McFadden coming to grips with problem
Published 5:43 am PDT Monday, May 12, 2008
ALAMEDA – Raiders running backs coach Tom Rathman fumbled just seven times in a nine-year career at fullback that included 864 total rushes and receptions. Rookie running back Darren McFadden fumbled 23 times in three seasons at Arkansas.
Guess what Rathman is going to be a stickler about with his prized pupil?
Extra emphasis is being placed on McFadden's ball security. It's a common theme with rookies, but when a player shows a propensity for fumbling, that player can expect to constantly be reminded about holding onto the ball.
Raiders running backs fumbled five times last season, and the team has too many plans for McFadden for him to sit because of fumbles.
"Ball security, it's the heartbeat of our offense," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "We turn the ball over and we're not going to win any games. It's very important with (McFadden), but as you look at his fumbles, over half were at quarterback or on kickoff returns. There aren't as many as it looks right away when you look purely at a running back, but it's something we're looking at."
Rathman's charge is making sure the ball and McFadden don't become separated.
In his first meeting with McFadden, Rathman noticed something about McFadden's running style and relayed how to cut down on turnovers.
"I told him he's got to lock his elbow down," Rathman said. "A lot of times his elbow wasn't locked to the side, and obviously if you don't have that point, which is the most critical point in my opinion, as far as the four points of pressure, you're going to have some issues."
While holding the ball tighter sounds simple enough, McFadden is attempting to break a habit developed over years while he became college football's premier runner.
"It's something you just got to get used to because I've been carrying the ball my way of carrying it forever," McFadden said. "Seems like 14, 15 years and now they add a different twist to it. It's something you just have to get used to."
Rathman said McFadden was holding the ball well during practice. The focus will be on refining the details when he returns for the Raiders' mandatory minicamp June 3.
McFadden said the problem is "easily corrected" when he does what Rathman wants.
"I think the biggest problem is he didn't have proper ball leverage a lot of times," Rathman said. "He'd always carry it in his left hand. You're going to eliminate a lot of (fumbles) by just properly carrying the football – when it needs to be in my right hand, when it needs to be in my left hand. He'll be better from that aspect."
It's not as if McFadden can go very far without being reminded to hold onto the ball.
If coaches aren't on him, teammates will test his ball security at every turn.
"They tell you you've got to run 40 yards down the field and you've got to keep the ball high and tight," McFadden said. "And even when you're coming back to the huddle you've still got to keep it locked up because the defensive player is still coming at you going back to the huddle."
McFadden shouldn't expect that to change.
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