McFargas

The writing is on the wall; Darren McFadden needs to be traded. DMC was one of the most talented running backs drafted by the Oakland Raiders since Marcus Allen. McFadden came with all the accolades any running back could ever achieve at the college level. Awards, after awards line McFadden’s trophy wall from college but the NFL wall is empty.

The Oakland Raiders have definitely not helped McFadden career at all to be fair. DMC has had maybe 5 different coaches/offensive coordinators/schemes in his 5 year career. Who the hell could be productive with that type confusion from the franchise who employs you. If you change the dollar menu at any McDonald’s franchise, the drive through lady may be able to overcome it, but she isn’t going to rush for 1,000 yards.

McFadden hasn’t helped himself much either to make matters worse for his pro career. Baffling injuries have hampered him his whole career. The toe injury in 2009 was anonymity. A toe injury causes you to lose 14 weeks on the field. Ronnie Lott would have cut that toe off at half time and played the second half. Then again, Lott was never paid $60 million dollars with $26 million guaranteed. (If he was, he would have cut his whole foot off.)

Career wise, DMC has had only one year worth bragging about in 2010. That year he had over 1,000 yards rushing and over 500 yards receiving with 10 touchdowns. That’s about it. The rest of his career stats look like Justin Fargas career stats. Fargas hit the 1,000 yard mark once in his career also. Last year DMC flirted with 1,000 combined yards but was put on the shelf for yet another injury.

I know Raider family, I’m being hard on the dude, but DMC is healthy right now and let’s face it; we are not a Super Bowl team this season. A healthy Darren McFadden has good market value in the NFL and we should trade him while he is still upright. I would love to see DMC run for 2,000 yards with 20 touchdowns but I can’t see it. The argument about DMC being a draft “bust” will soon be something the fans may began to speak of.  We all know the guy is one step away from a home run every time he holds the ball, but holding the ball on the side line doesn’t help anybody. We are rebuilding this franchise from the bottom up Raider Nation. We need draft picks, we need intelligent veterans with a good moral compass, and we need to get back that blue collar state of mind which embodies Oakland, California pro football.

Raider Nation for life!

Greg Simon

JBB Staff Writer

@simonizr

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May 11, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (34) runs a route during rookie minicamp at the Raiders team headquarters. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

A hush falls over the crowd.  Cheers are silent as the color fades from the faces of Raider Nation.  Darren McFadden caught a swing pass to the left side of the field, made a move, and twisted funny as he was tackled.  He sits there clasping his left foot, again.  We have all bore witness to this before, and we all know what it probably means.  McFadden may be out for the season.

This is the horror that Raider Nation has faced every year since 2008.  Will we have a running back that can stay healthy all season long?  Sure, when Darren McFadden is healthy he is a formidable opponent that teams must spend sleepless nights preparing for.  Yet, when he is not on the field, opposing teams feel no threat from our passing game or past back-up running backs.

When Reggie McKenzie brought in Free Agent Rashad Jennings, the reason was apparent.  McFadden needs rest to stay healthy.  In the 6^th Round of the 2013 National Football League (NFL) Draft, McKenzie reiterated the need to keep McFadden healthy by drafting Latavius Murray, Running Back out of the University of Central Florida (UCF).

Will the Raiders have a “running back by committee” type of backfield, or are these just fillers for McFadden to get his rest during the game?  Remember, McFadden is in the last year of his contract, and McKenzie is doing away with the bloated player contracts of the past.  What will become of McFadden if he is to go down with yet another injury?

I believe that Latavius Murray is not only a savior for McFadden’s health, but I think he will be the running back of the future.  McFadden was easily considered a large running back at 6’01” and 218 pounds, but Murray surpasses that at 6’03” and 223 pounds.  With the Raiders in a full on rebuilding process, they are looking to create competition at each position.  McFadden may have just found the competition he must defend his position against.  Many analysts and sports critics consider Murray nothing more than an inexperienced raw talent, but there are those of us who believe he was a draft steal.

Latavius Murray finished his college career with 2,424 yards rushing, 37 rushing touchdowns, 50 receptions for 524 yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns.  Not bad considering he didn’t acquire the lead role until his last two years.  He is already turning heads at the Oakland Raiders Organized Team Activities (OTA’s), and if McFadden cannot stay healthy, he may receive much more playing time than any of us could have envisioned.

Make no mistake Raider Nation, I want to see Darren McFadden succeed and display the talent we all have been there to see.  It is sheer joy to watch him bust through the line for a 60 yard touchdown run.  However, should he fall, it’s the next man up.

Latavius is fast for a big man. At his pro day at Central Florida, he ran two 40 yard sprints at 4.40 or below. He is built like Michael Bush and has drawn great accolades for his pass catching abilities similar to Bush.  One of his best attributes are his hands. His hands are as reliable as they are rock solid. Latavius had ZERO fumbles in the last 400+ carries in his college career. (That’s amazing all in its own.)

Did I mention he’s big? Built in the same mold as Eric Dickerson (and runs similar to him) he has both the gift of speed and power.  He never gets caught from behind and I would not want to be the DB in front of him neither.  I can see Coach Allen using him in a lot of 3^rd down with Marcel Reece in the same backfield. Could you imagine the nightmare in coverage that would bring to any line backing corps?

The “L” Train

For the 2013 Raider depth chart, it looks like Darren McFadden (for the first 4 games), Rashad Jennings and then Latavius. I feel that Latavius will fit in our power run scheme better then Jennings and Latavius will be named the Raiders #2 starter (2013 sleeper) by the start of the 2013 season. I also feel that Latavius will be the rightful heir of the #1 spot once McBroken gets hurt again. Call me crazy but the writing is on the wall for DMC. Contract year + Rookie drive = Free agency for DMC. I would love to see DMC have an all pro year but he’s only had ONE year over 1000 yards which is a low and outdated goal in this days NFL.

God Bless the Raiders and God Bless the Raider Nation!

Greg Simon

JBB Staff Writer

@simonizr

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