How Will Darren McFadden and Michael Bush Compare To Past Raiders RBs?

The Oakland Raiders have a long storied history at the running back position. There have been standout players from the time the team to the field in Oakland until now that helped the Raiders forge a running back legacy of greatness.

You can look back to the great Raiders teams of the 1970's and see how Clarence Davis ran with power and purpose through such tough opponents as the Pittsburg Steelers Steel Curtain defense of the 1970's that had countless Hall of Fame players.

Davis also ran through good defenses in the playoffs against Miami, New England, and Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. As the 1970's became the 1980's, Mark Van Eeghen and Kenny King took the running back reins.

Mark van Eeghen may not have the look of today's backs, Mark van Eeghen ran with good power, did not fumble, and was an excellent blocker. When the Raiders needed to kill a drive at the end of the game, and eat the clock up, van Eeghen could be called upon to shred defenses for the crucial yards and wind the clock down.

Kenny King was like lightning in a bottle. He could hit the gap, turn on the burners, and race down the sidelines past defenders, all the while palming the ball. Just like he did in Super Bowl XV against the Eagles.

After moving to Los Angeles, the Raiders drafted Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Allen 10th overall in the 1982 NFL draft. Allen came from one storied team, USC, to another with the Raiders. Along with winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, MVP of Super Bowl XVIII, and winning the NFL MVP of 1985, Marcus Allen is known as one of the greatest goal line and short-yardage runners in NFL history.

The Al Davis took a player who had decided he wanted to play baseball instead of football. With the seventh pick of the 1987 NFL Draft, the Raiders drafted Heisman Trophy winner Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson.

"Bo Knows" went on to run through the NFL, hello Brian Bosworth, and though his career was cut short by injury, Bo Jackson still left an indelible image with the Raiders and the NFL.

As time marched on, and the 1990's rolled around, the Raiders had some marquee names playing in their backfield. Though most were albeit past their prime, the names still ring a sense of greatness and history: Erick Dickerson, Roger Craig, Greg Bell, and Harvey Williams, and Napoleon Kaufman to name a few.

As the 1990's turned to year 2000, Tyrone Wheatley and Charlie Garner led the Raider to three division titles and a Super Bowl appearance. Like thunder and lightning, the two backs helped the Raiders lead the league in rushing while still having one of the most potent passing attacks in the game.

Since Wheatley and Garner have left, the Raiders have employed a valiant runner in Justin Fargas while spot-checking him with current soon to be starters in Darren McFadden and Michael Bush.

McFadden has much hype, but since coming out of college at Arkansas, injuries, the Raiders lack of a cohesive offensive line, questionable substitution patterns, and his penchant for fumbling have shelved his game-changing and homerun capabilities.

Darren McFadden has game changing speed, and can break long runs after bursting through the holes at the line of scrimmage, and has developed in to a very fine pass catcher and sometimes lines up in the wide receiver position. But he has been injury prone and you wonder if his lower body can take the pounding of 20-25 carries a game.

McFadden can be like Marcus with his shake and bake, bring the speed even more so then Kenny King, and catch the ball like Charlie Garner to add a receiving threat each time he is in the huddle.

Michael Bush is a bruiser who can run over and through defenders, while also having just enough speed to break in to the secondary and convert long runs. He can take a pounding and get those important yards in short yardage situations also. Bush doesn't go down after one hit, holds on to the ball well, and is a great compliment to McFadden.

Michael Bush is kind of reminiscent of Tyrone Wheatley, with a little more speed, mixed in with a little of the big legs and power of Bo. He will drag some defenders with him after the initial contact is made, and can wear down a defense so by the fourth quarter the corners and safeties are getting tired of knocking pads with him.

As training camp gets closer, and the start of the 2010 NFL season is almost upon us, it will be interesting to see how McFadden and Bush work with new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Can Jackson and his play-calling unlock their star potentials?

With the Raiders having a sense of promise and excitement this coming season, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush will be looked upon to continue in the line of storied Raiders running backs. If the two backs can restore that greatness to Oakland's backfield; it will restore greatness in the AFC West standings for the Raiders .