Rookie of the Year?
Charity Tosses
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 10/1/08 Section: Sports
This year, the National Football League is being treated with what Arkansas fans were in love with for three years: Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.
The terrific tandem terrorized Southeastern Conference defenses during that time, accumulating award after award while leading Arkansas to its first 10-win season since 1989 in 2006, and being the focal points of the acclaimed 'Wildcat' offensive formation.
They no longer wear numbers 5 and 25 in cardinal and white, but each are making their mark on their respective franchises, with McFadden a member of the Oakland Raiders and Jones with the Dallas Cowboys.
So the obvious question not only to Razorback fans but to the entire NFL itself is, which one is going to win Rookie of the Year?
No Arkansas player who has ever gone on to play professionally has won the award.
No Arkansas player had ever been a Heisman Trophy finalist, either, until McFadden was one twice, finishing runner-up both times to Troy Smith and Tim Tebow.
And Jones was an All-American kick returner as a freshman.
If you've been keeping up with the Cowboys, Felix is one of the league leaders in yards per return as a rookie, so obviously there's some parallels there.
What will likely hurt McFadden is the team he plays on.
The Raiders have been sort of the laughingstock of the NFL over the past few years, and they are still in the news now that owner Al Davis has fired coach Lane Kiffin.
McFadden has done all he could despite not getting adequate blocking and having very little offensive production around him.
When he enters the game, he changes the face of the Raider offense.
For example, in Week 2 against the Chiefs, his 157 yards on 22 carries were paramount to Oakland's win in that game.
As McFadden's carries have decreased since that game, his yards have decreased, and Oakland hasn't won.
Granted, he's suffered a turf toe injury, but McFadden proved to Razorback fans in 2006 that a toe injury wasn't going to hold him back as he ran for 1,647 yards on way to a 10-1 start and a SEC Western Division championship.
The terrific tandem terrorized Southeastern Conference defenses during that time, accumulating award after award while leading Arkansas to its first 10-win season since 1989 in 2006, and being the focal points of the acclaimed 'Wildcat' offensive formation.
They no longer wear numbers 5 and 25 in cardinal and white, but each are making their mark on their respective franchises, with McFadden a member of the Oakland Raiders and Jones with the Dallas Cowboys.
So the obvious question not only to Razorback fans but to the entire NFL itself is, which one is going to win Rookie of the Year?
No Arkansas player who has ever gone on to play professionally has won the award.
No Arkansas player had ever been a Heisman Trophy finalist, either, until McFadden was one twice, finishing runner-up both times to Troy Smith and Tim Tebow.
And Jones was an All-American kick returner as a freshman.
If you've been keeping up with the Cowboys, Felix is one of the league leaders in yards per return as a rookie, so obviously there's some parallels there.
What will likely hurt McFadden is the team he plays on.
The Raiders have been sort of the laughingstock of the NFL over the past few years, and they are still in the news now that owner Al Davis has fired coach Lane Kiffin.
McFadden has done all he could despite not getting adequate blocking and having very little offensive production around him.
When he enters the game, he changes the face of the Raider offense.
For example, in Week 2 against the Chiefs, his 157 yards on 22 carries were paramount to Oakland's win in that game.
As McFadden's carries have decreased since that game, his yards have decreased, and Oakland hasn't won.
Granted, he's suffered a turf toe injury, but McFadden proved to Razorback fans in 2006 that a toe injury wasn't going to hold him back as he ran for 1,647 yards on way to a 10-1 start and a SEC Western Division championship.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
nate
posted 10/01/08 @ 8:09 AM CST
Philadelphia Eagle's desean Jackson put up good number thru first few games as well.
Post a Comment