As it turns out, Raiders' Kiffin made right call at RB

[jatfly]

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/20428.html



Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has taken a lot of heat in his inaugural season with the silver and black. It's an almost inescapable consequence that comes with coaching the Raiders, especially in this day and age.

If there's one thing that has made the 32-year-old look like a true fit for the job, though, it's the way he's evaluated his running backs.

I must admit, yours truly was the first to start scratching his head this season. Kiffin's timing in his decision to bench LaMont Jordan in favor of Justin Fargas seemed inopportune and unfair, and his downright neglect of free-agent pickup Dominic Rhodes was yet another mystery.

It seems it all worked out for the best, though. In the end, Kiffin was proven right. At least to this point.

Since midway through the season, Fargas ranks third in the NFL in yardage amassed on the ground. From Week 8 on, the 220-pounder has carried the ball 102 times for 445 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Including the first seven weeks of the season -- in which he sat behind the 28-year-old Jordan -- Fargas has racked up 717 total rushing yards.

If Fargas, 27, averages 56.6 rushing yards each game for the final five contests of the season, he'll reach 1,000 yards for the first time in his five-year career, and he'd do so in only nine starts.

There's perhaps nobody out there who could have predicted Fargas even getting close to 1,000 yards this past offseason. Except maybe Kiffin.

The young coach seemingly had his mind made up from the start on how he'd approach his three-headed running back dilemma. Jordan would start the season on a short leash; Fargas would be the man if Jordan began to slow down or suffered an injury; and Rhodes ... well, Rhodes would return kicks.

That's the way it has all played out.

Kiffin has turned his head to the two-year, $7.5 contract that was offered to Rhodes during the offseason, and he has completely disregarded Jordan's past employment with the Raiders. Nothing was guaranteed to either of them.

The result has been the NFL's fifth-best rushing attack -- one that racks up 131.4 yards each game. Keep in mind, just a short year ago, the Raiders ranked 29th in the category, averaging fewer than 100 yards an outing.

On Sunday, Oakland will be home to face the AFC West rival Denver Broncos, who have the 29th-ranked rushing 'D' in the NFL. It'll be yet another opportunity for the soon-to-be free agent Fargas to make both Jordan and Rhodes mere afterthoughts.

And, once more, Kiffin's decision will be justified.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Funny that perhaps no player on this roster personafies 'Raider' more than Justin Fargas. Nice to see hard work pay off.

Let's hope that Fargas & Company can gash the donkos for at least 150 yards as a team tomorrow......

 

[RHC]

The other thread was closed. And I didn't compile all this stuff just to delete it.

At this point I get the impression that you're talking to yourself because the whole basis of this tirade is built on your Gut Feeling. .

Facts:...

863 yds and counting. 4 games left. 106 yds/start. 1287 possible yards if he satys healthy and starts the rest of the year. With only 9 starts the entire season.

Give me a break guys.

Fargas is going to reel off 1100 yards this season and he's only started 5 games. Through the first 7 games he averaged 8 carries/game and he's STILL going to put up over 1000. Right now he's 9th in the league with 4 games left.

MIN is #1 in the league in rushing defense. They're giving up an average of 70 yds/game. Fargas put 60 on them behind our shit OL. We did exactly what we should have done against MIN - threw for 344 yds.

He had 33 carries against DEN. I rarely saw him on the sidelines. He's certainly in better shape than Lamont Jordan. He's the reason we dominated the time of possession.

He ran hard last year when we needed him. He's no flash in the pan.

Our ground game is vicious because we consistently get first downs even on 3rd and long. Those are back-breakers.

Meet Fiction:...

Well you make more of a point that he hasnt proven to be a 16 game starter yet. He's proven to be a great change of pace RB who can start when needed. We signed Lamont Jordan on the notion that his amazing stats in limited action would translate to a 16 game season. We paid for that theory once. No need to pay for it twice and put everything on Fargas back instead getting him a RB to share carries. A guy who breaks those tackles in the 4th quarter that Fargas does not.

1. Could you please line me up some stats regarding the number of tackles Fargas breaks in the 4th quarter vs. the NFL average?

