Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden Will Shine in 2013
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
There’s no question that Darren McFadden is one of the cornerstone pieces of the Oakland Raiders’ franchise.
McFadden jumped onto the national stage in 2010 after he rushed for 1,157 yards and scored seven touchdowns. Many had high hopes for the versatile running back in 2011, and he was validating those thoughts in the first seven games; he had 614 rushing yards and four touchdowns. But disaster stuck McFadden when he went down with a Lisfranc injury that would keep him on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
And to make matters worse, McFadden suffered ongoing injuries throughout 2012 and was only able to put up 707 rushing yards in the 12 games he played in and only scored two touchdowns all season long.
But with the 2013-2014 season slowly approaching, McFadden sure as something to prove. And he will prove all of his doubters wrong.
One of the main reasons McFadden struggled last season was due to the system he was playing under. Former offensive coordinator Greg Knapp installed the zone blocking scheme in hopes to bring more out of the Raiders’ running backs but that plan failed horribly. It led to their top running back to having one of the worst years of his career.
But now that Knapp has been fired and new offensive coordinator Greg Olson is in, the Raiders’ running game should see a huge spike in production. Olson is bringing the power running system back to the Raiders, one that McFadden has loved and has excelled in.
“It feels great,” McFadden said of the new offense. “I feel like I’m a downhill runner and it’s something that coaches see also. By us getting into a gap scheme offense, being able to get downhill, they feel like that suits me a lot more. I’m looking forward, O-line is doing a great job, getting in there on a double-team and opening holes up.”
It is good to see that McFadden is excited for a fresh year and system and the opportunity to bounce back.
Aside from the new system being installed, McFadden is one of the most agile running backs in the league. The 218-pound running back that stands over six feet tall has the ability and power to plow through defenders but also the quickness and speed to hit the outside and take off.
The NFL is filled with tons of talented running backs. Ray Rice, Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson, and Arian Foster are all up there.
But after the 2013-2014 season, people will look back and rank McFadden as one of the five best running backs of the year. Mark it down now.