May 14, 2008

Word out of the Raiders’ rookie minicamp is RB Darren McFadden lined up in the backfield, split out wide as a receiver and even took a few shotgun snaps as a quarterback during non-contact drills this past weekend. So much for easing him into things. Head coach Lane Kiffin wasn’t kidding when he said on draft weekend that McFadden would be a major part of the passing game, and he apparently isn’t opposed to drawing up some of the direct-snap plays that worked so well for the ballcarrier during his career at Arkansas, either. 2007 fourth-round pick RB Michael Bush, who spent last season on injured reserve, was being utilized as a receiver out of the backfield, as well, during the camp. We hear both players looked crisp, but, of course, the weekend was only an orientation. When the full pads go on in training camp, things will change in a hurry. This, however, was a preview of things to come, and it’s clear that Kiffin is willing to get creative with some intriguing weapons on offense.