McFadden angling for larger role
Sunday, August 16, 2009
(08-15) 22:05 PDT -- Darren McFadden agreed with the suggestion from a reporter that his yards per carry might be a lot higher if he could carry 20 or 25 times a game instead of the eight or so that he averaged last year as a rookie.
"That's a possibility," he said. "The more you get the ball, the more you can do."
Running backs inevitably want the ball more to get into a groove, and it figures that the more times they see blocking and holes develop, the more quickly they'll be able to react.
McFadden isn't about to demand the ball more at the expense of last year's starter, Justin Fargas, or Michael Bush, another capable back. But he makes it clear last year's lack of action was frustrating. He'd like a much larger role, but he's saying all the right things.
"I know it's a big responsibility in the NFL to carry 20 times a game, but if it's something the coach would like to put on my back, I'm ready for it. I've been working hard in the offseason and in this camp to get ready for it."
Coach Tom Cable is keeping his cards well hidden on how he's going to rotate his running backs. "I'm not going to get into any of that," he said. "I know where we're headed, and you'll see when we get there."
Maybe that will mean putting the team's top pick of 2008, McFadden, into the starting backfield with the top overall pick of 2007, quarterback JaMarcus Russell. McFadden's 45-yard run in Thursday's exhibition win over the Cowboys might have been a step in that direction.
"That play describes me for this year," he said. "I was a lot more patient on running behind my blocking than I was last year. When the hole opened up, I just hit it."
Raiders sign Manning: The Raiders signed veteran cornerback Ricky Manning Jr., who played five games for St. Louis last year before breaking an ankle. Tight end John Paul Foschi was released.
Manning, 28, a Fresno native who played at UCLA, has also been with the Panthers and Bears and went to the Super Bowl with both teams.
Cable said after Saturday's practice at Napa that the move was made "to make sure we have enough legs at that position." He quickly added, "He's a proven guy. He's here obviously to give us more juice and to compete as well."
The Raiders' emphasis on man coverage "makes it easier to learn the playbook, I'll tell you that," Manning said. "I've been to the Super Bowl, so I've seen what it takes. If I can bring that character, that image, that would be great."
He also considered the Packers and Texans, but decided Oakland offered the best opportunity. "I grew up a Raider fan, so it's kind of hard for me to say no," he said.
Garcia absent: Backup quarterback Jeff Garcia was excused from practice to attend to "personal business," Cable said. Garcia could be back as soon as today and is expected to take part in two days of joint training with his old team, the 49ers, in Napa beginning Wednesday.
Garcia has been out of action since Aug. 2 because of a calf injury, and Cable said he is concerned about his lack of practice time. "I think once he gets back, we can go to work," the coach said.
Last year the Raiders and 49ers worked out just one day, but Cable agreed with 49ers coach Mike Singletary that two days of double sessions would be even more beneficial. Cable said he would be agreeable to training with the 49ers in Santa Clara in the future "if that's what we need to do to keep it going."
Bouncing back: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was back in drills, albeit in a limited fashion, after bruising a heel in the exhibition. "I'm not breaking super quickly right now," he said.
Wounded list: Among the missing were WR Louis Murphy (sore hip), OT Khalif Barnes (broken ankle), OT Marcus Johnson (calf), C John Wade (stinger), DE Derrick Gray (knee), DT Terdell Sands (sore quad), LB Isaiah Ekejiuba (shoulder) and S Mike Mitchell (hamstring). All but Barnes are considered day-to-day.
Receiver Javon Walker, who is on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, probably won't play against the 49ers in Saturday's second exhibition game, Cable said. " I don't think so, but we are getting close."
The three backs
A look at the Raiders' three main running backs last year and in their preseason opener:
| Opener | 2008 regular season | |||||
| Name | Car | Yds | Car | Yds | Avg. | TD |
| Darren McFadden | 4 | 63 | 113 | 499 | 4.4 | 4 |
| Justin Fargas | 1 | 2 | 218 | 853 | 3.9 | 1 |
| Michael Bush | 2 | 18 | 95 | 421 | 4.4 | 3 |
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