McFadden, Gholston have look of NFL busts (1 Viewer)

[Irish]

I cant believe someone would be so quick to label McFadden a potential bust. Or Gholston for that matter. Its as if this writer's is measuring their expectations against Gale Sayers and Lawrence Taylor.

What stands out to me about McFadden that I think will push that kid to a level at least close to greatness are his intangibles. Sure, he has great speed. But more importantly, he has confidence, determination, drive. Something you cant put a measure on. I want to call it heart, but its still just too early. I think the kid is determined to be great, and Im no Raiders fan nor a McFadden owner. Whether or not his lateral skills limit some of his elusiveness I wont argue, but you just cant measure a kid's heart. I think he has it. And I think he'll be solid at the very least.

Now Gholston is a bit of a different story. That kid's about as stiff a player as Ive seen in a long time. He's in desperate need of some ballet or yoga classes. And he needs to make them a regular part of his offseason routine. He flips his hips like Frankenstein. The guy's built like an Adonis, but at the OLB, youve gotta have more flexiblity that he's shown to this point. Its gonna take work, but I think he can improve that area of his game. But he's certainly not a natural "athlete". He's just a natural 'specimen'. There is a difference. But I cant write the guy off like he's never going to amount to anything. He just has to put in the work, understand his limitations, and address them. And again, there's no measuring a kid's heart or determination in these evalutations. If both of these guys want to be great, and get the help they need to be pushed in that direction, the sky's the limit.

Well, I think McFadden reminds to many people of Reggie Bush, so he is expected to be dynamic on the field I guess, but not necessarily a 3 down back? And his legs are skinny like Jerious Norwood. And he runs in a straight line like cedric benson? Ok maybe he runs in a straight line like someone else, but still. Did you ever see a HEART score a touchdown? No! Thats why we are talking about his legs, and his running style. And he reminds me of an injury waiting to happen. But its called prospecting. As far as Gholsten goes......what a clutz....what were the Jets thinking.

Again, when Im looking at intangibles, Im looking more inside the guy's head. We can compare one RB to another until our heads spin. "This guy looks like that guy, that guy looks like this guy"....etc, etc. Bush likes alot of players. Bush didnt grow up in a Little Rock ghetto surrounded by gang bangers. You cant peer inside a guy's mind. Guts arent something that is measured in Indy. Sure, it doesnt score TDs as you point out, but I think it factors into success in a way youre not willing to acknowledge in your comments. And if you think heart and determination dont factor into a player's success, youre missing a seriously obvious point.

You state you're looking into the guy's head, but you also state you can't peer into a guy's mind.

 

[massraider]

I don't think what this guy is saying is anything earth-shattering.

If I had to pick two guys from the first half of the draft that I had to bet on to bust, I would pick these guys.

McFadden, from what I have seen, if he is going to be a superstar, it is going to be as a non-traditional type of back. Maybe as the type of player Reggie Bush is, but better. I think he may very well be a player like Bush, better in space and the passing game. But in the NFL, you have to run between the tackles. So far, it appears DMC is a tough kid, and doesn't dance behind the line, so he is already up on Bush. But is he that shifty, clever inside runner with vision? Haven't seen it yet. It's early, but there is a lot about DMC that doesn't match up with the type of backs that typically flourish in the NFL. And I am not just talking BMI. Thus far, I have liked what I have heard about DMC, but haven't seen too much on the field.

Gholston going to a 3-4 team was, IMO, the best thing for him. I was not on the draft DMC bandwagon (Raider fan), but I really wasn't on the draft Gholston bandwagon. I feared that he was already maxed out on size, and would never have enough sand in his pants to hold up in the run game.

 

[two_dollars]

The difference between the guys he's trying to create spacefrom, and move laterally away from in the NFL are VASTLY different that those he may have done it to in college. I'm not saying he will or will not be a bust, I'm saying that we won't know the answer to this question until at MINIMUM a year from now. There will be an adjustment period, or at least, an attempted adjustment. He doesn't have the ankle snapping cuts of an ADP, but he isn't trying to be ADP. Let him be D Mac for a year or 2, then we can label him.

 

[BlackHole]

The difference between the guys he's trying to create spacefrom, and move laterally away from in the NFL are VASTLY different that those he may have done it to in college. I'm not saying he will or will not be a bust, I'm saying that we won't know the answer to this question until at MINIMUM a year from now. There will be an adjustment period, or at least, an attempted adjustment. He doesn't have the ankle snapping cuts of an ADP, but he isn't trying to be ADP. Let him be D Mac for a year or 2, then we can label him.

