Dallas Cowboys Improve With Darren McFadden

Oct 13, 2013; Kansas City, MO, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden (20) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito (70) and strong safety Eric Berry (29) during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs won 24-7. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Why it Didn’t Work in Oakland

McFadden isn’t Barry Sanders or Walter Payton, who can make guys miss in the backfield and make something out of nothing. Payton was able to grind it out until they got him an offensive line and Sanders retired because they never go him one. McFadden isn’t a cutback runner, gifted with optimal peripheral vision so he needs help getting to the second level.

He needs a running start unto the second level, then he has a great chance to make it the rest of the way. He’s a strait-line guy so he’s not going to shake a linebacker in the hole or safety at the next level. What he will do make just enough of a move to unleash his stiff-arm, which is still the best in the NFL.

That’s what makes him harder to bring down in the secondary and once he gets past that one man, he’s gone. But like I said, he needs help getting there because he’s not going to shake anyone. He did well in the years that he had an average offensive line because with the 2-3 big holes a game they opened, he took the ball 20-80 yards.

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