"Darren McFadden was a Terrell Davis fan growing up. And new Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders compared the 24-year-old running back to Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk. But McFadden, a 6-foot-2, 210-pounder, has never tried to run like anybody else.

"I never trademarked it or anything," he said, smiling, "but I have a different style than anybody else. I am a lankier guy. A lot of people say I run high and that may be the case, but at the same time, I know how to run behind my pads and am more powerful than a lot of guys think I am. I'm a faster back and a bigger back."

With his 4.33-second 40-yard speed, McFadden ran by, through and around defenders last season for 1,157 yards - fifth highest in team history - and seven touchdowns on 223 carries (a 5.2 average). He caught 47 passes for 507 yards and three more touchdowns. And at the end of many of those plays, McFadden would lower a shoulder into a defender or better yet, uncork a wicked stiff-arm."