The Oakland Raiders selected running back Darren McFadden with the fourth pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. There has been much debate on if the Raiders should have used their pick on D Mac.
In my book, he was the only pick, while being the top player in the draft. The Raiders were lucky to be able to get him with the fourth pick.
D Mac played in 38 games at Arkansas and rushed for 4590 yards in 785 carries and averaged 5.8 yards per carry scoring 41 TDs. He caught 46 passes for two TDs receiving, and threw for seven TDs. D Mac also averaged 24.4 yards per carry in his kick return duties.
Here is a quote from Barker Davis of the
- B/R Ticket Guide
"D Mac is a once in a generation guy. Laugh if you will, but he just might be the best back in all of football right now. L T and R Bush can't move a pile like the 215 lb Arkansas Hammer. Most stunningly, they are both slower. D Mac runs a flat 4.3 and over the past 2 seasons he basically lined up 7 yards deep, behind pathetic Quarter Backs against blazing Defenses that knew exactly what and who was coming...and average 6 yards per carry in the Nations toughest conference."
At 6'2" and 215 lbs., the 20-year-old D Mac, is very close in size to the 22-year-old Adrian Peterson 6'1" and 217 lbs.
Adrian Peterson averaged 95.8 yards per game rushing over his college career. D Mac averaged 121.2 yards per game rushing over his college career.
In my opinion, D Mac will prove to be a more versatile back than Adrian Peterson. Does that mean D Mac will have a season like Adrian Peterson did last year? I do not think so, for what Peterson did last year is for the ages.
What D Mac will do next year is give the Oakland Raiders' offense a player that will be hard to defend against for opposing defenses. A weapon that can score from anywhere on the field anytime he touches the ball.
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5 months ago
The best back in football right now? Barker Davis should possibly hold those comments for a year or two. McFadden hasn't played a down in the NFL! To say he is the best back in football is ridiculous. I am a huge Peterson fan, but LT is still the best back in the game right now and he has proven it over several years. Before placing McFadden, or Peterson at the top of the list, they should have a few seasons under their belts.
5 months ago
Best RB in football right now is probably an overstatement, best rookie RB in football right now is hard to argue against. Matching Peterson's numbers last year is a lot to ask, but McFadden has some tail winds in Oakland that could help him reach them. D Mac is coming into a successful rushing offense with a young quarterback and committed to the run. The AFC West is the worst division at defending the run and the rest of the Raiders schedule is built to run on. The Raiders play only 3 games against top 15 rush defenses from last year and 13 games against teams ranked 16 and lower.
from 5 months ago
And 8 of the those 13 games are against rush defenses that ranked 25th or lower last year (Denver, KC, Buffalo, NYJ, Atlanta and Miami)
5 months ago
When doing some research for what I was writing I found a website that just listed quotes by people regarding D Mac. I was stunned at many that I read by Mike Ditka, LSU and other collage coaches and so on. They made the guy sound like Super Man.
No one knows for sure what D Mac will do until he plays in the NFL. It is sure going to be fun to watch and if he only lives up to half of what was said about him in the quotes I read, this kid could be a Super Star in waiting.
Thanks for taking the time for the read.
Sonny
2 months ago
give him some time. he just might be a superstar
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