it right on the head at halftime in '06 when asked what he thought of McFadden, who spent the first half gashing the Vols right up the gut: "He's a man."
from 10 months ago
Man, I agree. The Bama game might be my favorite "DMac" game of all time....he made their front seven look like children
10 months ago
McFadden is every bit of the running back Peterson is. If he falls out of the top 3, he'll make the teams pay similar to what AP is doing and the way Randy Moss has the last 10 years.
from 10 months ago
Actually, he's not "every bit of the RB Peterson is." He doesn't have Peterson's size or vision. So, essentially you're hinting at DMC possibly matching APs rookie year? Forget it.
DMC is unlikely to fall in the upcoming draft because of Peterson. Teams are talking themselves into the fact that he could be the next dominant rookie RB and he'll get snatched up earlier than AP did. Teams are afraid they'll miss the boat. But the bottom line is he isn't AP and the only reason we think he might be is cause he put together a solid college career and is a rookie RB. That's really the only comparison that needs to be made right now.
from 10 months ago
I think the comparison is more ability-based than skill-set based. Peterson is a unique back-he can run by\around defenders, as well as sidestep them. Add in the fact that the guy has a motor that I've never seen anything close to on anyone else, as well as superb vision, and it's easy to see why AD is probably the best back in the NFL at full health, at least in my opinion.
McFadden, similarly has a unique skill-set. He's got plenty of size, an unbelievable 5 yard burst and top gear, some of the lightest and quickest feet I've ever seen on a back, the ability to lose minimal speed when he changes direction, and also superb vision. Add in the fact that he's an extremely physical back when he gets in the open field, and it's easy to see why people are drawing comparisons between the two. The only negative I can see with McFadden is that he does 'topple' easily sometimes, particularly if he's hit very low. He's also so lanky that he will lose his balance at times between the tackles (this is a lot of what Mayock was harping on him for)
from 10 months ago
I would agree for the most part, Will. Good breakdown.
But I also think the description you gave of McFadden is word for word what scouts and analysts said about Reggie Bush prior to the draft -- speed burst, changes direction, gets outside, great vision, about the same size etc. I think if some readers are going to compared DMC to AP, we might as well compare him to the other end of the spectrum -- an NFL bust (thus far). I don't think it's any more far fetched. I'm not saying he will be a bust by any means, but it seems the poster I responded to was into making comparisons and jumping to conclusions prematurely. Let's wait and see. Not every star RB will have an Adrian Peterson-type impact fresh out of college. The pieces have to fall into place.
10 months ago
My Raiders better take this guy at #4....if he's left.
from 10 months ago
The consensus right now seems to dictate no one in the Top 5 taking him....the Raiders are the most realistic destination right now if he were to go anywhere in the first 5 picks though. Al Davis has a long history of becoming infatuated with athletic freaks......
10 months ago
If he falls to 7 New england will make a windfall trading the pick to Dallas or some other team in need of a runner, he won't make it to cincy
from 10 months ago
You raise a good point, but I'm not really sure any teams, Dallas included, would make the trade. Seems like smoke right now....I think he would be superb in Cincy
10 months ago
Will you are right on target with every point you make about McFadden. I covered the kid in highschool and all three years at the UofA. The first time I heard Mayock speak his opinion on DMac, I immediatly said that guy hasn't seen more than three games of tape. The Bama game says it all when it comes to his physical play. He was looking for people to run over.
The difference between DMac and Adrian is: AD has the leg drive to help run over you and DMac does it with his upper body. That could be a problem as we saw in the Bama game(unable to finish due to a slight concussion) and Kentucky game in which he bruised his ribs. By the time LSU rolled around, the last thing DMac needed to do was be too physical considering how much punishment his body had taken. And he still smoked the Tigers in Red Stick.
As for Mayock's statement concerning "between the tackles", opposing teams had 2 to 3 guys(linebackers and corners, not linemen) every play who keyed on McFadden and those guys were usually within 3-5 yards of the center.
I'm not saying there aren't concerns with DMac, but I agree with you that his play on the field is being picked apart due to the lack of talent in this draft class. Having said that, if there was much more talent in the class Dmac would still be a top pick.
