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Thoughts from the Dark Side
How long before Russell is no longer the QB of the future?
How long before you’re asking for another leader?
Going out on a limb here and foreseeing the Raiders QB trio to start the season as Russell, Tuiasosopo, and Walter. All three have held the moniker as the Raiders Quarterback of the Future, but it’s now JaMarcus Russell’s moniker to lose or succeed at. So how long before Raider Nation starts calling for his head? How much time will you give the rocket armed, virtual rookie to succeed? How long will it be for Kiffin & Co. before they pull the plug?
Historically, Bay Area fans have been pretty forgiving to their young stars enabling them to get their feet under them on the job with little booing or chants for their backup. Raider Nation used to be the most forgiving, but that was until enduring the 1997 team that seemed to give up towards the end of games. The Raiders got better with Gruden manning the helm so the Nation was subdued until after the Raiders lost to him in Super Bowl XXXVII.
Since that time, the boos have been heard plenty of times at the Net from fans pleading with this team to finally get the job done and become the Raiders that everyone remembers they should be. I’m going to say it right now, there have been times that the team should’ve been booed like opening night in 2006, while there have been times that I’ve been embarrassed that some of our players were being treated the way they were like Josh McCown was at the begining of last season.
Now for those of you that want to tell me how poorly he played, just stop right there. Don’t waste your time. Game one, McCown moved the offense more than the Raiders had moved the entire previous season and scored more points than any quarterback had in over a year wearing silver and black. The defense let up nearly 400 yards in the game and couldn’t stop Detroit when they needed to. Janikowski missed three field goals, but it was McCown that got booed and chants of Culpepper rang throughout the Net. McCown completed 75% of his passes and threw for 2 td’s for a 93.0 QB Rating, but he was soundly booed for the two picks that were also part of his stat line. In a word, RIDICULOUS!
McCown got better treatment on the road than at home
Another thing that you should think about before defending the boos, McCown had previously only started 22 games, most of them being for the lowly Cardinals and this was a new offense for him at the time. If Russell finishes this season, he’ll only be five games behind that total unless the Raiders make the playoffs! Will you be booing before the end of the season or will you wait until he doesn’t play well at the beginning of next?
Andrew Walter has the most starts out of the three quarterbacks with eight and probably more boos to go with those starts. The season where he got those eight starts, 2006, he was throwing from his back and dodging defenders that poured through the turnstiles that Art Shell called his offensive line. That was all it took, because he couldn’t buy his way back on the field last year except for some garbage time in Green Bay at the end of being on the wrong side of a blowout.
This was too common a sight when Walter got his chance to lead the Silver and Black
Fan favorite and once great hope to succeed Gannon, Marques Tuiasosopo is second with the most starts at two. In his first start at, ironically, Detroit he injured his knee and would not start again until he did against the Jets near the end of the Norv Turner era. He has never gotten the opportunity to start as a Raider at home. Like Walter, he’s flashed moments of brilliance and followed that up with the ill-advised throw.
Tui used to be the future, but now he’s only a reminder of how little that means
Most quarterbacks do make mistakes frequently. With all of the talk about Brett Favre coming back next season, Packers fans know this quite well. Many of them also would rather move on to a new era featuring Aaron Rodgers because they’re tired of those ill-advised decisions. Can the Raider Nation live with the bad in order to receive the excellence? The most heralded of all Raiders quarterbacks, Ken Stabler, is also known for throwing the most interceptions as a Raider.
Ken Stabler is probably the poster boy for forgiveness. There were games while he played that he’d throw three interceptions only to pull out the game in the last second. Now that’s Raiders football! Winning is what the Raiders were built on, everyone says that you have to build from within, and to do that you need to allow your young players to take their lumps. That means you support them regardless of how bad they’re playing as long as the effort to play well can be seen.
So how much patience will you have for JaMarcus Russell? Does he have to win to start the season? If the Raiders suffer several straight losses while he plays poorly, will you be chanting, “Tui! Tui! Tui!” or will it be for Walter? Give Russell the benifit of the doubt and don’t boo him. His job will be tough enough without having the home crowd against him. Don’t expect him to be Peyton Manning, just expect him to get better as the season rolls on. Chances are, if the Raiders are losing, there will be plenty of reasons for it besides Russell’s play.
