A lot of hype has emerged about Darren McFadden entering the NFL. So far the big question everyone has had is with his character issues. He has gotten into multiple fights, one almost resulting in the loss of his big toe. Also he is said to have three children, all before entering the NFL.
After D-Mac experienced complete beat-downs from USC, he apparently doesn't like Trojans.
The real problem isn't as much of a character problem but rather the team that he is going to and how his playing style will be affected by being in Oakland. Many people compare him to Adrian Peterson who had a phenomenal year as a rookie in '07. Many people think McFadden will have similar success.
They are similar at a glance but Peterson has abilities that McFadden truly lacks. Both are big, strong, fast, and have "home-run hitting" ability. McFadden is slightly faster than Peterson and Peterson is a bit stronger than Darren, but one thing Darren doesn't have is the ability to turn corners quickly.
If there is a hole to hit, D-Mac will find it and exploit it. But in the NFL, many times those holes are not there and the runner must be able to create. He won't be able to do that.
The Raiders are not known for their offensive line, and a big problem running backs can have is the low success of the offense's passing game. If a team has a good runner but does not have a good passing game it makes it very easy for the defense to decide what to focus on. Larry Johnson suffered from this last year.
JaMarcus Russell will need to have at least a decent year to be able to keep the defenses honest, and I don't believe he will be able to do that. He has incredible arm strength and great size, but so does Daunte Culpepper, and he's looking for a job.
When the Raiders selected him No. 1 overall the first thing that came to my mind was...BUST! Leadership, intelligence, accuracy, mental toughness, competitive nature, and the ability to play at a high level in big games is what makes a quarterback.
JaMarcus Russell can't even correctly pronounce every other word he says. Plus they don't have great offensive minds coaching them and he doesn't have a high level receiving core.
Javon Walker is a very good player but he has no durability. And this offseason he got hurt off the field. Hurrah for Javon!!!
The Vikings did not have a passing game last year and Peterson still excelled. However, he did have two pro-bowl offensive lineman and Bryant McKinnie to lead the way. But much of sAdrian's success came from his ability to cut and "create."
Drafting Darren McFadden was not a bad pick, but the Raiders maybe could have used some others positions more. Justin Fargas had over 1,000 yards last year and LaMont Jordan was in the top three in rushing yards until he got hurt.
The problem is the Raiders are a mess and do not know exactly what they are doing. It doesn't matter how faithful a Raiders fan you are, your team's management stinks.
Here is another way to think of it...Randy Moss had worse stats than Bobby Wade in '06, while setting the receiving touchdown record the next year. If Randy Moss can't do a thing in Oakland, things aren't looking so bright for Darren.
comments (18) write a comment »
write a new comment
3 months ago
Their O-Line isn't that bad (except Robert "Holding" Gallery). Maybe if they moved Russell to tackle, put D-Mac at QB, and kept Fargas at RB they could be successful.
from 3 months ago
Any team with Dmac as their QB is bound to be good.
3 months ago
Actually the Raiders O-line is one of the better ones in the league at run blocking, and Gallery found his niche at guard last year. Tom Cable brought the ZBS to Oakland and got them to 6th in rushing last year, with average RB's, imagine what Mcfadden could do in that system. His one cut running style is perfect for it. Try doing some research before you run your mouth about the Raiders under the pretense of a pointless comparison.
Peterson and Mcfadden are two completely different backs, with different strengths. Mcfadden is a versatile triple threat RB,WR,QB, while Peterson is a better pure runner.
3 months ago
Found his niche? Robert Gallery was one of the top penalized players last year. Plus, he was drafted 2nd overall to be a franchise LT. You don't draft a guy that high to be a guard.
As for D-Mac, I'm sure he will be good, just not Adrian Peterson good. I've watched D-Mac his whole collegiate career and never really seen him cut so I have no clue where you got that idea from. And I'm gonna go out on a limb and say he isn't gonna play WR or QB in the NFL.
3 months ago
McFadden is a versatile Triple threat of RB,WR,QB? you think they'll put him at qb in the nfl? Dude the only reason you said that is because you're in denial that the raiders are a mess. Randy Moss is the greatest WR not named Jerry Rice and he was pure crap in oakland, like Troy Williamson bad.
