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Thoughts from the Dark Side
Oren O'Neal with the author Photo from Patrick Patterson's archives
Fullback Oren O’Neal: The Oakland Raiders secret weapon
The Oakland Raiders had a top flight rushing attack in 2007. The addition of Darren McFadden will likely turn that rushing attack into a lethal force. Justin Fargas won the Commitment to Excellence award for rushing for over 1000 yards despite only starting seven games. The soon to be departed LaMont Jordan and the now departed Dominic Rhodes both chipped in 100 yard games. Tom Cable gets the credit for turning the offensive line around, but one name that had as much to do with the success of the running game as anyone else is Oren O’Neal.
O’Neal is far from a household name. He was drafted in the sixth round out of Arkansas State in the 2007 draft. He plays fullback which is a vastly undervalued position in today’s NFL. He is primarily a blocking fullback in the mode of Jon Ritchie or Lorenzo Neal, which means that it is far from a spotlight position.
With his position, he will never be a glamor player. He may become a Raider hero the way that Jon Ritchie was, as the Raider Nation loves their hard nosed players who kick ass. Rather than getting the glory for himself, O’Neal will be knocking linebackers out of the way once again so that Fargas, McFadden, and Michael Bush will fly by and be able to get more yards.
He shared fullback duties with Justin Griffith last season with Griffith being the better receiving back, but O’Neal showed himself to be by far the better blocker. O’Neal won’t be the center of any ESPN highlight reels, but watch closely on any long run and you will be able to see #46 doing his job and clearing the path.
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42 Responses to “Fullback Oren O’Neal: The Oakland Raiders secret weapon”
May 7th, 2008 at 3:16 am
[…] O’Neal Raiders secret weapon Thoughts from the Dark Side | MVN - an Oakland Raiders blog Blog Archive Fullback Oren O’Neal:… __________________ "While there is a lower class, I am in it, and while there is a […]
May 7th, 2008 at 4:34 am
I really love this kid…he is a great blocker…our running game should be even better this year, cause our Oline has improved in blocking(hopefully in pprotection too)!And our RB corp. should be improved too.Fargas is the same, DMC will be much better than Rhodes(only not if he is a bust but i don’t even want to think about it…) and Bush will be better than Jordan i think…i can’t wait for mini-camp to see Bush and DMC running with the ball!!
And with the addition of Walker,Carter + speed(Shields, Chaz)
and improvement of J-Rock the enemys won’t be able to focus on just our running game hopefully…
May 7th, 2008 at 5:33 am
We need more players like him in Oakland. I like a lot the way he plays, the Raiders way.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:34 am
[…] Read more. Posted in Blog, Oakland Raiders | […]
May 7th, 2008 at 7:02 am
With Oneal and Fargas/DMAC it looks like Hubbard/Washington all over again.This is fantastic!!! Nothing like a power run,a quick hitter or a quick-pitch 2 open up the short passing then the long passing game.LET the games begin!GOOOO-RAIDERS!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 7:12 am
If memory serves, and at my advanced age it’s questionable. I believe O’Neal only has one lung. Which makes him even tougher.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:15 am
I just checked, he had part of a lung removed. Still impressive.
May 7th, 2008 at 7:42 am
After missing on several picks the last couple of years the scouting dept. did a great job in finding O’Neal. I don’t know why so many teams have gotten away from using a true FB. Lorenzo Neal comes to mind when talking about a true FB. Any team he was on had a good running game and most teams that still use a FB usually have a good ground game. He should only get better with his rookie season under his belt and I am very OPTIMISTIC that our ground game will be even better next year with the addition of McFadden.
May 7th, 2008 at 8:52 am
If Bush has a great pre-season and like in 2007 a few teams realize their running backs actually don’t have another year left in them, then we could trade him to upgrade our defensive or offensive lines, but A.D. would likely trade Bush for a receiver. We’ll be lucky if we get a fourth round pick for Jordan, but Bush has great trade potential.
