Dallas Cowboys: Darren McFadden Could Have Productive 2016
By Jim Vickers
It was no secret that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones coveted Arkansas running back Darren McFadden during the 2008 NFL Draft. After all, he was a top talent from the NFL billionaire’s alma mater. So when he hit free agency in 2015, Jones pounced.
However, with one just season under his belt in the Lone Star State, the team selected Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott in first round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
The common wisdom is that the top rated ball carrier in this year’s draft will supplant McFadden for starting reps and that may be the best thing for the veteran.
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In college, McFadden stood on the cusp of greatness. He was a two-time consensus All-American, won the Jim Brown Trophy, Walter Camp Award, Doak Walker Award, was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year twice, and Heisman Trophy runner up in 2006 and 2007.
During three NCAA seasons, he rushed for more than 5,000 yards and caught for more than 2,000 yards. He possessed breakaway speed, could block and also line up as a receiver in the passing game. McFadden entered the NFL pro-ready.
Despite all the elite athletic skills, he failed miserably in Oakland.
With the Raiders, McFadden was like throwing the Hail Mary. He’d break big gains or get stuffed. He played with the same aggressive, lower-your-shoulder style in the NFL that he did with the Razorbacks. Unfortunately, for the few extra yards he battled to gain, the injuries piled up and he missed swaths of seasons.
In seven years with the Raiders, he played in all 16 regular season contests only once and after a poor 2014 showing was given his outright release.
Dallas picked up the reclamation project, put him behind the league’s best offensive line, and behold, McFadden posted his second professional 1,000-yard season in 2015.
However, heading into 2016 there are far too many miles on his cleats and bringing in the star collegiate back, Elliott, should allow McFadden to play second fiddle, a position he was probably better suited for from the get go. In Oakland, the coaching staff insisted on making him a work horse, despite having bruising back Michael Bush, among others, at their disposal to share the load.
And last season with Dallas, much the same, McFadden took a career high 239 carries and posted a solid 4.6 per-carry average, plus he added 40 receptions for 328 yards. Watching the 6’2”, 210-pounder, he still plays with excellent speed, elite field vision and possesses all the tools. However, history dictates that he’s an injury just waiting to happen.
The incoming Elliott should initially move him into a tandem role. As Elliott learns the offense and acclimates to the pro game, McFadden may find himself as the change of pace and the third down back.
Given the veteran will enter his ninth season in 2016 at 29 years old, a support role may be welcome. Keep in mind that running backs have the shortest average career length of any position in the league at 2.57 years, according to statista.com and other sources.
Sharing time with Elliott may extend his NFL playing time further and give the Cowboys a potent one-two punch.
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Frankly, McFadden and Elliott give the Cowboys the most talented backfield in the NFL. Both can run inside, turn the corner, block and catch the ball. They’re a tremendous headache for linebackers and safeties.
The pairing is a brilliant personnel move on the team’s part and provides another piece of the puzzle to get back to a Super Bowl.