2. Can you explain to me the statistical algorithm behind your logical assessment that, because Lamont Jordan failed to meet our expectations, that Fargas - who has proven himself to be a very strong starter - will fail as well?

3. 1200-yd rushers aren't "great change of pace backs." They're starters.

But I'll re-think this because he's not really a 1200-yard back, is he? If you look at his yards per game as a starter as a gauge, you can logically and legitimately project that, had he started from day 1, he could have had a 1500-1700 yard season.

4. And playing on the ludicrous theme that Kiffin knows more than anyone else about all things football and always makes the right decisions, why is he putting this offense on Fargas' back if he doesn't think he can handle it week in and week out? He gave him more carries last week than Fargas has ever had before.

5. You've said Fargas is a "great change of pace back who can start when needed." Please explain your hard cold criteria by which you judge someone to be a strong NFL starting RB.

Perhaps one (meaning you) should look at some facts instead of spewing off at the mouth based on what one (meaning you) has arbitrarily decided is the truth.

Isn't it a fact that Fargas is the #1 rusher in the league over the last 5 weeks, a timeframe that happens to coincide with the ONLY games he has started all year?

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Fargas has run for 530 yds?

Let's compare that with the league leaders, shall we? Leaving out Adrian Peterson, who hasn't played in awhile.

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Willie Parker - ranked #2 - has run for only 367 yards?

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Ladanian Tomlinson - ranked #3 - has run for only 432 yards? And isn't it also a fact that this same LT ran for only 40 yards against Minnesota? How does that compare with Fargas' 60 yards? HHHMMMMMMM??

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Willis McGahee - ranked #4 - has run for only 409 yards?

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Brian Westbrook - ranked #5 - has run for only 458 yards? And isn't it also a fact that this same BW ran for only 46 yards against Minnesota? How does that compare with Fargas' 60 yards? HHHMMMMMMM??

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Joseph Addai - ranked #6 - has run for only 351 yards?

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Edgerrin James - ranked #7 - has run for only 319 yards?

Isn't it a fact that in the last 5 games Clinton Portis - ranked #8 - has run for only 487 yards?

Fargas is a proven NFL starter. He does his thing behind one of the worst OLs in the league. He runs strong and doesn't lay down for anyone. He's young and fully recovered from his injuries, like Burgess was when we signed him. Isn't it a fact that Burgess has started 26 out of 28 games in the last 2 years?

You can minimize it if you want, but what you're seeing out on that field is a vicious running attack - one of the best in the league. Fargas is doing it all. No help that's even worth mentioning.

So if you want to use your baseless opinions to back up your assertion that Russell doesn't have a vicious rushing attack to lean on, you'd better go dig up something else.

 

[raiderfreak7]

Bravo RHC, bravo. I was one of Fargas's biggest doubters. I said he was a fumbler, was injury prone, had no wiggle, etc. But the dude worked his ass off and has, for the most part, wiped all those off his resume. Kiffin's going to get every chance to start next year. He is the prime example of the type of players Kiffin is trying to get in here and it would be unwise to let one of them go.

 

[RHC]

Bravo RHC, bravo. I was one of Fargas's biggest doubters. I said he was a fumbler, was injury prone, had no wiggle, etc. But the dude worked his ass off and has, for the most part, wiped all those off his resume. Kiffin's going to get every chance to start next year. He is the prime example of the type of players Kiffin is trying to get in here and it would be unwise to let one of them go.

He's also the prime example of the type of player that every Raiders fan has been begging for for the last 5 years. A hard blue collar worker who goes out, shows up every day, takes advantage of all the opportunities, works his ass off, does his job, keeps his mouth shut and just flat out plays hard.

To question him at this point is ridiculous.

 

[Rupert]

Now now freak, don't go overboard. Fargas still has no wiggle, but he has learned how to set up his blocks, credit Rathman, time on the field, or both, I don't care. The truth is Fargas has evolved. He won't shake and bake someone, he won't spin out of a tackle, reverse field, and take it to the house. That's just not his game, and I don't think he needs to acquire those skills (though they would make him an elite runner) to carry the load for us.

