ChiefsPlanet - Experts differ on Darren McFadden

Experts differ on Darren McFadden

By Bob Glauber |Newsday

If commissioner Roger Goodell walks up to the microphone at Saturday's NFL draft and says the words "With the sixth pick in the draft, the Jets select Darren McFadden, running back, Arkansas," Jets fans no doubt will howl with approval.

But Brian Baldinger won't be so quick to offer his stamp of approval. The former Eagles offensive lineman-turned-NFL commentator believes McFadden will not come close to living up to the predraft hype.

"I think he's the colossal bust in this draft," said Baldinger, now an analyst for Fox, the NFL Network and Sporting News Radio. "He doesn't run with patience. He's a very incomplete back who tries to run you over. If he gets a crease, he can take it to the house. But he doesn't break tackles and he fumbles. I'm not impressed."

McFadden has drawn raves from plenty of NFL scouts who have studied him, particularly the Jets'. If McFadden gets past the Raiders, who have the fourth overall pick, it's very possible the Jets will take the Arkansas star, who has wowed scouts with his 4.33 speed in the 40-yard dash.

But Baldinger isn't the only one expressing doubt about McFadden.

"I can't believe how skinny his calves and his shins are," one scout said of McFadden. "It's almost scary. It's like a skinny wide receiver. At the running back position, you want a guy who's a little wider on his base. [McFadden] is built on top, but he's got a very skinny base. I think that's a little bit of a concern."

Not enough of a concern to force McFadden out of the top six of the draft, apparently.

The Jets appear enamored of McFadden, even though there are questions about his personal background. McFadden is awaiting judgments on whether he is the father of two children out of wedlock (he says he has tested negative in one of the cases) and was involved in two off-field incidents. He was injured in a fight in July 2006 and required surgery to repair a fractured left toe. And in January, he briefly was handcuffed by police during a fight at a bar in Little Rock, Ark. He was released without being charged.

Jets director of college scouting Joey Clinkscales said McFadden's off-field issues would not stand in the way of his selection. "If we draft a player, we've checked out his character thoroughly," Clinkscales said. "If [McFadden] is the pick we choose to make, we'll be comfortable with that decision."

The Jets also like Troy cornerback Leodis McKelvin, who is emerging as the top defensive back in the draft.

The circumstances are similar to the 2006 draft, when speedy running back Reggie Bush was perceived to be the top choice. Texans general manager Charlie Casserly chose North Carolina defensive end Mario Williams, a top pick that eventually led to Casserly's ouster but one that has since been debated because of Bush's ineffectiveness and Williams' emergence last season. Casserly also passed on Texas quarterback Vince Young.

"To me, this is an exact parallel to that draft," Casserly said. "You've got the quarterback in Matt Ryan, the runner in McFadden and the defensive end in either [Chris] Long or [Vernon] Gholston. To me, McFadden is better than Bush, Ryan is better than Young and Mario Williams is better than any of the defensive ends."

Why McFadden over Bush?

"[McFadden] will run inside, and he's bigger," Casserly said. "He's not a power back, but when I watch him, there's no reluctance to run inside. At times, he'll miss the hole, but I've seen him lower his shoulder and knock a safety or linebacker back. He has more production against better teams than Bush. Pac-10 defenses weren't very good. [McFadden] has played in the SEC against the best college teams in the country and he's been productive over a three-year period. I think that's the clear difference."

There's no doubt in McFadden's mind. "I feel like I'm the best player in the draft," McFadden said at the scouting combine. "I can do a lot of different things. I can go out there and line up at receiver, I can line up in the backfield and block, line up back there and run, I can throw a pass if you need me to. If I had to, I could play defense."

That won't be necessary. The only thing McFadden has to do now is run. Jets fans hope they get the chance to see it happen. But if Baldinger is right, it could be Blair Thomas all over again.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/f...,7541517.story