A couple of odds and ends on Oakland...

[drewmar74]

I'm sincerely hoping and praying that we won't see a spike in Josh McCown and Justing Fargas pro bowl votes after tomorrow...

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW...pers110207.htm

• The disastrously undisciplined performance by the Raiders’ offense in a Week Eight loss at Tennessee — one that included a mind-boggling 11 penalties by that unit alone, with six of them being false starts, three being holding calls and one illegal shift by the offensive line — brought to the forefront issues with OLT Barry Sims’ struggles on the road and a lack of depth at tackle. In a surprise move, second-year OG Paul McQuistan, not OLG Robert Gallery, was shifted out to right tackle to replace Cornell Green, who tweaked a knee in Week Eight.
  
• Don’t be surprised to see RB Justin Fargas getting more playing time — perhaps ahead of LaMont Jordan and Dominic Rhodes — in the coming weeks, as the coaches have been impressed by the way he hits the hole with more authority and has become a more complete running back.

I've not watched any Raiders games this year and have only seen Fargas on the occasional highlight reel. Dude doesn't look to be all that fast, but he's quick and seems to accelerate pretty well.

Me, I'm pulling for Itchy to show him up.

Run! Itchy, Run!

And now, an Itchy haiku...

Echemandu's chance.
Show Oakland he should have stuck.
"No D.U.I here."

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by drewmar74

I've not watched any Raiders games this year and have only seen Fargas on the occasional highlight reel. Dude doesn't look to be all that fast, but he's quick and seems to accelerate pretty well.

actually Fargas has elite speed. He just isn't that thick in the lower body and isn't too elusive.

High school All-American sprinter who ran a 10.47 100-meter dash...

...Continued to rise at the Scouting Combine, where he ran under 4.4 in the 40, benchpressed 225 pounds 27 times and recorded a broad jump of 11 feet, five inches.

[RaiderInNY]

Fargas is quick enough and elusiveness to break runs. It all comes down to the OL, and whether or not they can sustain their blocks, open up holes and assert themselves like they did earlier in the season. In recent weeks, they have struggled and their play has significantly declined since the bye week.

[drewmar74]

Originally Posted by Vinny

actually Fargas has elite speed. He just isn't that thick in the lower body and isn't too elusive.

D'oh!

I stand corrected! Apparently the TV makes you look 10 lbs heaver and 5 tenths of a second slower....

[raiderArt]

Fargas has 4.3 speed but he's a one cut runner. After that initial cut, he's usually off-balance. But he gets those tough 4-5 yards so we'll take it of course.