Let the running back controversy begin in Oakland

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, October 03, 2007  |  Comments( 47 )

Oakland Raiders
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So was last Sunday's 35-17 blowout of Miami a "statement game" for Oakland running back Justin Fargas, or was it a statement of a different sort by the Dolphins' defense?

Call it a "half-full, half-empty" dilemma. Certainly, this was Fargas' most notable performance in five years as a Raider (179 yards on 22 carries). Previously, his best work had been done as a star at Notre Dame -- not Notre Dame University, but Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., where Fargas was deemed the best prep back in the country.

He played well at the University of Southern California, earning second-team All-Pac 10 honors, but he was no Reggie Bush or Charles White. Not even LenDale White. And as a Raider, he's been used more as a return man than an every-down back.

But were Fargas and Lamont Jordan mediocre last season because of their own failings, or because of an offensive line that collapsed around them? Another good question.

It's hard to believe that an NFL team could have been as helpless against the run as the Dolphins last Sunday. Before Jordan went out in the second quarter with a back injury (nothing serious, it turned out), he had already gained 74 yards. And while they were turning Fargas into an All-Pro (at least for the day), the Dolphins also managed to make Daunte Culpepper -- whom they had dumped, to add insult to injury -- into the second coming of Fran Tarkenton.

It wasn't just that Culpepper ran for three touchdowns against his former teammates, but that he only completed five (5) passes in an 18-point blowout. When is the last time you saw that in the NFL?

But back to Fargas. Operating behind a vastly improved, zone blocking line, he seemed to get stronger as the game moved along. He's 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, and has good speed, and there's no reason why he couldn't be an elite back at some point -- or, at least, a competent starter.

Nevertheless, Oakland coach Lane Kiffin has some decisions to make during the bye week, and running back is one of them. X-rays showed no serious damage to Jordan's back, and he could be ready to go in another week. Meanwhile, Dominic Rhodes will be coming back from his DUI suspension, and rookie Michael Bush is said to be almost ready to take the field.

One gets the feeling Kiffin won't be losing any sleep over this plethora of running backs, just as he didn't feel Culpepper's performance (with Josh McCown out with an injury) made his job harder.

"Is there a quarterback controversy?" someone asked Kiffin this week.

"I hope so," he replied.

And maybe at running back, as well.
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CommentsComments: 47  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
raidersensation		02:05 AM
10/03/2007
An excellent point you have there, Daunte completed only 5 passes in an 18-point rout. Because of our record from last year and a...
No.2
Scottish Raider		06:35 AM
10/03/2007
I have never been a great fan of Fargas but, all credit due, he did a fine job on Sunday. Rhodes must come in for the Chargers -...
No.3
The Shape		06:56 AM
10/03/2007
Just because Fargas ran over the Dolphins it isn't time to crown him the Rushing title. The dolphins defense sucked for one and...
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