az_prof
Footballguy
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/oak/report
"Could this be the breakout year for Michael Bush?
With Darren McFadden slowed by injuries and inconsistency for two seasons and Justin Fargas out of the picture after being released, coach Tom Cable said at the NFL owners meetings that Bush would get an opportunity to prove he can be a lead back.
"Both of them have a chance to be the guy," Cable said. "Darren needs to stay healthy for longer periods of time. Michael, I think, if he can get comfortable, he's going to be an every-down guy."
The presence of the inspirational Fargas and the multi-talented McFadden have conspired to keep Bush from being No. 1 even though his statistics suggest he's worthy of a chance.
In 2009, Fargas missed the first two games of the season with a groin injury and the last two with a knee injury. McFadden missed Weeks 5 through 8 into the bye after arthroscopic knee surgery, a year after his rookie season was plagued by turf toe conditions on both feet and a shoulder that needed surgery following the season.
Bush, meanwhile, suited up for all 16 games and led the Raiders with 589 yards rushing and was second in carries to Fargas (129) with 123. His 4.8 yards per carry average was a full yard better than Fargas and 1.4 yards better than McFadden.
The author of the only two 100-yard games by Raiders running backs last season was Bush, getting 119 yards on 14 carries against Kansas City and 133 on 18 attempts against Denver.
Bush also had the Raiders biggest game in 2008, gaining 177 yards on 27 carries in the regular-season finale.
It was the only time Bush carried more than 18 times in a game, and Cable has seemed exasperated at times when Bush is on a roll and takes himself out for a breather.
A lost fumble in an upset win over Cincinnati also seemed to put Bush on the bench for a spell, although Cable said the issue was game circumstance and not punishment for ball security.
In the four games following the lost fumble, Bush had just eight carries for 36 yards and had no receptions despite being healthy -- his most inactive stretch of the season.
In a 34-13 loss to Washington, Bush didn't get a single touch -- the only time it happened in 16 games.
An injury to Fargas got Bush back on the field against the Broncos, and the result was a 133-yard game which propelled the Raiders to a season-best 241-yard rushing performance in a 20-19 upset win."
"Could this be the breakout year for Michael Bush?
With Darren McFadden slowed by injuries and inconsistency for two seasons and Justin Fargas out of the picture after being released, coach Tom Cable said at the NFL owners meetings that Bush would get an opportunity to prove he can be a lead back.
"Both of them have a chance to be the guy," Cable said. "Darren needs to stay healthy for longer periods of time. Michael, I think, if he can get comfortable, he's going to be an every-down guy."
The presence of the inspirational Fargas and the multi-talented McFadden have conspired to keep Bush from being No. 1 even though his statistics suggest he's worthy of a chance.
In 2009, Fargas missed the first two games of the season with a groin injury and the last two with a knee injury. McFadden missed Weeks 5 through 8 into the bye after arthroscopic knee surgery, a year after his rookie season was plagued by turf toe conditions on both feet and a shoulder that needed surgery following the season.
Bush, meanwhile, suited up for all 16 games and led the Raiders with 589 yards rushing and was second in carries to Fargas (129) with 123. His 4.8 yards per carry average was a full yard better than Fargas and 1.4 yards better than McFadden.
The author of the only two 100-yard games by Raiders running backs last season was Bush, getting 119 yards on 14 carries against Kansas City and 133 on 18 attempts against Denver.
Bush also had the Raiders biggest game in 2008, gaining 177 yards on 27 carries in the regular-season finale.
It was the only time Bush carried more than 18 times in a game, and Cable has seemed exasperated at times when Bush is on a roll and takes himself out for a breather.
A lost fumble in an upset win over Cincinnati also seemed to put Bush on the bench for a spell, although Cable said the issue was game circumstance and not punishment for ball security.
In the four games following the lost fumble, Bush had just eight carries for 36 yards and had no receptions despite being healthy -- his most inactive stretch of the season.
In a 34-13 loss to Washington, Bush didn't get a single touch -- the only time it happened in 16 games.
An injury to Fargas got Bush back on the field against the Broncos, and the result was a 133-yard game which propelled the Raiders to a season-best 241-yard rushing performance in a 20-19 upset win."
