No pads or hitting, but McFadden impresses in first practice

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NAPA -- No, there were no pads and thus, no live hitting on the first day of training camp practice.So Darren McFadden making it through unscathed was not reason for joy, rather, the speed and power and cutting ability he displayed were enough to make rookie Raiders coach Dennis Allen smile."Fast," Allen said when asked how his starting running back looked to him. Then Allen paused to let it sink in."He looked good. I think we all understand that he's an explosive playmaker for us and we need him to be healthy for the entire season."GUTIERREZ: Raiders camp summary (730) -- McFadden shines
Anyone who's observed McFadden's career knows how injuries have derailed him from seeming stardom and how a Lis Franc injury to his right foot last season cost him the last nine-plus games of the season.And when you factor in his missing at least three games in each of his first four years due to injury, durability becomes the topic du jour.Monday, though, he looked fantasticin shorts and helmet. So is there any way to prevent injuries in a physical game like that brought forth by the NFL?"If somebody's got an answer for it," McFadden said, "I would love for them to tell me because I need that."To his credit, McFadden is not running away from his need to stay healthy. But he is not going to change his running style."I help this team go a lot but I'm not the only player out there," he said. "You know, we have a lot of players out there that make plays. I have a big role in the offense but we have a lot of guys that are going to step up and make plays also."You know, it does feel good out there being back out there on the field, being out there with the guys running around. (I) feel like we did a lot of good things out there today. Some things we still got to improve on. It's like, coming out there on the first day, it's nothing you can do to prepare for it all summer. You get out there the first day, you get a little winded. Guys are going to come along it's time to go."And with that, McFadden was gone.

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