What he does better than anyone on the squad is make solid gains in the hole. What Jordan takes for 3 yards Fargas takes for 5 by hitting it faster and falling forward. Fargas gets caught in the hole less than Jordan too. Might some of this be the result of Oren O'Neal developing too? Could be. Regardless, Fargas is making it happen.

 

[hawaiianboy]

A hard blue collar worker who goes out, shows up every day, takes advantage of all the opportunities, works his ass off, does his job, keeps his mouth shut and just flat out plays hard.

This is my favorite part of the whole thing... We go out and sign Rhodes because obviously no one was really counting on Fargas to step up and instead of sulking, the guy shows up to camp in tip-top shape, attaches himself to Tom Rathman's hip and takes full advantage of Rhodes being suspended to jump up the depth chart...

I worry about the amount of big hits he takes, but I don't think you can ask for more out of the guy: He's stayed healthy, seems to have solved the fumbling problems he had early on in his career and he blocks really well... Plus I don't think he's the type of guy that would have any problem sharing the ball with Bush next year...

Extend him now Al...

 

[Crossbones]

Where is Crow. (Altough I know brother Crow is on Huggy's side now)

Another refreshing situation. I give Kiffin credit for letting Fargas evolve instead of what Art Shell did and whatever it was Norv Turner did. LaMont Jordan seems to be the change of pace back. He did well in that role in NY and when he was handed the reins in Oakland he shit the bed.

Being an Oakland fan and being around Oakland a lot of my life he just kinda fits in if you get my drift!

 

[Stanny]

Pretty good post RHC....Although this is where I disagree:

Fargas is a proven NFL starter. He does his thing behind one of the worst OLs in the league.

I'm still a little shy to think he could start all year just due to his past and how violently he runs. Can he play in the league, hell yes he can. But 16 games of toting the rock full time is one hell of a request. As HB stated, he takes some big shots. But at the same time, I'm willing to give the guy a shot...he deserves it.

Although our line struggles with pass protection, but has gotten a hell of a lot better we have been very good with our run blocking. You have to remember the first half of the Season that Lamont was leading the league in rushing. Then Huggy comes in and we continue to lead the league. Last week against the Donks and the week prior against the Chefs, there were some HUGE holes that he ran through. Against the Fish, you could of drove a semi through some of those holes. Now granted, the guy gets some tough yards and is always going North South, but I happen to think our line has been mauling fools or getting to their assigned"space/area" for the most part when we decide to pound the rock.

 

[Chris_77]

I'm not sure where the so-called "heat" that Kiffin supposedly took for starting Fargas came from. Even considering LJ's hot start, Fargas was clearly the better option when the decision was made. In fact, many Raider fans speculated that Fargas (or Rhodes) would have produced better had they started in the first place.

 

[raiderfreak7]

Now now freak, don't go overboard. Fargas still has no wiggle, but he has learned how to set up his blocks, credit Rathman, time on the field, or both, I don't care. The truth is Fargas has evolved. He won't shake and bake someone, he won't spin out of a tackle, reverse field, and take it to the house. That's just not his game, and I don't think he needs to acquire those skills (though they would make him an elite runner) to carry the load for us.

By "no wiggle" I meant he used to run full speed into where the hole was supposed to be, not where the hole was. Maybe I should've used vision instead of wiggle.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Fargas has definitely earned high praise, especially the past two weeks.

The larger issue, though, when determining whether the running game is strong enough support to provide for a rookie QB who had no benefit of preseason and only played 2 years in college, is penalties.

I think what frequently happened the first few months of the season is that down and distance situations made it tough to get a running game going, so as vicious as it may have had the potential to be, it simply wasn't producing.

Other than the Miami, Denver and KC games, you're talking about Fargas going for 61 against Tennessee (great run D, but only 12 carries for Fargas because of 14 penalties), 60 yards against Minnesota (great run D forced passing, which came through but the defense failed), 104 yards against Houston (yeah, it's a 100-yard game, but against Houston that's not some major accomplishment) and 81 yards against Chicago (didn't Derrick Ward just rip off 150 on Chicago?).