3 months ago
I was referring to Mcfadden being able to throw the football, not him being lined up as the QB.
Moss was crap because he didn't wan't to play for a losing team. I'm not in denial of anything, just the opposite actually. I'm fully aware of the problems within the Raiders organization, and that something needs to change or the team will continue to suffer from it. I'm hoping that with the offseason acquisitions and a 2nd year with Kiffin as head coach things will start to fall into place.
3 months ago
Being a Raider fan, you might think that I would completely disagree with you but I cannot disagree totally.
I agree that management stinks, more accurately Al Davis is insane.
I have full confidence in Kiffin. I also have total confidence in Tom Cable.
That is why I believe you are wrong about McFadden's success. He wont be AP but give the Raiders credit. One thing we could do well, dare I say superior was open lane for runners.
Also I didn't believe Russell was the answer to our QB of the future question but that all changed this off-season seeing him come into OTA's looking slimmer and owning the offensive playbook.
That shows a desire something he was questioned for. Don't hate on the guy for not articulating like you do.
With Russell's arm and big play ability he will pull some men out of the box. Even if it is only sometimes that will allow McFadden to approach some success even if it is not like AP's.
Don't you think that if Fargas and Lamont Jordan could get that kind of yardage how much more can McFadden get.
Finally, Moss is what is wrong with SPORTS not the Raiders or their offense. Even though it sucked his last year in Oakland. Moss said himself, he only plays when he wants to.
I wish their was some justice and Moss would break his leg or get nailed and never be the same. But no he turned it on and off and I thought that he would have a ring but he doesn't... thanks New York.
So in conclussion
3 months ago
Oh I want to add, I am so glad the Giants were able to expose Tom Brady for the most over-rated QB.
How come I can't see the breakdown of the Superbowl and were Tom Brady was misfiring all game. Did you see that missed pass on 3rd down late in the game. He was so off.
Tom Brady is the most fortunate QB ever. He latched on to a great Defense and defensive coach, who happened to be stealing signals and when the defense started to get old. No more superbowls.
The Tuck Rule was his lucky start to an undeserved success.
He isn't a tenth of the QB Peyton Manning is but know one can see it. I feel like Mugatu in Zoolander. I feel like I am taking crazy pills. No one dares examine Brady...what does he have on these media types? I don't know.
3 months ago
Brady isn't a tenth of peyton manning, moss is what is wrong with sports? Peter are you feeling well. You feel like Mugatu? Maybe people respect 3 super bowls, 2 super bowl mvps, an mvp, a 16-0 regular season, a 14-3 playoff record, and having the record for most TDs in a season. Seriously get off those crazy pills. And the only reason you hate Randy Moss is because when he went to the Patriots he made the Raiders look like Mugatu
3 months ago
Wow, somebody got their feelings hurt...I'm not sure if I should flag as offensive or simply laugh as I respond. First, if you could do us all a favor and hit Caps Lock one more time. Is it really that impressive if he stayed to break Herschel's record in 4 seasons when it took Walker only 3? And still, I am looking for this cut that D-Mac excels at. And no, simply running straight towards the defenders doesn't count as cutting.
from 3 months ago
"And still, I am looking for this cut that D-Mac excels at."
http://youtube.com/watch?v=LJGTC-StZGI
:28 , :34 , 1:38 , 2:55 , 4:12 , 4:31
Here is some evidence of DMAC performing what you seem to think he lacks. Now I know Mcfadden is sometimes too fast for the eye to see, but you have to admit that those are cuts. And like I said before there is usually only one of them.
3 months ago
are you talking about the same offensive line that was 6th in the league in rushing last year? and if doug williams can win a ring i dont think your speach has anything to do with playing quarterback
3 months ago
Ok, raider people, this is simple. D-Mac won't be as good as Adrian Peterson cuz he can't cut, D-Mac was a great college runningback but that was because he was far more talented than everyone he played, it won't be like that in the NFL. I watched D-Mac play about 15-20 games and he can't cut at ALL (Caps courtesy of Little Daniel above), being able to cut is huge for an NFL runningback. The Raiders already have decent runners so why get another. D-Mac is great if their are huge open holes, while the raiders have a solid o-line it isn't going to be make gaping holes like when he was at Arkansas. Honestly LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas should be fine. I don't think D-Mac is going to suck, he just won't be pro-bowl calliber. Raider Nation gets so defensive. If D-Mac was drafted by another team you wouldn't argue my point, but because I said something negative (aka TRUE) involving your precious Raidaz you start going crazy.
