The three main knocks on Darren McFadden are his large number of fumbles last season, his thin legs, and his character/family problems. Let’s take a quick yet comprehensive look at each.
Chicken Legs
The skinny legs comments are ridiculous, yet hilarious when you look at who the triumphant Raider running back was last season. Justin Fargas has skinny legs. He had one of the most successful rushing campaigns in recent memory. He performed better than thick-legged Lamont Jordan and average-legged Dominic Rhodes.
Seriously, leg thickness? Are all runners supposed to be thunderous Steven Jacksons? Remember Marcus Allen? Marshall Faulk? Robert Smith? Clinton Portis, Willis McGahee, and Willie Parker all have less than impressive lower bodies.
McFadden will get his yards not by running over people, but by hitting holes quickly, stiff-arming some people, lowering his shoulder on others, and outrunning many.
Bangers are the ones sitting on the disabled list too often.
Remember McFadden ran 325 times last year through some of the best defenses in the nation in the SEC. He obviously has some power in those legs, as was further evidenced by his impressive broad jump numbers in the NFL Combine.
Fumbles
I went through the Arkansas Razorbacks’ play-by-play gamelogs from last year to determine when McFadden’s fumbles occurred. I did this because I knew McFadden lined up as a quarterback often enough in the Razorbacks’ offense. He also returned kickoffs. Not all fumbles are created equally, so let’s find out how these fumbles were distributed.
Fumbles as a running back: 5 fumbles in 325 carries.
Fumbles as a quarterback: 5 fumbles.
Fumbles as a kickoff returner: 5 fumbles.
Suddenly the 15 fumbles of the 2007 season don’t seem like such a huge deal.
As a quarterback, McFadden fumbled a few snaps and handoffs that he fell on and recovered. I would guess that the other fumbles were simply McFadden not focusing enough on the ball, instead trying to see where the running lane was. Some of his QB carries consisted of draws and option plays that didn’t have specifically designed lanes to run through.
From a Razorbacks fan:
“He did have some fumbles in his career but with the exception of last year's LSU game [where 2 fumbles came as a kick returner] I believe that they were at the beginning of each season and could be contributed to the bonehead coach not allowing him to be hit in practice.”
From CBS.Sporstline.com’s profile:
“Protects the ball well in traffic, but most of his turnovers come on improper ball distribution in the open … Also has a high amount of fumbles fielding the kickoff, as he tends to run before securing the ball …”
McFadden is simply not very good at returning kicks. His 19.8 average was certainly underwhelming. His longest return was 33 yards – rather pathetic when you realize he faced Troy , Florida International, Chattanooga , and North Texas . McFadden’s kickoff return fumbles are an extension of the fact he is not very good at this.
Yes, McFadden will need to hone his ball security in the NFL. During Darren’s pre-draft visit to Oakland, running backs coach Tom Rathman pointed out a way Darren can improve that aspect of his running game. Yet this isn’t a player who fumbles every handful of rushes. Five fumbles in 325 standard running carries is nothing alarming. Fargas fumbled three times in 222 carries last season.
Character
As for his questionable family members’ lifestyles, and thus his character concerns, it’s been said before and I echo the sentiment that to have all that chaos so closely around you, yet come out on top and above it all is the most impressive thing a person in that situation could possibly demonstrate.
If he can resist the temptation of his own family messing around with drugs and a nonsense lifestyle, he can certainly handle himself away from all of that as his employment environment and age mature.
The worst thing on his rap sheet is being handcuffed and quickly released when things got a bit rowdy at a piano bar he was in. Yawn. He also has two kids out of wedlock, though some tests are still being taken to determine the validity of each case.
Parenting is certainly of monumental importance, but it would be unfair to say that McFadden will be any less of a parent than most NFL players. For all we know he'll be around and take great care of them. Again, nothing alarming here.
Quotes: P.S. He’s NOT Reggie Bush.
