Aug 9, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) catches a pass from quarterback Matt Flynn (15) during the first quarter of the game against the Dallas Cowboys at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Give McFadden the Ball
Of course, the Raiders have to get their running game on track so that means they need to give Darren McFadden the ball. The coaching staff and former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis all talked about him on NFL AM on NFL Network They were all talking about how McFadden looks fresh and running as hard as they’ve seen him run in the last couple of years.
Yet he’s only averaging 3.3 yards per carry so far to show for it but that’s always what his average is until he breaks one to boost it. That hasn’t happened yet but would have in Sunday’s game against the Patriots if fullback Marcel Reece didn’t miss his man on a kick-out block. What could have been at least 20 but as high as an 80-yard run turned into a loss of about two or three.
So as a possible 80-yard run was taken away there, little things like that need to be cleaned up and I expect them to be. Giving McFadden the ball shouldn’t stop at hand-offs either as he can take a screen or check-down to the house. And just like they did last week, they should try one of Miami’s linebackers deep in one-on-one coverage as a good throw would have had it.