The Raiders held a conference call with their new running back Mike Goodson today. He was acquired from the Panthers in trade for backup offensive lineman Bruce Campbell.
The Panthers round four selection in the 2009 draft was stuck behind starter DeAngelo Hall along with Jonathan Stewart. He sees that as the main reason he was not given the kind of opportunity he should have gotten.
"Being being DeAngelo [Williams] for a couple years, it's been difficult just wanting to play and being a competitor." Said Goodson. "I mean I wasn't just, you know, looking to leave but anywhere that gave me an opportunity, I'm definitely up for that and ready to play."
Goodson had a bit of a breakout season in 2010 in which he carried the ball 103 times for 452 yards and three touchdowns along with catching 40 balls out of the backfield for 310 yards. It looked like that start of something good. But come the next season, he was back to being relegated to backup duties.
Through week seven, he had just 22 carries for 47 yards with just two catches. It wasn't what Goodson thought he deserved after his 2010 season.
"I thought going in with the way I had performed I would definitely get an opportunity to play and you know, some things happened and I didn't get the opportunity that I thought I should have. And then I got injured and it didn't go the way that I wanted last year."
That injury was a hamstring tear that put him on injured reserve for the rest of the 2011 season.
"I've been working real hard ever since the injury, rehabbing and getting it back to 100%. So I am finally there and yeah, definitely."
But even though he had a breakout 2010 season, he also had seven fumbles which no doubt played into the coaching staff losing trust in his ability to hold onto the ball. But according to him, it is not a chronic issue.
"They just kinda came in bunches... I've been working real hard on it in the off season, trying to get bigger and work on my size. I just think it's a mind thing, something you got to just continue to work on."
He is the latest project the Raiders have taken on. Nearly every single player the Raiders have acquired this offseason either suffered a serious injury and/or were out of football all last season. That includes Brandon Underwood, Shawntae Spencer, Ron Bartell, and Mike Brisiel.
Last season they acquired another return man with fumbling problems in Bryan McCann. They liked his performance enough to extend a tender offer to him as a restricted free agent.
McCann and Goodson will compete for the return duties on the team and Goodson will compete for time in the Raiders backfield with Taiwan Jones and Darren McFadden.
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