Here are some notable quotes on McFadden from talented evaluator Charles Casserly. It was Casserly, remember, who opted to take Mario Williams for his Texans over Reggie Bush and Vince Young.
"[McFadden] will run inside, and he's bigger," Casserly said. "He's not a power back, but when I watch him, there's no reluctance to run inside. At times, he'll miss the hole, but I've seen him lower his shoulder and knock a safety or linebacker back. He has more production against better teams than Bush. Pac-10 defenses weren't very good. [McFadden] has played in the SEC against the best college teams in the country and he's been productive over a three-year period. I think that's the clear difference."
From his CBS.Sportsline.com profile:
"Plays with good toughness, lowering his head and driving hard with his legs after contact … Can bounce off tackles and gives good second effort when his initial move fails … Willing blocker who shows the ability to pick up blitzes and will chip defenders with good intent and purpose … Has the field vision and awareness to find the open crease and excels at anticipating cutback lanes … Highly respected by the staff and teammates, demonstrating a solid work ethic."
From another SEC fan: “I’ve watched the majority of his career since I live in the south so SEC and ACC games are on a lot. McFadden has power…there are plenty of times he goes fullspeed into 2 guys and drags them a few yards before goin down. They’re just the 6-10 yard runs that don't make the reel [because] he has so many 30+ and 40+ runs.”
My Take
He is not Adrian Peterson or Reggie Bush. Each of those two has completely different running styles than Darren McFadden.
It is unlikley that McFadden will bully his way to 250-yard rushing days. However, McFadden also runs in a way that's less conducive to injuries. He may play more games in his career than Peterson.
As for the Bush comparisons, McFadden is not a passive, dancing runner. He hits the hole hard and is custom-made for Oakland's one-cut system so long as he demonstrates a shred of patience.
McFadden's rookie-season numbers will not be eye-popping. This will be due to his sharing carries with Justin Fargas and Michael Bush. However, McFadden will likely lead the running backs in yards per carry and longest gain. He will likely also lead them in catches, receiving yards, and touchdown catches.
By 2009, McFadden will be getting most of the carries on this team and be on his way to producing 1,800 combined rushing and receiving yard seasons; along with the occasional backbreaking, game-icing 70-yard run.
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2 months ago
Good read, well sourced. McFadden's damage will come, on breakout plays, and when the defense becomes tired, and rightfully so, after trying to stop him, Bush, and Fargas, all game long.
The other element that comes into being with McFadden, is on a bootleg, if they send the guys to Russell, it opens McFadden up for a side route, or over the middle....and with a QB this tall.....he'll find that target, and put it between the 2-0.
2 months ago
You said that he can't return kicks well and that's a bad thing, but McFadden plans to be a feature back that becomes a superstar. Superstar running backs don't return kicks so that probably won't be a problem. (I don't consider Reggie Bush a superstar running back so don't try)
2 months ago
Good Read Alex. I doubt McFadden will be returning many kicks but his versatility makes it an option. I like the fact of allowing him to learn the Running back position before the other options are brought into play but he will line up at more than one position this season. It appears that the Fargs, McFadden and Michael Bush will be the three running backs that receive the majority of the carries this season.
2 months ago
Good shit.
For the sake of Raiders fans it's a good thing McFadden is nothing like Reggie Bush. Bush is not a true NFL running back and is really nothing more than a glorified receiver.
2 months ago
Great Article! Mcfadden will quickly rise in the Raider running game that finished sixth last year and with Bush and Fargas, he will reach tremendous heights.
2 months ago
good paper !
2 months ago
As an Arkansas Razorback fan, I can tell you this report is accurate. McFadden is tough, smart and talented. And, a super person. The character question is an ill-informed national media misque. As stated here, he's been in the bowels of a bad environment and bad influences yet has never been arrested. Is only guilty of standing up for his family before thinking of the consequences to himself.
This is no gangsta. He's dressed up as a clown and Fred Flintsone for two Halloween's at Arkansas. this is a honorable person who has risen above, on and off the field.
