The Oakland Raiders have had trouble getting Darren McFadden going, and it now has fans looking for a scapegoat. The most common target has been offensive coordinator Greg Knapp and his zone-blocking scheme.
While scheme is certainly a factor, it’s the execution of that scheme by the offensive lineman that has been the real issue. Knapp has used fewer zone runs over the last two weeks, and outside of one long run, McFadden’s production hasn't really improved.
It’s becoming harder and harder to blame the scheme and Knapp for McFadden’s struggles. Given that McFadden has proven over the last two years that he’s an elite running back, the reasonable explanation is the blocking of the offensive line.
McFadden is averaging 3.5 yards per carry; that statistic tells you that Run DMC is struggling. What is doesn't tell you is what part of the running game is at fault. Is it McFadden or a turnstile left tackle that allows penetration into the backfield on every running play?
The Raiders have used a combination of zone runs, draws and man blocking. Knapp has shown a willingness to slightly adjust the blocking scheme to help McFadden, but the results have not been consistent. It’s time to start evaluating the play of the offensive line.
The NFL’s official game book lists every run, the yardage gained and the direction of the run. The direction and yardage of each run can reveal two things: where the offensive line is struggling and where the team believes they have a weakness.
The Raiders are clearly trying to get McFadden to the edge as 44-of-57 of his runs (77 percent) have gone off tackle or off end. That means McFadden is running laterally longer than he has to, which gives the defense time to penetrate the blocking and stuff the run. The result has been 21 runs of one yard or less.
McFadden has been ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