May 7th, 2008 at 9:12 am
I was rooting for “OO” from the start. He seemed to have Kiffin’s support from day 1. John Richie was a great FB for us - from Sonora CA, just up the hill from Modesto - the most beautiful city in Cali
May 7th, 2008 at 9:25 am
your crazy Brass Monkey Bush has to much value right now Bush will not be traded at least no this season, Al will want to keep Bush, Fargas, and Dmac on the squad at least one season!
May 7th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Hey monkey: No trades for bush you frickin hole. I swear, the grass is always greener for you idiots “it would be so great if we got such and such or if we made this trade, then maybee we could win a game” We should have kept Rhodes and we should have kept Fabian Washington for that matter… a first round pic we trade for a 4th round pic a year or two later…great. A reciever??? JW is your man for better or worse…probably worse. Get used to it scumbag.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Yo Ken, Josh Parry, formerly of the Eagles and Seahawks is from Sonora, not Jon Ritchie.
Back to the topic. O’neal and Coach Cable worked together in Atlanta and do their jobs, no doubt.
Patrick, the writer of this blog is correct, the fullback position is highly under-appreciated in the NFL. With toughness on the Decline in the league, it’s men like Oren’s job to keep things honest.
My take
Coach Elkins
May 7th, 2008 at 10:51 am
aldiealready says why would you even bother to read Raider comments on a Raiders article. If you’re a fan root for your team obviously not a Raider fan! Al Davis made some great off season moves you must be a disgruntled 9er fan while keep rollin’ with Nolan!
You might even be a Donkie fan for all I know have fun if you are tell the Rat to enjoy the ball being run down his throat all game in front of a national adiance, so everyone will know the easiest way to beat the donkies is to run right at these gut-less wonders no heart they make kevin barlow look like a warrior!
Get you to the Raiders running the ball all yeaar round and ranked #1 at the end of the year and which ever team you are with we are a lot closer to the playoffs them you!
May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 am
O’neal and Coach Cable worked together in Atlanta?
When?
May 7th, 2008 at 11:21 am
I saw OO hit a line-backer so hard,his helmet was turned sideways…ive rewound the play over 100 times,its on a Fargas td run…from that momment he became my favourite Raider player..everytime you watch the hit,it makes you {wince}….the running game was greatly improved and hes one of the main reasons why….OO is a nasty piece of work and long may it continue..
May 7th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Post the hit O’Neal laid on that linebacker..I need something to do at work.
May 7th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Agreed….Please post a link to that hit….Cant wait!
May 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
Justin griffith was at atlanta
May 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I’m making my voyage to Oakland for the 1st time EVER…From PDX anyone got tips as to where to sit and the best way to get a ticket….(at the gate)? Me and my bro (40’s) have never been to Oak town. I know I know…
May 7th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Patrick,
Nice picture of you and Oren O’Neal. Oakland Raider fans are the best in sports. I’ve been a fan since going to games at Kezar Stadium during the inaugural AFL season of 1960.
I can’t wait for THIS season to start. Can you?!!
May 7th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
This kid is awesome, and dominated opposing LBs. I love to watch him pound guys in the running game. No Mercy!!
OakFoSho
May 7th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Washington being a first round pick has nothing to do with current value. He was the nickleback and a week tackler. Once Hall was singed, we knew Fabian was gone.
You can’t alwasy gain on EVERY deal. Otherwise you tie your hands.
May 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Oren O’Neal was the only rookie from last year that made my list of Raiders All-time Draft Day Steals. He is tremendous and Patrick I think we will be seeing a highlight or two of him plowing through a linebacker this season.
Yes Charles Oakey we know that you have been a fan since Kesar was the Raiders home. I think you point it out just about every time you comment.
H: I was unaware of the partial lung thing. That is really cool and all the more impressive I agree. Thanks for the info.
Brass Monkey you were one of the guys throwing out random trades for draft picks before the draft weren’t you? Trading Bush before he can prove anything would not be wise IMO. If Rhodes couldn’t garner any interest in trade then Bush is not going anywhere. Once either Bush or McFadden proves which is the better NFL back the lesser of the two will be trade bait. Pat has it right. And aldie said it better than I could have. “you frickin hole…” haha that’s great.