Run DMC will be who he is. He has averaged about 4 yards per carry, when the team is intentionally only running him between the guards. Wait until he is free to go into the zone blocking scheme and make decisions on his own. The Raiders line, with Tom Cable, has already shown they can zone block with the best of the league. Fargas has always been an injury waiting to happen. I don't want Fargas to get hurt, but history is history. Either way, the Raiders plan to run 500-600 times this year. If DMC gets 200-300 of those, plus the receptions he'll probably get (2-4 a game is not a stretch), this spells out to be a top 15 back this year, at a minimum.BTW, this is a kid that is in every meeting he can be in and takes notes. He's showed up to all of the special teams meetings in the front row.....there are no plans for him to play special teams. So instead of relaxing and playing Madden or taking a nap, he's in those meetings, just in case and so he understands the entire team philosphy. How can you not appreciate his intangibles at this point?

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Jets fans have to be worried about Gholston, he's clearly been a notable disappointment among the high 1st round picks. I don't think I heard one local report from beat writers or the coaches which indicate he's ready to contribute in a big way this year. While that's in no way an indication of his long-term value, it does illustrate that he's got a lot of work to do to live up to his high draft position and contract.As to McFadden, I have been skeptical of him from jump street. That said, he's looked quite good in the preseason and the Raiders are certainly going to make him an offensive focal point. Getting on the field is the first step toward proving you're not a bust. McFadden is taking that step, Gholston is not.

well gholston was the "mario williams" of this draft. A heralded mid first who VAULTED up the charts after the combine, hype. I can see why people are skeptical.McFadden I think will be really good. Plus I think people are discounting how good Jamarcus Russell is.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

BTW, this is a kid that is in every meeting he can be in and takes notes. He's showed up to all of the special teams meetings in the front row.....there are no plans for him to play special teams. So instead of relaxing and playing Madden or taking a nap, he's in those meetings, just in case and so he understands the entire team philosphy. How can you not appreciate his intangibles at this point?

nice to hear. Especially after the "character" questions surrounding an arrest (which sounded pretty paltry to me)

 

[The Jacket]

I was not on the draft DMC bandwagon (Raider fan), but I really wasn't on the draft Gholston bandwagon.

I guess you were hoping for the loser of the "Long vs. Dorsey to St. Louis" battle?

 

[Paddy O'Seanessy]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=453972

McFadden, Gholston have look of NFL busts

...

Sporting News.

I dont own McFadden in any league. But I doubt he is a bust. Raiders coaches didnt have much to complain about throughout training camp. If he is a Michael Vick type player, better headlines than what he is on the field, then so be it, he could be. But DMC will make his own splash stastically in the NFL from the word go. Not 1,000 yards in year one, few rookies do that, but i see solid production.

If he doesn't get 1000 yards this season then he has met the standards to be labeled "bust". He's not a QB, a WR or an OL. He does it this year or he's not worthy of the pick he cost.

 

[Sulla]

When did ADP "shatter" the NFL single-game rushing record in '07. I thought he beat it by 1 yard?

It was a big yard

Did we skip English class the day synonyms were discussed?Relax, people. If one can "break" a record, one can also "shatter" it. At least according to the dictionary.

 

[Liquid Tension]

I don't think anyone can say they are happier when their 1st round pick isn't looking great already. In fact, it is a little disappointing when they are not flashing much.

But that's the thing (with McFadden), he has looked great all pre-season, practice and games, showing the things Cosell said were "missing" from his 8 game sample. That's the problem I have with the article. Sounds like he's borrowing trouble just to have something to talk about. I won't argue McFadden's unideal BMI or "skinny" legs - those are still valid doubts about his long term success.

That is a fair criticism!

 

[Interseptopus]

This is probably written by a NE fan who was ticked off that Gholston was taken by the NYJ and McFadden by the Raiders.

What better way to make yourself feel better than to say "These guys suck"

 

[massraider]

I was not on the draft DMC bandwagon (Raider fan), but I really wasn't on the draft Gholston bandwagon.

I guess you were hoping for the loser of the "Long vs. Dorsey to St. Louis" battle?

Yep. Honestly, that probably has less to do with what I thought about McFadden, and more about my general desire to see my team draft a D-linemen in the first round every. single. year.

 

[gregjcross]

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=453972

McFadden, Gholston have look of NFL busts

...

Sporting News.

I dont own McFadden in any league. But I doubt he is a bust. Raiders coaches didnt have much to complain about throughout training camp. If he is a Michael Vick type player, better headlines than what he is on the field, then so be it, he could be. But DMC will make his own splash stastically in the NFL from the word go. Not 1,000 yards in year one, few rookies do that, but i see solid production.

If he doesn't get 1000 yards this season then he has met the standards to be labeled "bust". He's not a QB, a WR or an OL. He does it this year or he's not worthy of the pick he cost.

Well, lets say that Fargas rushes for 700 yards and catches 300. McFadden rushes for 900 yards and catches 200. Their cumulative is 4.5 ypc and both are around that with DMC slightly higher due to breaking some long runs. The Raiders take major steps in improving their offense with the pressure off of Jamarcus Russell. As a first year player, would you call that a bust?

I sure wouldn't.