Russell has two paths in front of him. One path is the greatness that everyone hopes he’ll be able to attain while the other is the same as his current backups which will move him to the ‘bust’ category. How long will it be before he’s labled the quarterback of the present or the quarterback of the past? That depends on more than just the fans, but how long will the fans still believe that he’s the guy who will lead the Raiders to greatness? You decide. I’ll give him at least two seasons, unless someone pulls off a Jim Plunket along the way.
Vote in our poll and tell us how long before you start wanting someone else to start at quarterback.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, July 20th, 2008 at 10:19 pm and is filed under Lane Kiffin, Marques Tuiasosopo, Andrew Walter, 2008, Raiders News, Josh McCown, Jim Plunkett, Raider News, JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders Coaching Staff, Raiders History, Raider Nation, Brett Favre, 2008 Raiders Season Preview, Oakland Raiders Current Player Analysis, Oakland Raiders Analysis.
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43 Responses to “How long before Russell is no longer the QB of the future?”
July 20th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Good Article Rob. Hopefully as fans we give him the 2 seasons and get the same treatment as McCown. I dont expect him to come in and become great that will take its time. However I feel we have the right coaching staff and offense to help him succeed. Being primarily a running team (Fargas, McFadden & Bush) will take a lot of pressure off Russell.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
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July 21st, 2008 at 12:58 am
good post
July 21st, 2008 at 2:13 am
Hopefully, The Nations gives him at least two full seasons go grow into the role. I know that many point to Marino’s rookie season as what can be done, but the fact is Marino is that rare case, which is why he is in Canton. Rothlesburger’s success in his rookie year was from coming into a team that was already well set. The running game and defense carried those Steelers into the playoffs, and he just had to not lose games. (This Raider team has the running game for it, but I am not so sold on the defense.)
July 21st, 2008 at 3:09 am
I personally feel sorry for Walter in all this and think he should be traded to a team where he has the chance to start.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:30 am
this is a business albeit a business of mountainous highs and hellacious lows. in it you get very little chance to succeed. so when the time comes you shine or falter. when your time don’t blow it. i think for the most part these athletes come out with an overrated confidence in themselves, asking for so much money. they deserve what they get. second chances come at high prices as this franchise has well shown this offseason.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:37 am
If the offensive line can protect him, he will be the future with the potetial to be great. Sadly, it looks like he will be just another target (remember Walter) for the opposing teams defense. We (the Raiders) did nothing to improve the most criticle element of the game the offensive line.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:47 am
I give Russell two seasons. You have to expect mistakes from him because this is his first real season. He’s still like a rookie and will make rookie mistakes. By next season he should be ready to get his career finally going somewhere. If he stalls that season, then he and the raiders, are destined for mediocrity. But I have high hopes for Russell as he most certainly has the potential. I think this could be a Walter year in the sense of the O-Line. It’s a very shaky unit. Harris is the biggest problem for me. McQuistan will have the RT spot by the bye week should Green’s ability drop (which it most likely will) I can only be confident in two members of this unit. Cooper showed a lot of promise last year run blocking and did a good job in the pass. Gallery showed a lot of ability at left guard and with the same system and position, he should be even better.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:32 am
What we have to remember here too is that he IS our QB for at least 5 more years, good or bad, You can’t spend that type of money and not expect to get your money worth, and you dont just drop that money into the ocean if it’s not what you expected either. We will see mistakes from him, everyone makes them, even Montana made them, but I personally feel if he is allowed to grow and learn, he will be a great QB in this league, and I’m not looking for Culpepper comparisons, because I don’t feel Culpepper ever really proved that much, he just had the best reciever in the game at the time, and a line that gave him 10 seconds to decide where he wanted to go with the play. I could go to a pro bowl with those conditions. I’m looking for a top 5 QB out of him for years to come just based on his ability alone. he has put in more time than anyone on the team this off season in the classroom, in the wieghtroom, and on the field. He is doing his part, showing his commitment to his contract and team, I think we owe him the same for as long as he shows this same commitment to us.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:39 am
It’s Russell’s own fault it’s basically his rookie year. Yes the Raiders should have handled their business better but if it were me… I’d have signed for ballpark then gotten out there and proved I’m worth it and asked for the more money on the next contract.
QB’s always get the rap whether it’s their fault or not just like the President when the Congress is inept except for people who understand the game then the QB gets a bit of a fair shake. QB’s also get the benefit of the doubt when the team wins usually except when you’re the Bears or Ravens.
