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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September 29, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Florida State Seminoles wide receiver Rashad Greene (80) is congratulated by offensive linesman Menelik Watson (71) after they scored a touchdown against the South Florida Bulls during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Originally born in the United Kingdom, Menelik Watson entered the United States on a basketball scholarship to Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York.  He attended school and played basketball there from 2009 to 2010.  His mentor, Rob Orellana, saw a very good athlete in Watson, but it was apparent that he was too short to play power forward in basketball.

In 2011, Orellana transferred Watson to Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, California.  There, he played American Football for the very first time in his life.  His size and raw talent earned him a spot at Right Tackle.  He played opposite Left Tackle Kyle Long (Howie Long’s son).

After just one year at Saddleback College, Watson transferred to Florida State University for the 2012 season.  He started 12 of 13 games at the Right Tackle position and allowed just one sack.  Not bad for a guy who was playing only his second year of football.

In 2013, Watson entered the NFL Draft.  He was selected by the Oakland Raiders in Round 2 (#42 overall).  This is a beast of a man at 6’ 6” tall and 320 pounds.  Coach Tony Sparano (Offensive Line Coach for the Oakland Raiders) was asked to describe Watson in one word.  Sparano simply said, “Strong.”

Khalif Barnes has been holding down the right tackle position for the Raiders since 2009, but Watson was brought in to compete for that exact spot.  With the additions of Jared Veldheer, Stefen Wisniewski, and Mike Brisiel, over the past couple years, it’s apparent the Raiders have been revamping the Offensive Line.  Let’s face it, without a core group of good Offensive Linemen, there is no running or passing game.

Watson will provide that right side strength that quarterbacks can count on to keep them safe from sacks.  He will give us a strong wall and allow Darren McFadden to get the edge.  Watson may be raw and have little experience playing football, but Tony Sparano is the right coach to show him the ropes.  With Sparano coaching him, I believe that Menelik Watson will be a great tackle and someone we can count on for this year and into the future.

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.