P.S. Doug Williams was smart. and Daniel, your life doesn't matter.
from 3 months ago
It is not his cutting abililty. When he plays, he appears to cut poorly, but really the cause of this is poor vision and lack of patience in setting up his blockers. I'm a huge DMAC fan, but Felix Jones might have a better NFL career because he has a knack for waiting for holes to open and sprinting through them. It is quite possible that Darren could improve in this area, but this kind of thing seems to be God-given and not as much learned. He has the athletic ability to make the cuts. He just needs to know when to make them.
2 months ago
Barrett - I would love to learn where you get your information regarding DMAC's running style? OR - better yet...how many games have you watched DMAC play in? Until you have facts about DMAC's running style or something worth reporting, I would think your energy would be better spent writing about something else. How do you compare someone, who has never played 1 down in the NFL, to Peterson? Was Peterson good in college? NO...He was great! I live in Tulsa and loved watching him when he was at OU. However, watching DMAC running while in college was amazing! As for his character issues and the MULTIPLE fights he was in...Define Multiple please. He got in to 2 fights. How many GREAT NFL players have been in 2 fights? How many GREAT NFL players have multiple kids? How many of them have 3 or more kids with different mothers? Isn't that the "Gold Standard" for playing in the NFL. These 3 kids have been tested and found not to be DMAC's...but who cares one way or the other??? As for the OLine...wasn't oakland one of the best rushing teams in the NFL last year? Is that why you think the Oline sucks? That doesn't make much sense!
from 2 months ago
Well I can account that Barrett has indeed seen quite a bit of games that McFadden played in. Most notably, the Peyton Hillis Show aka Arkansas takes it to LSU in Death Valley.
Now, where have you been the past few months? Did you miss the hype of McFadden? The comparisons to AD? This isn't just some random comparison like Aaron Brooks to John Elway.
Regarding character issues, there were only 2 fights that we know about took place. I have friends that went to school with Darren at Oak Grove HS, there weren't many favorable opinions given out.
I would like to see where the kids were officially ruled not to be those of McFadden. I haven't heard anything about it, and being in Arkansas it seems like I would. My favorite part is the length of time between the 2 soon to be born. 1 is almost 9 months from when he broke the SEC single season rushing record (Great game BTW...I was there) and the other 9 months from when Arkansas beat LSU.
Unfortunately for McFadden, his running style isn't exactly NFL material (hence Felix Jones being the better NFL back in the long run) but he will have several years to shine. AD on the other hand is a perfect and will soon be running for 2000 yards a season as if it was nothing (though this assuming that Brad Childress gets his head out of his ass).
Now, does this mean I'm not a fan of McFadden? Of course not. I have a #5 Jersey, as does Barrett. He is one of the greatest Razorback football players of all-time, and is the rightful winner of the 2007 Heisman Trophy. But does he have character issues? Yes, he has some, but look at the environment he grew up in, it is amazing he has gotten to where he is today, and for that I commend him.
Woo Pig
2 months ago
Ok, we're talking about athletes that we watch on TV, not politics or religion. If you don't like what I had to say get over it or suck on your thumb. I'm losing faith in humanity by each passing day.
2 months ago
Obviously a tainted Raiders-hater type of article, has some valid points, but now that camp has started and the truth is coming out instead of rumors. Russel HAS the qualities you listed, Walker IS healthy even after his beating in Vegas, the veteran leaders are IMPRESSED with what Russel is doing and Coach Cables zone-blocking schemes fit a runner like McFadden. You might want to find out what is REALLY happening with the Raiders and be a little less of a hater when you are trying to write a SUPPOSEDLY neutral viewpoint. The defense with Gibril Wilson, DeAngelo Hall and Ed Hartwell has got a nasty new attitude, and they weren't that bad over the last few years except for being terrible against the run last year. Yeah Russell and McFadden are HORRIBLE,TOTAL BUSTS, OVERATED............whatever, you are biased plain and simple, go gush about whoever it is that you think is worthy and thanks for your useless opinions!!!
write a new comment