Section116 work on that spelling there genius “adiance”? WTF is that? I think you mean “Audience”. And just so you know; anyone who criticises what idiot fans say or the moves of a team is not automatically “not a fan”. Quite to the contrary actually. Knowledgable fans question their team’s moves and don’t just blindly follow. I bet you wouldn’t be able to spell “Knowledgable” on your own you silly fool.
Hell yeah muse. That is what I’m talkin’ about!
Joe section 111 which is near the corner on the west side of the Black Hole is a great spot right above the tunnel with a nice view of the field. I believe I have that right. You might want to double check the section number.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Haha I just realized I spelled Knowledgeable wrong! LMAO! At least I can laugh at myself. Go ahead an let me have it. I deserve it. At least I realized after I typed it that I spelled it wrong.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
But Section116 you are still a fool. That still stands.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Hey 116 I will be going to my first Raiders Game (21) on Nov. 30th vs the Chiefs. Maybe i will see you there, I’m a 6′4″ black guy and ill be there with my 2 mos. old daughter. I will be in a 84 raiders jersey and she will probably be bundled up but under that she will have on a pink raiders cheerleading outfit. If you see me just say wuts up.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
I have been keeping tabs on him since he was drafted and he is a quiet,humble,big hearted,hard nose hitter who comes from a small town.He has done his job when asked and i think he will continue to do nothing but a 110%.I can see the running game getting major yards this year with him clearing the way.I can hear it now…..he’s @ the 10…..15……20..25.30….he could all the way…………………..TOUCHDOWN RAAAAIIIIIIDDDEERRSSSSSS!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
think of this
micheal bush and orenthal oneal in the goaline and short yardage package,
but then think of this either mcfadden or fargas running behind the next best blocking fullback in the league. Griffith is a good teacher, so its on. and oren lay out shawn merriman.
May 7th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Im also sitting in section 116
May 7th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
i am a big fan of mr o’neal
May 7th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Oh I’m sorry, I guess when I’m in a room full of liars and cheats so I turn into one myself…..
I guess Jon Ritchie is from the foothills of Sonora.
Nothing like a lie to see who everyone in the room might be…?
Just don’t like people talking about stuff they having no business discussing….football!
Coach Elkins
p.s.
I’m growing tired of this little charade….
May 7th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Hey Coach Elkins,
You’re right about Ritchie. He is from PA, not CA. Also, it was FB, Justin Griffith that has worked with Cable in Atlanta. O’Neal was a rookie last year and worked with Cable for the first time then.
Lastly, ‘room full of liars and cheats’? I think Ken made a mistake about where Ritchie was from, but calling everyone here a liar and cheat? Really?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Seriously coack elkins that was a little bit of crazy talk there. “this little charade”? You sound like you have some screws loose there buddy. You should get back on your meds.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Thats right…everyone, including myself..
Do you have a question or are you just trying to show yourself up here…?
Careful…?
May 7th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
My point being none of you could hold an argument regarding football…unless Al Davis is in the room….
May 8th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Hey Elkins your a fucking IDIOT! Wtf is your problem? If u dont like it then get the fuck out of here… plain and simple…
May 8th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Wow!!! I was wrong about John Richie - I do now remember Josh Perry whose brother played for San Jose State (special teams) with a prosthetic leg. Great story. Both Josh and John played for the Eagles. I am having too much fun awaiting this season!!! Peace
May 8th, 2008 at 8:23 am
….It was the other fullback that played with ATL. I feel that I can not only talk Raiders, but NFL and NCAA football. Stabler, Hostetler, Schroeder, Hollis, George, Gannon, Joe Aska, Nick Bell, Napolean McCallum, Dokey Williams, Jessie Hester, Bill Pickel, Anthony Smith, Bob Chandler, D’Wayne O’stean, Chris Bar, Mike Barns…. Let’s go… im just getting warmed up - Let’s talk RAIDERS!
May 8th, 2008 at 9:35 am
ken how does listing off random ex-Raiders provey you know football? It makes you look silly though. So I hope that was what you were going for.
May 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pm
WOW KEN FROM BARBIE CAN TALK FOOTBALL? WOW? LOLZ
May 9th, 2008 at 1:37 am
nfl.com week12 vs cheifs……..Fargas touchdown run…wait for the behind endzone replay…..
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