10 months ago
Think about this for a moment. This guy has had zero lower body strength training since a leg injury in High School. Think what proper lower body training will do for him under proper NFL team guidance. Think about when his lower body strength matches his upper body strength. Also realize that his legs, although thin, are already stronger than most NFL running backs (I can show you tapes against SEC teams to prove it). All of that aside, think what DMAC is going to do when he gets to play a game for the first time in 4 years when the other teams game plan/defense isn't especially dedicated to stopping him. Realize that all DMAC has to do is make 2 players miss on any single play and he has the speed to take it to the house (4.27 wind-aided 40 yds. in the dome). Many NFL teams will rue the day that they passed on DMAC.
10 months ago
This phenomena has really started getting on my ever last nerve. Merle Hodge started this, let me dog a player and then if he is a bust I look like a genius, if he becomes a all pro , I just will act like I never said it.
Brain Baldinger Started the Mcfadden hate , he had the nerve to say he saw no qualities that would make him a good NFL running back. I think you alluded to it Mayock is trying to make a name for himself. He seems to pull this every year. Jay Cutler owes him a reach around.
All I can say about Dmac is I remember the game against GA it was 3 and 15yrs EVERYONE watching the game knew he was getting the ball….. and they still couldn’t stop him. I think he rushed the ball 34 times?
10 months ago
He's not all that and a BAG OF CHIPS. He is terrible at cutting it to the inside. Hes wicked fast but he isnt strong in the legs either. Goes down with contact easily. Some team is going to get a 1st round bust. STEWART FROM OREGON IS WHERE ITS AT.
10 months ago
Dude, you're comparing an NFL defense to an SEC defense? Please...
10 months ago
I'm somewhere between on this. I think Darren McFadden will be productive player in the NFL, but I would not use a first pick on him. My hesitancy has nothing to do with his character issues. I firmly believe that it is more important to watch a how a player dominates a game than if he dominates a game. Does he play the game intelligently? Does he make his teammates better? Does he possess a drive superior to his counterparts? Or, is he just a man playing amongst a bunch of boys?
McFadden dominates a game based solely on his athletic prowess and he won't be able to do that at the next level.
Chris I.
http://heardinthecheapseats.com
10 months ago
The answers to the 4 questions you asked is an unequivocal 'yes'. He's noted for how hard he plays the game.
9 months ago
What Maycock is pointing out is that he goes down on contact. Speed and agility work in college but not in the NFL. Experienced NFL LBs are good at pursuing and tackling targets. McFadden has really skinny legs and not much lower body strength. Frankly, Mendenhall fared much better in the NFL combine. McFadden ran a lightning fast 40 and thats about it. Mendenhall actually ran the fastest 20 yard shuttle, which is the true measurement of quickness and acceleration. McFadden didn't even place in the top 10 in this event. Mendenhall scored in the top 10 in 4 of the combine events, which to me are the most important for RBs. These are the 40 yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, and 20 yard shuttle. McFadden only placed in the top 10 in 2. NFL RBs don't often get to exercise their top end speed, which is what the 40 measures.
IMO, McFadden will be another Reggie Bush. A tremendous athlete that isn't a good fit for any particular position in the NFL. I think he will be a productive NFL player but he won't be a dominant NFL feature back. I don't think he has the frame to be a feature back in the NFL. While his height and weight are nearly identical to Adrian Peterson, Peterson has a thicker lower body and more leg strength. I would rather have a back that consistently pick up positive yardage than a back that constantly gets stopped at the line of scrimmage but has the potential to break off 80+ yard runs. IMO Mendenhall is the best RB in the 2008 NFL draft. He truly has all the tools to be a feature back in the NFL. Size, frame, speed, quickness, vision, and strength.
from 9 months ago
Dude he "didn't place" in those events because he didn't do them.
from 9 months ago
I'll tell you what his pathetic 13 reps at the bench press at his pro day doesn't bode well in his favor. Mendenhall had twice as many reps as him at the combine. There are DBs and QBs that have had significantly more bench press reps than him. The argument for him was that although he doesn't have the leg strength he has upper body strength. That isn't even true. McFadden is just plain weak. He has the body of a WR. Like I'm saying McFadden is certainly fast but I don't think he has the strength and body mass to be a feature back in the NFL.
If he hits the weight room and increases his upper and lower body strength he could be a force to be reckoned with in the NFL though. Just remember that every year there are those backs that everybody says will be the next great that just simply doesn't live up to expectations. Cedric Benson, Reggie Bush, the list goes on and on.
9 months ago
Don't get me wrong I'm a huge fan of Mendenhall but he's just plain not in DMac's league
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