Darrin McFadden - are you buying a comeback?

Phicinfan

Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything
Administrator
Well, Spiller averaged 6 YPC in 2012 and McFadden 3.3. Maybe Spiller is just way more talented at this point in their careers.........

Oh wait, Oakland is going away from the zone blocking scheme, so that will fix everything..............
Add to that Spiller had a worse O-line, worse QB situation, and was not the starter at the start of the year. He is either a slow learner, or a one year wonder, only time will tell
 

efactor

Coming at you
Add to that Spiller had a worse O-line, worse QB situation, and was not the starter at the start of the year. He is either a slow learner, or a one year wonder, only time will tell

I don't know about the worse OL. Jackson averaged 5.5 YPC in 2011 and was a top 5 back until he got hurt. Spiller averaged 5.2 after taking over. The blocking couldn't have been that bad. McFadden had nowhere to run last year despite having a QB like Palmer who could keep the defense honest. Not sure the same can be said of Flynn.

Spiller didn't start the season as a starter in 2012 due to the year Jackson had in 2011, so not sure it had anything to do with being a slow learner. Jackson was a very good back prior to breaking his leg and getting a couple years older.

Some people are down on Spiller based on situation in Buffalo with the QB and receiving group, but the situation isn't much different than 2011 and 2012 when both Jackson and Spiller thrived, probably better since Kolb and Manual are more talented than Fitzpatrick.
 

wical34

My reality check bounced.
Well, Spiller averaged 6 YPC in 2012 and McFadden 3.3. Maybe Spiller is just way more talented at this point in their careers.........

Oh wait, Oakland is going away from the zone blocking scheme, so that will fix everything..............

E you are totally missing the true point. Runners like Chris Johnson and McFadden can't thrive in a zone blocking scheme. They are shifty and burst through the hole. McFadden averaged 5.4 ypc the year before under a different scheme with the likes of Jason Campbell at QB. Matt Flynn = Jason Campbell. Baring said injury, that will most likely happen, I am still going to take a flier on McFadden at his ADP. I'm a very active owner and realize his potential for trade if he blows up in the first 4 games. Take him for what he's worth, everyone is interested in an RB that's producing.
 

efactor

Coming at you
E you are totally missing the true point. Runners like Chris Johnson and McFadden can't thrive in a zone blocking scheme. They are shifty and burst through the hole. McFadden averaged 5.4 ypc the year before under a different scheme with the likes of Jason Campbell at QB. Matt Flynn = Jason Campbell. Baring said injury, that will most likely happen, I am still going to take a flier on McFadden at his ADP. I'm a very active owner and realize his potential for trade if he blows up in the first 4 games. Take him for what he's worth, everyone is interested in an RB that's producing.


No, I get it.

However, unless the current line can block better than it did last year, he will struggle regardless of scheme. That's all I'm saying.
 

wical34

My reality check bounced.
No, I get it.

However, unless the current line can block better than it did last year, he will struggle regardless of scheme. That's all I'm saying.

I truly disagree with this. It is about the runner and terrible coaching in this circumstance. Runners like Lynch thrive in zone schemes, because they are down hill hard nosed runners. McFadden and Chris Johnson aren't this way. They are play makers who rely on their skill sets. I will go out on a limb and say that if DMC makes it 12 games this year he will still average over 4.5 ypc. He has the talent and skill set to do much better, even with 8 in the box. Not to mention Moore and Streater are still young talents. Moore is only in his 3rd year while Streater is in his 2nd. Both are inconsistent but still have skill sets to keep secondaries honest. Also they have the same LT and RT as they did in 2011 when he averaged 5.4 YPC.
 

efactor

Coming at you
Tom Cable put that OL together and now he is 3 years removed from the system, so his stamp is no longer on it. The same coach who went to Seattle and turned their line into one of the better O-lines in the NFL.

Also, the Raiders were doing very well in 2011 (7-4) before they crashed and burned, which tells me they were a better team overall in 2011 than they are now. Finished 8-8. They won't sniff 4 wins this year...........

But good luck with McFadden. It would be fun fantasy wise to see him do well.
 
Top