PFT: Darren McFadden - I don’t think the world has seen the best of me

[Cotton]

Darren McFadden: I don’t think the world has seen the best of me

Posted by Josh Alper on April 3, 2015, 12:29 PM EDT

The Cowboys saw DeMarco Murray sign with their division rivals in Philadelphia last month and their only response to the move thus far has been to sign veteran Darren McFadden.

McFadden has run for more than 1,000 yards once in his seven-year NFL career and played in 16 games for the first time last season, although his 534 yards on 155 carries continued a three-year trend of dismal results moving the ball when he’s been in the lineup. McFadden is confident that he can get things moving in the other direction in Dallas, however.

“I just want to go out there and continue to show people what I can do,” McFadden said on NFL Network. “I still don’t think the world has seen the best of Darren McFadden.”

McFadden doesn’t expect to be the only option in the backfield once the season starts, saying that he thinks the Cowboys will add competition in the draft. McFadden believes that potential competition will “bring out” that missing best form when the Cowboys get to work later this year.

The Cowboys offensive line shouldn’t hurt either. Their skill up front and the threat of the Cowboys passing attack provide reasons to believe that McFadden should have the opportunities to show a better side of himself. If he can’t do it in Dallas, chances are going to be hard to come by in the future.

 

[townsend]

I want some kind of draft pick in the top 3 devoted to RB. But I
Think McFadden's a decent spare tire. Troy Hambrick could run behind this line.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Darren McFadden: I don’t think the world has seen the best of me

Posted by Josh Alper on April 3, 2015, 12:29 PM EDT

The Cowboys saw DeMarco Murray sign with their division rivals in Philadelphia last month and their only response to the move thus far has been to sign veteran Darren McFadden.

McFadden has run for more than 1,000 yards once in his seven-year NFL career and played in 16 games for the first time last season, although his 534 yards on 155 carries continued a three-year trend of dismal results moving the ball when he’s been in the lineup. McFadden is confident that he can get things moving in the other direction in Dallas, however.

“I just want to go out there and continue to show people what I can do,” McFadden said on NFL Network. “I still don’t think the world has seen the best of Darren McFadden.”

McFadden doesn’t expect to be the only option in the backfield once the season starts, saying that he thinks the Cowboys will add competition in the draft. McFadden believes that potential competition will “bring out” that missing best form when the Cowboys get to work later this year.

The Cowboys offensive line shouldn’t hurt either. Their skill up front and the threat of the Cowboys passing attack provide reasons to believe that McFadden should have the opportunities to show a better side of himself. If he can’t do it in Dallas, chances are going to be hard to come by in the future.

He is correct that the world hasn't seen much out of him. I guess the question is whalt makes him think he will be better.

 

[townsend]

He is correct that the world hasn't seen much out of him. I guess the question is whalt makes him think he will be better.

The Raiders are kind of a black hole for talent. Just ask Rolando McClain. Carson Palmer just had a really good year too. I don't know if he has the ability to breakout. But if any team can make all of their players look like shit it's Oakland. Randy Moss looked like he was completely spent in Oakland one year before catching 23tds in New England.

 

[Donpingon]

The Raiders are kind of a black hole for talent. Just ask Rolando McClain. Carson Palmer just had a really good year too. I don't know if he has the ability to breakout. But if any team can make all of their players look like shit it's Oakland. Randy Moss looked like he was completely spent in Oakland one year before catching 23tds in New England.

good point, its easy to forget moss played somewhere in between MN and NE

 

[ravidubey]

I want some kind of draft pick in the top 3 devoted to RB. But I
Think McFadden's a decent spare tire. Troy Hambrick could run behind this line.

...and with this QB and receiver.

I know you were joking, but Troy Hambrick could rapidly become a non-factor behind Tony Boselli, Big E, Larry Allen, Ray Donaldson, and Will Shields in their prime.

I've never seen an NFL RB with such size tackled so effortlessly. The 2003 New England-Dallas game comes to mind.

