2008 NFL Draft: Oakland Raiders Feel the Need for Speed

For months the official line from the Oakland Raiders was that they had no need for Darren McFadden due to being well-stocked at the running back position. With LaMont Jordan, Justin Fargas, Domenic Rhodes and Michael Bush already on the roster, McFadden wasn't needed the Raiders' brass said. So much for that. Of course, the Raiders are far from the first team to fudge on their first round pick in the Spy vs. Spy world of the NFL.

Even though it must have been tempting to nab USC DT Sedrick Ellis or LSU's Glenn Dorsey to shore up a weak run defense, the Oakland Raiders went for the guy most NFL analysts considered the most talented player in the 2008 NFL draft, none other than Darren McFadden. After all, LaMont Jordan will be 30 before the 2008 season is over, Rhodes is 29 with only one standout season to his credit, that in Indianapolis, and Fargas is 28, all old by NFL running back standards. Jordan has been hurt much of the last 3 seasons and Justin Fargas is "just a guy" as John Madden might say. A guy with a history of injury, also. Even though Fargas topped 1,000 yards rushing in 2007, he will likely be forever remembered as the son of "Huggy Bear" from the 70's Starsky and Hutch TV series.

When your team becomes a fixture at the bottom of the NFL offensive rankings year after year, it would be hard to pass up a shot at the 2nd leading rusher in the history of the SEC. A guy with 4.33 speed at 210 pounds who can catch the ball out of the backfield also.

Darren McFadden set the SEC record last season with over 2,300 single season all-purpose yards. McFadden finished ahead of all but Herschel Walker in career rushing yards in the 75 year history of the SEC, ahead of such stars as Emmitt Smith, Shaun Alexander, Bo Jackson and many others who went on to star in the NFL. He has sprinter speed and is as tough as a $2 steak. What's that, you can't get a steak for $2? It's no more unlikely than getting a guy as fast as Darren McFadden who is tough enough to have his big toe nearly severed to keep a thug from stealing his brother's car...and play against the USC Trojans just a little over a month later. Those guys don't come along very often. His presence will make JaMarcus Russell's job easier in 2008.

Pat Dye , the former coach at Auburn University who coached several backs who went on to the NFL, including one Vincent "Bo" Jackson, said in McFadden's freshman season of 2005 that DMac, as he is known in the SEC, was the best back in the league since Jackson. That list of backs from 1985, Bo's senior year, would include names like Emmitt Smith, Shaun Alexander and others. The kid can move the chains and he can also change the scoreboard. just ask LSU's defense.

Last season, in LSU's other 13 games, the Tigers gave up an average of 84.6 rush yards per game and less than a touchdown a game. Against Arkansas, Darren McFadden had 206 and 3 scores on the ground with another touchdown passing. In 2006 against a defense loaded with talent, including Glenn Dorsey and LaRon Landry, both picked in the top 10 in the last 2 NFL drafts, all McFadden did was gain 182 yards on the ground, 2 touchdowns rushing and another passing. You do the math.

As for the Oakland Raiders' other 4 picks in the 2008 NFL Draft, due to trades, it was the 4th round before the Raiders had another pick. DeAngelo Hall will help the team more than anybody they could have picked as far as this season, after that, who knows? Anyhow, the next Raiders pick was CB Tyvon Branch of UConn. Branch had great workout numbers and averaged 28.9 yards a kickoff return. Some analysts project Branch as a free safety. With corner being pretty salty with Hall and Nnamdi Asamugha, that may be what the team has in mind. Time will tell.

In the Oakland Raiders other 4th round selection, the "Raidas" went for a speedy WR out of Richmond, Arman Shields. Shields has 4.37 speed and was 2nd in career receptions in school history. With Javon Walker coming off an injury plagued season, Ronald Curry having injury problems also, and no other proven stars, maybe this kid can contribute. Free Agent Drew Carter will figure as well.

In the 6th round the Raiders nabbed Buffalo U. DE Trevor Scott. Scott only played D for 2 seasons after being moved from TE but finished with 19 career sacks and had great workout numbers according to NFL.com.

In the 7th round, the Raiders picked up WR Chaz Schilens from down the road at San Diego State. Schilens reportedly has great speed like Shields. At 6'4 225 pounds the young man has great size also, but is considered a project. Then again, Marques Colston was cionsidered a "project" coming out of Hofstra a couple of years ago. Colston also went in round 7. Raider fans, hope for the best.

The presence of Darren McFadden should be of benefit to JaMarcus Russell, opening up play action passes and giving Russell another pass catcher. However, the Raiders still have questions on the defensive line and the rushing defense needs to drastically improve for the team to move up in the AFC West standings.

Overall, I give the Raiders a B for their efforts because of Darren McFadden and the DeAnthony Hall trade.The other players added are question marks, but so were many past Raider stars when they were selected. One thing is for sure, with a 19-61 record the last 5 seasons, the Silver and Black have nowhere to go but up.