Yardbarker: Justin Fargas

Cowboys turn around the run defense

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:44:51 -0500

In the first quarter Oakland ran fro 68 yards The Raiders ran for 56 the rest of the game and two of the longest runs were scrambles by quarterback Bruce Gradkowski. "They were the first team to run that zone offense, that Denver stuff right at the start," defensive end Igor Olshansky said. "With a short week you can't predict everything but I think we were able to adjust pretty good on it." Justin Fargas had 63 yards for the Raiders and 52 came in the first quarter...

Defense comes back strong

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 18:37:30 -0500

On its first drive Oakland drove 80 yards for a touchdown to make the score 17-7. On its second drive Oakland went three-and-out with Anthony Spencer coming up with a pass break up and a hustle tackle of Justin Fargas on a screen play to the opposite side of the field on third down.

Worried about the run defense?

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:56:14 -0500

The Raiders have 77 rushing yards in four drives so far, featuring Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden. The Cowboys allowed 78 on Sunday to Washington. Seattle picked up 79 a few weeks ago and Carolina had 73 in Week 3. The Raiders are doing a nice job on the flanks against the Cowboys, which is a surprise considering how well DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer play against the run. Maybe they figured something out on the last play because Jay Ratliff and Spencer combined to stop Fargas for a ...

Run defense shaky, third-down defense better

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:43:18 -0500

Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas have been able to zip their way through the Cowboys at a pretty good rate through three drives so far, which is a tad bit surprising given how well the Dallas run defense has been so far this year. But at least on third down the Cowboys have cleaned up some of their mess. Green Bay and Washington converted 7-of-15 tries in back to back weeks against the Cowboys. So far Oakland is 0-for-3. Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins have come up with pass break ups on t...

Justin Fargas Takes Underlying Swipe at JaMarcus Russell’s Lack of Passion?

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:02:59 -0500

It took 10 weeks before the Raiders finally decided it was time to bench JaMarcus Russell in favor of a new quarterback. If you saw last week’s game against the Chiefs, you’ll know it doesn’t matter who’s throwing passes for Oakland because the receivers can’t catch them anyways. Regardless, the Raiders have decided [...]

Raiders teammates seem just fine with Russell's benching

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:02:26 -0500

When a starting quarterback is benched, sometimes there is an outcry of support by his teammates.That did not happen this week in Oakland.Bruce Gradkowski has reportedly brought a new energy to Raiders practices, and his teammates appreciate it. Justin Fargas...

Fargas believes pigeon was deceased teammate Marquis Cooper

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:32:53 -0500

Remember the plucky little pigeon who lined up and played special teams with the Raiders against the Eagles? And do you remember Marquis Cooper(notes), the Raiders linebacker who tragically died along with two others in a boating accident back in March? Raiders running back Justin Fargas(notes) believes they are one and the same. Fargas was asked on KHTK in San Francisco about the pigeon, and about how some teammates and Cooper's mother believe that the pigeon was Marquis. "...

Justin Fargas Has A Theory About That Special Teams Pigeon

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:30:00 -0500

"Yeah, it was definitely a strange event seeing that bird flying out there. It seemed comfortable on the football field and comfortable lying down there literally on special teams. It very well could have been Marquis [Cooper]." [Via]

Justin Fargas has an interesting theory about the pigeon

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 14:59:56 -0500

By now, most NFL fans have seen the video of the pigeon that flew in formation with the Raiders while the team covered a kickoff during Sunday's game against the Eagles.Running back Justin Fargas has a theory. Though it might...

Could Fargas get squeezed out of Oakland?

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:10:54 -0500

Justin Fargas always runs like a man possessed, never worried about taking a big hit.For that reason, he's been a favorite in Oakland, especially the last three seasons as a starter. But Fargas' run as a starter appears to be...

Three Ways to Pay Dirt: Fargas, Bush and McFadden

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:28:30 -0500

Tom Cable has a problem on his hands. He’s got three very talented running backs with three very different skill sets and just one pigskin to go around. On paper, the Oakland Raiders have weapons on offense that might have caused former president George W. Bush to declare anyone wearing silver and black as a domestic terrorist. From the WMD attached to JaMarcus Russell’s right arm to the Lester Hayes stickum hands of Zach Miller, the 2009 Raiders could be an offensive juggernaut....

Note to Knapp: Play to the Seahawks' Strengths

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 11:14:44 -0500

During Mike Holmgren’s tenure as Seahawks Head Coach, the Hawks were well known for their West-Coast style passing attack. With the exception of Shaun Alexander’s 27 TD MVP season in 2005, Seattle has been a pass-first team.

Newly hired Offensive Coordinator and play-caller Gregg Knapp, however, holds a different offensive philosophy.
While Knapp was the offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-2006, the Falcons led the league in rushing three straight years. During Knapp’s 8 seasons as the coordinator of the 49ers, Falcons and Raiders, his teams have placed in the top 10 of rushing attempts seven times and the top six six times.

It’s safe to say that Knapp likes running the ball.
But this Seahawks team is different from Knapp’s previous run-oriented teams. This is no 49er team with Kevan Barlow and Garrison Hearst, no Falcons team with Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn, nor even a Raiders team with Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden. This is only a Seattle team with only Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett, neither of whose ability justifies a run-first offense.
Instead, this team has the players to be a pass-first contender. With a healthy Pro-Bowl quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, the Hawks can return to the playoffs by maintaining Holmgren’s West Coast offense. Hasselbeck now has several top targets to throw to in wide receivers Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and newly added T.J. Houshmandzadeh. If the Seahawks can avoid another wide-receiver epidemic like the one that struck last year, they should be able to win games with a high-powered passing attack similar to the Super Bowl loser Arizona Cardinals’.
All the pieces are in place. What remains is for Knapp to recognize the Hawks’ strengths and play to them. Hopefully the high-paid coordinator can see what even the common fan can, and pass first.

Photo Source: http://media.thenewstribune.com/

The Secret Behind Justin Fargas' Success

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 11:58:06 -0500

Is most definitely his father who is better known as Huggy Bear from Starsky and Hutch as well as roles in many other blaxploitation films of the day. It is a same that Justin can never be half as bad ass as Huggy Bear-though I am willing to bet as an NFL player he gets as many girls.

Oakland Raiders: The pros and cons of running with Justin Fargas

Wed, 28 May 2008 02:28:53 -0500

Alright, I can hear it now. "Give it up already! The future is McFadden and Bush!" Ok, hold on for a second. Just a second?alright give me a few minutes. Before we anoint anybody HOF status or elect them as the 'Best Raider Runner Ever.' let's basque in all the realms of possibilities for a moment before the season.

Oakland Raiders: Two backs, two styles, same story

Thu, 15 May 2008 00:38:57 -0500

So you've heard or read the stories from last weeks' Oakland Raiders rookie mini camp, right? If you have, then you already know that McFadden is as fast as advertised. He can also catch, play quarterback, and he's exciting despite drawing Coach Knapp's ire for not running a full 40 yards on a play or feeling some of Coach Rathman's wrath for not holding onto the ball correctly.