Raiders General Manager Reggie McKenzie met the media on Thursday for the first time since the end of the regular season and he was greeted with plenty of questions about his team’s offense.
Running back Darren McFadden was a topic of particular interest. McKenzie was asked about whether or not the team would consider moving McFadden before next season, the last one on his current contract.
“I’m confident Darren’s going to play his last season, regardless of what’s out there,” McKenzie said, via Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group. “We have no decision to do anything with Darren.”
McFadden had 707 yards and averaged 3.3 yards per attempt this season, a drop in production that’s been attributed to both an ankle injury and a poor fit in former offensive coordinator Greg Knapp’s zone blocking system. McKenzie seemed to hint at the latter while talking about McFadden’s year.
“It’s obvious Darren is much better on certain types of plays,” McKenzie said. “That goes without saying. That’s how you’ve got to do it.”
McKenzie said the team is closing in on a new offensive coordinator. They spoke to both Marc Trestman and Norv Turner about returning to Oakland before the men took other jobs and have interviewed Mike Martz for the position.