Speaking today from the Kansas City Chiefs practice, defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel noted that the Oakland Raiders are going to present a “big challenge” for the Chiefs this weekend as they try to make it to 3-3 on the season and salvage a horrific beginning to the 2011 season. To do so, they are going to have to stop Darren McFadden, first and foremost, and Crennel says he realizes that’s the toughest job of any team facing the Raiders.
“We’ve come off the bye week and we’re trying to get back into it again — back in tune,” says Crennel. “Days off are nice, but you lose the routine, so you have to get back into the routine. We know we have a big game this week and have to go out there to Oakland. They’re feeling pretty good about themselves and they’ve been playing pretty good. So we have to go see what we can do. I don’t think they’re gonna change what they do very much, because they hand the ball off to McFadden. He’s running it good, so we’ve got a big challenge to show down and stop their running game.”
He also notes Michael Bush is another name to watch in the Oakland backfield and that both players will likely give the Chiefs a real challenge.
“They both are very good runners,” he said. “They both have speed. I think Bush is a more powerful guy inside when they run him inside, whereas McFadden, when he gets to the edge, he runs for touchdowns. Not that Bush can’t run for touchdowns, but they have a very good combination and they will use both of them. We will have our hands full.”
Darren McFadden has rushed for 610 yards on the season thus far.