How the Oakland Raiders Can Make it Any Given Sunday Against Patriots

September 23, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) rushes for a sixty four yard touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Give Him the Ball

He’s healthy now, so Darren McFadden is the most dynamic and best football player on the team and it’s not even close. So there’s no reason to rush Maurice Jones-Drew, his hand and his 1.7 yards per carry back unto the field. McFadden’s 3.2 yards per carry this year isn’t impressive but you can clearly tell he’s better that Jones-Drew is by watching them.

In Week 1, McFadden’s burst got him around the corner while Jones-Drew was tackled in the backfield trying to get outside. Then going up the middle, McFadden’s burst got him through those little holes that closed on Jones-Drew. In Week 2, McFadden pushed the pile and bucked a defender to the turf to show improved power and vision to cut back on a 21-yard run

The 21-yard run that would have had his average up to 4.6 yards per was negated by a phantom holding call on Stefen Wisniewski. The Patriots gave up 191 yards to the Dolphins with 134 going to “I don’t” Knowshon Moreno in Week 1.  So McFadden, who also took a screen pass for 23 yards last game, could change the game that way, rushing, running after the catch on check-downs or up top with a linebacker in coverage.