Scout.com's Darren McFadden scouting report

**gohogs** · 02-16-2008, 04:13 PM

Darren McFadden
RB | (6'2", 212, 4.4) | ARKANSAS

Scouts Grade: 99

Strengths: Phenomenal athlete. Possesses good height and adequate bulk (better upper-body than lower-body). Rare burst for his size; no play better illustrates that second-gear better than his 73-yard touchdown run in the third quarter versus LSU. He runs with good vision and great patience but explodes through the line of scrimmage once he finds the crease. Very few NFL runners possess his type of second-gear to bounce runs outside and to run away from defenders in the open field. Very fluid in space and can change directions without losing much momentum at all. He can be a powerful runner with a full head of steam. Exceptional stiff arm. Very strong upper body. Keeps his legs pumping in traffic and will break many attempted arm tackles. Displays outstanding balance. Will gain lots of yards after contact simply because he bounces off the tackler and regains his balance instead of going down. Lacks ideal experience as a receiver but is fluid enough to adjust to poorly thrown ball and displays very soft hands for a RB. Can also be an occasional passing threat in the NFL, as seen in his dual-threat role as the signal caller in the Razorbacks? Wild Hog formation.

Weaknesses: He runs a bit high and his lower-body is a bit lean. Has never been forced to carry a full 25-30 carry throughout a full season in college. Had carried the ball more than 30 times in just five games during his three seasons at Arkansas. Ran out of gas late in Alabama game because of a concussion (2007). Lacks ideal experience as a receiver. Needs some polishing as a route runner. Also could be more aggressive as blocker; must learn to attack with better leverage. Character must also be studied. Is there more to the minor off-the-field incidents than is lead to believe?

Overall: McFadden possesses rare physical tools. In fact, it?s safe to say he?s the most talented athlete in the 2008 class. He is a homerun hitter as a runner with the size of an every-down back. He displays soft hands as a receiver and outstanding open-field running skills as a receiver and return man, and he also is capable of occasionally burning an overloaded defense with the halfback option pass. There are only two questions regarding McFadden that NFL teams must consider at the top of the board: 1) Does his possess the lower-body/durability to carry a full load at the next level? 2) Are his few minor off-the-field incidents forewarning of character issues to come? So long as a team is comfortable with the answers to both of those questions; McFadden is worth of any selection in this year?s draft.

**cad** · 02-16-2008, 04:22 PM

i hear that he has great leg drive and elusiveness in one report and that he is very stiff and weak and falls on other reports

hes an elite prospect thats all i know

**Bram Raider** · 02-17-2008, 05:06 AM

If Al Davis drafts Darren McFadden, having just re-signed Justin Fargas, it will be all the proof that many of us need that Al has definitely lost the remainder of his marbles - unless he pulled a mega-deal immediately afterwards.

McFadden is without doubt one of the premier athletes that will be available in this draft, but at the same time people should not forget that he was recruited to Arkansas without a position (as I have read), then campaigned for time at halfback.

Whoever drafts him will be very happy, but whether he plays like Adrian Peterson as a rookie, or more like Reggie Bush, the jury is still open.

**Slump** · 02-17-2008, 05:33 AM

Originally Posted by Bram Raider

Whoever drafts him will be very happy, but whether he plays like Adrian Peterson as a rookie, or more like Reggie Bush, the jury is still open.

Depends on who drafts him. Reggie Bush plays behind a poor offensive line, Peterson plays behind the leagues best. If Bush played for Minnesota and Peterson played for New Orleans opinions would be very different about them.

I guess that's a little off-topic though...

**ismail86** · 02-17-2008, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by cad

i hear that he has great leg drive and elusiveness in one report and that he is very stiff and weak and falls on other reports

hes an elite prospect thats all i know

His leg drive is his problem. It's like his legs just fall out from under him when he is hit down there. I'm sorry but I expect Felix Jones to have a better career then McFadden.

**gohogs** · 02-17-2008, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by ismail86

His leg drive is his problem. It's like his legs just fall out from under him when he is hit down there. I'm sorry but I expect Felix Jones to have a better career then McFadden.

not in this video

[ame]http://youtube.com/watch?v=KmNu44CXnQY[/ame]

**Anotharaiderfan** · 02-17-2008, 05:11 PM

I have never seen McFadden break a true leg tackle.

**migman33** · 02-17-2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by Anotharaiderfan

I have never seen McFadden break a true leg tackle.

From what i can tell from what your saying, i have never seen anyone ever break a true leg tackle because if you get leg tackled then you got tackled. I have seen him break alot of attempted leg tackles. The real question should be have you ever seen him get leg tackled?

**migman33** · 02-17-2008, 05:36 PM

I dont care what he needs are you cant in good concious pass on a guy like this when you are a bottom feeder of a team like we are right now unless maybe if you have a LT or AP/Taylor or Duece/Bush already on your team. I would love to see JRuss and DMC run this team for years to come!!!

**gohogs** · 02-17-2008, 06:21 PM

here is one of the capital one bowl from 2 years ago where he plows a LB on the very first play of the game

[ame]http://youtube.com/watch?v=SGNwz9jfJCE[/ame]

**Raider Ran** · 02-17-2008, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by gohogs

here is one of the capital one bowl from 2 years ago where he plows a LB on the very first play of the game

[ame]http://youtube.com/watch?v=SGNwz9jfJCE[/ame]

Check your PM.