And, he will, on the football field, hit you in the mouth. Darren McFadden is a FOOTBALL PLAYER. Run it, throw it, catch it or hit it-he will do whatever it takes.
Is he the next whatever??? Who knows. That has more to do with luck and health. But, Oakland will get a 110% of whatever he's got.
2 months ago
just imagine what this guy could have done if he would have had a real coach in college. All of his accomplishments are despite the brothers nutt and not because of them.
2 months ago
quote: "McFadden will get his yards not by running over people, but by hitting holes quickly, stiff-arming some people, lowering his shoulder on others, and outrunning many. "
Skinny legs are no biggee
Fumbles aren't a concern..some were as qb.
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"Lowering his shoulder"?? One of his bigger knocks is he went down like a sack of potatoes once touched.
BTW..ONE OF THE REASONS THAT IS, is because of the aforementioned skinny legs. See..it's legs that break tackles, and considering he's got sparrow legs, how can anyone expect him to break tackles against NFL players, when he couldn't against college level?
And what the hell does "He fumbled as a qb, so it's not all that big a deal" mean? Guy was in the backfield, had the ball in hand, took off running, AND FUMBLED IT. He didn't fumble under center, those 5 for one year weren't as he was handing it off, he had the ball tucked, and was running.
Bad news for you...skinny legs...collapsing like a cheap tent...fumbles...all valid knocks against a guy that your team didn't even need.
BTW..I suppose the good news is your 31st rushing defense can't really drop all that much lower..so there's that you have going for you. :)
2 months ago
Call me crazy Mike49er, but I'm taking Casserly's word, along with scouts assessments, over your words. Have you seen McFadden's stiff arm? Did you watch him pound it 325 times last year? I'm pretty sure he broke some tackles on his way to the monster yards he put up vs top SEC competition.
And again, the Faulks and Marcus Allens and Robert Smiths and Willie Parkers have broken plenty of tackles with their overall body strength, their stiff arms, their jukes/spins, or their ability to outrun a solid tackle angle - despite having unimpressive lower bodies.
ANYONE can make a highlight video showing RBs being hit / tackled and having their legs stop. It's called being tackled. I could find 10 plays of Frank Gore doing the same thing - being stopped on his tracks. Doesn't make him unable to break tackles.
again, these are professional talent evaluator's words: "At times, he'll miss the hole, but I've seen him lower his shoulder and knock a safety or linebacker back. Plays with good toughness, lowering his head and driving hard with his legs after contact … Can bounce off tackles and gives good second effort when his initial move fails …has one of the better stiff arms in the nation."
2 months ago
Many of McFadden's fumbles as a QB came during the hand-off when he hadn't practice the option much in practice. Jones would see a hole and grab it, and McFadden would see a whole and try and take it away, result= fumble. He also had a fumble when he had the snap and was reaching out to throw it and the ball came out of his hand. Also, he breaks his tackles with stiff arms when he is on the edge. He doesn't break tackles up the middle but he does lower his shoulder and get a few extra yards. Also, you say he gets knocked down by the first breath of wind. And it is frustrating at times when he just runs up the back of his Guard or Tackle and just falls down, but it's impatience where he keeps his feet moving and they get tripped up. So before you knock the guy, whether he becomes a star or not, you should at least watch him. I don't think razorback fans ever thought of his skinny legs as a problem because there have been several times when he just straight levels a linebacker/safety and you just think "wow, he just got hit by a sledge hammer cuz that guy just got dropped." His actual weakness is the inability to find the small creases and gets stopped for no gain.
2 months ago
excellent post Cane. Always helpful to get more thoughts / analysis from people who actually watched him play.
I see it as basic math. If Fargas can crack 1,000 yards in 9 games with his fragile body and lack of moves, how many more will McFadden (with better top-end speed, similar power, and a better stiff arm) get?
Not to mention McFadden will almost certainly eclipse Fargas' 33-yard longest rushing gain last year.
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