Fargas is turning into a very good RB. He's certainly outperformed any expectation I've ever had for him. And he's certainly done enough that, if Mike Bush is going to be ready, I'm happy passing on RB in Round 1 next year. And I think Cable and Kiffin deserve as much credit as Fargas for that. But this still isn't exactly a running game that strikes fear into opponents. If he finishes out a big year I think people will start to respect him going into next year.

I think it's hard for Fargas to get some respect because he runs funny. He doesn't punish tacklers, he doesn't make jaw-dropping juke moves, he doesn't break 50-yarders and he frequently looks awkward when he's being tackled.

 

[Byron2112]

I like Fargas, I love the kinda player/worker he is. He deserves his carries and a starting spot.

That said he isn't a proven load carrying back in this league( I would think this is obvious), and projecting his little run here out to 16 games and proclaiming him a 1600 yard back is beyond absurd. He's definatly not doing it by himself. Cable's system is unquestionablty effective in the running game, and we've got a couplea real blocking fullbacks, and a TE that takes pride in blocking helping out too.

Luckily we don't have to worry about Fargas being a workhorse becasue we have a very talented RB in Bush waiting to spell him, or take over the starting duties if he proves superior. I really don't see Fargas being much different than the various bronko runners that have produced big for a year or two then been replaced. Time will tell, but if I had too, I'd be betting that Fargas won't be holding up to a large workload the way he runs.

I also don't beleive our running game is vicious by any means. We're good enough to run up the yardage against the crappier teams in the league, but can be stifled against quality defenses. To Kiffin's credit he sticks with the run through thick and thin(4th most carries in the league) to establish an identity as a power, running team... love that!

 

[Rupert]

By "no wiggle" I meant he used to run full speed into where the hole was supposed to be, not where the hole was. Maybe I should've used vision instead of wiggle.

Damn right you should have. I completely agree.

 

[TheNextStep]

I like Fargas. Back in the off-season, I speculated that he could be very good in this type of system. That said, does what he's done over the past several games make him a good running back? A great one?

I don't know if we can say that. Was Olandis Gary a great running back? Was Mike Anderson? Was Tatum Bell? No, no, and no... but all of them looked awfully damned good running behind this kind of blocking scheme.

Not to down Fargas because I personally don't care where people "rate" him, so long as he keeps producing like he has been. Just a "Devil's Advocate" point to consider.

 

[Crossbones]

As long as Fargas gets results I don''t care how he looks when he runs or whether he does this or that. What he is doing right now is remarkable and like those results.

Sometimes I wonder if fans are ever happy. We should be stoked that Fargas is doing what he's doing. Who cares how at this point. Good results are good results. Actaully he's pretty exciting.

I just hope the balloon doesn't burst in Green Bay. Right now I'm feeling like we can win there.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Don't get me wrong, CB. I'm ecstatic with Fargas. I'm just explaining why I think he doesn't get the recognition from others, and why I think it's too early to put all our eggs in his basket.

 

[Madturk]

We don't need Fargas to rush for 1600 if we can get Bush up to speed next season. I'm all for the plug and play or RBBC approach that the ZBS affords. I'll take the top 5 rushing attack in the NFL any day. Next year's strong RB class affords us the opportunity to pick up another back assuming both Jordan and Dominic Rhodes are gone. Tweak the passing game and our ground attack will be even better.

 

[RaiderIVlife]

Fargas/Bush/TBD will be just fine with a slightly improved Offensive Line (which should almost assuredly happen) and 1 more WR with speed.

I agree with those that want to go DL/WR/LB/DL with our first 4 selections.

We can throw some FA cash at 1 or 2 offensive lineman and as Pat Kirwen often states, "you can draft OL all day on Day-2".

 

[Limee]

We don't need Fargas to rush for 1600 if we can get Bush up to speed next season. I'm all for the plug and play or RBBC approach that the ZBS affords. I'll take the top 5 rushing attack in the NFL any day. Next year's strong RB class affords us the opportunity to pick up another back assuming both Jordan and Dominic Rhodes are gone. Tweak the passing game and our ground attack will be even better.

Summed up perfectly what I was going to say.