"As expected, Raiders running back Darren McFadden was ruled out Friday for Sunday's game against San Diego because of a hamstring pull. Although it looks as if he's leaving big shoes to fill - McFadden was second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 554 - remember this: Those shoes were probably Michael Bush's in the first place. Bush was on his way to beating out McFadden for the starting job when he broke his thumb in a preseason game Aug. 28. In two games since returning, Bush has 10 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown backing up McFadden. McFadden's "stats are very strong," coach Tom Cable said. "We've got to find a way to get that same production, but I think Michael's ready to take that load." Bush is expecting to do "basically the same thing (McFadden) was doing when I was out. If he got the ball a lot, I expect to do the same thing. ... I'm ready." Cable said the Raiders won't alter the attack too much, because although Bush is bigger and more of an inside runner, both are good at making defenders miss and at catching the ball. "You got a lot of guys trying to knock your head off," Bush said, "so your best choice is to run hard and get some positive yards. I've been in the system four years now, and it's pretty much the same." He had 589 yards on 123 carries last season (4.8 per carry) and was having a good preseason before breaking his left thumb on an opponent's helmet. Bush had his thumb wrapped the first two games but doesn't plan to do so this week as he is feeling no pain. He has his work cut out for him, as the Chargers are giving up just 80.3 yards per game rushing." Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/09/SPD01FQC16.DTL
