COMMENTARY : Time will tell how D-Mac fits in Oakland
Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/225272/
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Bo Jackson ? Napoleon Kaufman ? Marcus Allen ?
It’s hard to say when the last time was the Oakland Raiders had an offensive backfield weapon comparable to former Arkansas Razorbacks star Darren McFadden.
After this weekend, it still might not be evident how much of an impact Little Rock’s McFadden, the team’s first-round draft pick last month, can have this season.
Coach Lane Kiffin, who longed for an explosive offensive player, got his first look at McFadden when the Raiders opened a three-day rookie minicamp Friday at team headquarters.
However, quarterback JaMarcus Russell, running back Justin Fargas and receiver Javon Walker weren’t there. And McFadden will compete against other rookies — some who are trying out for an invitation to training camp.
Not exactly the best gauge of Mc-Fadden’s place in the offense.
The Raiders’ lack of a dynamic offensive player has been noticeable in recent years. Kiffin certainly noticed it last season, his first as head coach.
McFadden is the addition that is supposed to scare defenses and show the offensive genius Raiders owner Al Davis became enamored with in former Southern Cal assistant Kiffin.
This weekend will offer only a glimpse of what Kiffin might do with McFadden. The Raiders’ mandatory minicamp is June 3.
The notable returnee will be running back Michael Bush, who is eligible to participate because he spent his rookie season on the physically unable to perform list.
The lack of veterans should help Kiffin in his approach of bringing along the prized rookie slowly.
“You don’t want to do too much right away with him because you want him to master some things first before you try to put too much on him,” Kiffin said. “So we’ll monitor that as well before we throw everything at him.”
McFadden could line up at wide receiver or tailback. He also could be used in the backfield with Fargas, the starting tailback at the end of last season.
Kiffin’s greatest success at Southern California came when he had two very different running backs — Reggie Bush, who could play all over the field, and LenDale White, who could batter opponents.
Kiffin won’t be able to see how Fargas, McFadden and Michael Bush work together this weekend, but Mc-Fadden already likes how the coach has rotated backs.
“I feel it’s something I can bring to Oakland, being a versatile player, that I can move around and give them a different style,” McFadden said.
The Raiders say they hope that versatility leads to mismatches rather than yawns from opposing defensive coordinators when Oakland changes formations.
“He’s unique,” offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said of McFadden. “In my experiences, his home run ability is very unique from what I’ve seen on the college tape. Hopefully, that will transfer over to the pro level.”