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Ian Allan

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Lots of running back touches in Oakland

Posted May. 09 at 03:06 PM

When Darren McFadden was selected No. 4 by Oakland, was first was reaction was that they’ve got too many guys there. Justin Fargas will get a bunch of carries, Michael Bush might be worked in, and there won’t be enough work to go around for any of these three backs to make much of an impact.

But hold on.

The Raiders have a young quarterback (JaMarcus Russell) who’s not ready to be dropping back 35 times per game. They’re going to build around the running game, with those running backs handling the ball a whole bunch on runs and catches. (McFadden may even throw some passes; he was 13 of 20 as a quarterback the last two years at Arkansas).

Oakland was in the same situation last year, and look at how it shaked out. The Raiders finished 30th in passing (181 yards per game), but they actually ranked a respectable 6th in rushing. Plus their running backs caught tons of dumpoff passes.

If you combine runs and receptions, Oakland’s running backs last year handled the ball more often than any other team – 537 times. And only three teams finished with more total yards generated by running backs.

I expect to see a committee approach with the Raiders,with Fargas, McFadden and Bush probably combining for 30 touches per game. That backfield will get most interesting, however, when one of those runners gets hurt. Both Fargas and McFadden – who should be the main backs – are tall, relatively lean guys, so I don’t expect them to make it through 16 games.

Total (run-rec) yards by running backs, 2007

Ply Yds TD
503 3083 20 Minnesota
506 2684 19 Jacksonville
466 2599 17 Philadelphia
537 2558 9 Oakland
523 2537 22 San Diego
499 2535 17 NY Giants
493 2370 15 Tampa Bay
465 2357 14 Cleveland
531 2355 16 Washington
508 2330 9 Pittsburgh
461 2278 15 New England
437 2272 10 Miami
502 2262 15 New Orleans
470 2184 11 Seattle
477 2167 21 Indianapolis
456 2159 14 Dallas
489 2143 12 Baltimore
437 2137 13 Green Bay
434 2121 10 Denver
466 2117 8 Buffalo
462 2074 6 St. Louis
494 2070 14 Tennessee
467 2064 9 Carolina
451 2003 12 Cincinnati
400 1994 7 San Francisco
457 1988 13 Houston
425 1980 7 Atlanta
470 1979 8 Chicago
445 1902 5 NY Jets
430 1873 9 Arizona
459 1852 8 Kansas City
357 1670 12 Detroit

—Ian Allan

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