McFadden did himself a huge disservice by remaining a Raider as long as he did. We'll never know what he might have been. That team has been worse than an expansion franchise for a while now.

 

[p1_]

I was at that Patriot game. What a horrendous effort on THams part.
Thanks for reminding me.

 

[boozeman]

Arrgh. Grrr.

McFadden will show them all that all his years of mediocrity were just someone else's fault.

 

[p1_]

He is correct that the world hasn't seen much out of him. I guess the question is whalt makes him think he will be better.

Uh, I'm thinking a stellar line might influence his thinking slightly. But that's probably just me.

 

[L.T. Fan]

Uh, I'm thinking a stellar line might influence his thinking slightly. But that's probably just me.

Yeah probably so.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Uh, I'm thinking a stellar line might influence his thinking slightly. But that's probably just me.

I could see him having a career year in Dallas, only because he has never played behind an O-line like this and had a QB like Romo.

 

[townsend]

Guys like Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Marshawn Lynch have bounced back from mediocre first teams to being great starters. Not saying it should be expected, but its within the realm of possibility. At least McFadden hasn't had a lot of mileage put on him over the last 7 years.

 

[p1_]

Lynch jumps out at me. To repeat a find like he was for the Seahawks would be incredible.

 

[ravidubey]

Guys like Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Marshawn Lynch.

Add Garrison Hearst and Priest Holmes to that list, and OJ Anderson only became Super Bowl MVP with another team. Marshall Faulk went from being decent to bring a HOFer in St Louis.

RBs look like they do so much by themselves, but the style and quality of blocking, complementary backs, effectiveness of the passing game, play-calling, and even the defense can greatly influence their performance.

Darren McFadden has really had none of those things.

 

[p1_]

I certainly didn't see DeMarco having that good a season coming last year. It was a complete surprise.

 

[DLK150]

The change of scenery scenario works out sometimes and other times it doesn't but it is true that there has been nothing but upheaval since Oakland drafted him. The only thing that changed more than the coaches in his time there were the QBs, none of them scared anyone and that can't help matters when you include a mediocre OL.

I obviously don't expect 1,800 yards out of the guy because numbers like those are the exception rather than the rule regardless of the back or line play and I'm sure we're drafting a RB somewhere in the first three rounds but he may be a decent platoon option with a draft pick while the rook learns the finer points, if necessary.

Who knows? I just want to get this show on the road and see what happens.

 

[boozeman]

I could see him having a career year in Dallas, only because he has never played behind an O-line like this and had a QB like Romo.

Had Chip Kelly picked him up, you would be laughing your butt off at Philly for signing a turd.

 

[Cowboysrock55]

Had Chip Kelly picked him up, you would be laughing your butt off at Philly for signing a turd.

Sure, and don't confuse myself as being excited about McFadden. He is not the free agent back I would have signed. I just have a lot of faith in this Oline. Something Eagles fans can't say.

 

[NoDak]

Had Chip Kelly picked him up, you would be laughing your butt off at Philly for signing a turd.

Probably. But Chip Kelly doesn't have an OL and QB like we do either, does he. And that was his point.

 

[Clay_Allison]

Add Garrison Hearst and Priest Holmes to that list, and OJ Anderson only became Super Bowl MVP with another team. Marshall Faulk went from being decent to bring a HOFer in St Louis.

RBs look like they do so much by themselves, but the style and quality of blocking, complementary backs, effectiveness of the passing game, play-calling, and even the defense can greatly influence their performance.

Darren McFadden has really had none of those things.

Guys like Ricky Williams, Cedric Benson, and Marshawn Lynch have bounced back from mediocre first teams to being great starters. Not saying it should be expected, but its within the realm of possibility. At least McFadden hasn't had a lot of mileage put on him over the last 7 years.

Thomas Jones was a draft bust in Arizona and went on to rush for 7300 yards and 50 TDs in 6 years with the Bears and Jets.