All 3 of our QB’s are fine. We really should’ve kept McCown as a backup but if he’s the starter in Miami then oh well… Booing him like we did was a symptom of a loser - embarassing for this life-long Raider Fan!
We need to simply name JRuss the starter like we have and roll it as a business. Whatever it takes to get the most out of him = do it! Just because we’re winning doesn’t mean we continue to play him either. Do right by the business and develop him into a top-notch QB and with so many injuries we need 3 competent QB’s on the roster.
Just Win Baby!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
[…] long before Russell is no longer the QB of the future? Check out the take here How long before he’s a […]
July 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am
Rob -
GREAT POST. I frequent TFTDS daily and sometimes leave feedback. Pre-draft, I stated that it takes 3 - 5 years for a player to come into his own. 21 is an excellent example of that. I also stated that, by-in-large, the Raiders had proved to be poor drafters (based on the number of picks still with the team) over the past five years. That being said, I will still stick to my other previous posts in saying that JR’s future all comes down to consistency on the coaching staff. If Big Al gives Kiffin the room/ability to coach JR then both he and the Raiders will be successful. If not, then JR goes down as one of the bigger #1 busts of all time. All Raider fans have to do is look across the bay at Alex Smith to see what inconsistent coaching will do to a QB.
Give him time Raider Nation - JR has the confidence, moxy, and skills to be great. Now if Big Al will just back off….
July 21st, 2008 at 9:45 am
Russell should get 2008 AND 2009 to post at least one season with above average results. After that, it’s time to start considering competition.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:03 am
The Raiders’ fans were in a strange place last year, and Josh McCown suffered for it. The past two starting QBs were atrocious and we weren’t going to put up with poor play from the position anymore.
But let’s face facts. Turning the ball over three times in a tight loss will get you booed if you’re Joe Montana.
I always liked Tui and agree he never got a shot, even in NY. He got hurt once and played crappy a second time and was an afterthought after that. He was phenomenal at UW, outplaying Brees in the Rose Bowl. He just couldn’t get another try at it.
Walter should have gotten at least one nod last season, after the beating he took in 2007. He has the skill, but where can his head possibly be? He needs to be traded to an out of conference team who can nurture his skills. I truly think he can be good in this league.
As for JaMarcus, if I know one thing about Raider Nation, it’s that you can suck at QB as long as you throw the occasional bomb TD, which is the absolute worst case scenario for Russell. Look at Jay Schroeder. He couldn’t throw a five yard out less than 30 yards, but got us to the AFC championship behind an awesome running game. Sound familiar?
I can’t wait to see the first team that puts 8 in the box against us and gets burned on a 55 yard rollout pass.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
How long it takes to become the quaterback of the past? Man, I don’t even want to think about. As fans, we have endured rotating coaches and QB’s the last few years and we deserve a franchise or long term QB. His play will be fine. I think a lot of McCowen’s problem was that the fans had higher expectations of Cullpeper than McCowen based on Daunte’s past. He was under a microscope. When it came down to it Cullpeper wasn’t that mobile anymore and had’t had enough time with the team to really be effective. The Raiders are committed to Russell and things will be different this year. I wouldn’t expect any booing for at least two years and only if he is a complete bust.
July 21st, 2008 at 11:52 am
Russell is the QB of the future, as CUJO stated already. No matter how he is received by the fans or how his performance on the field is this season, he’ll be the guy. You don’t buy a house and then move out if the roof starts leaking, we’re into this guy for the long haul….our coach will be benched long before Russell gets the pine.
All this talk about McCown makes me sick, I, for one was glad he left. I was one of the people booing him last season at Detroit, YELLING, would be a more honest term. He never hustled onto the field, walked in from the sideline to the field, and showed little if no toughness at all, walking off the field when he hurt his toe. Poor baby. What a leader! Probably took after his coach!
I say if you are the starting QB for the Oakland Raiders YOU should only be carried off the field. Players today are almost all soft, and they need to be told this very fact. Players today need to be challenged, and their Head Coach does little if anything to stir the fire in their bellies. He inspires as little as anyone possibly could, and I’m tired of hearing those in the media make excuses for him. His tone and body language alone are grounds to get his aZZ kicked. The guy is a whimp!
On a side note, this 49er/Raider preseason practice also makes me sick. What the hell is going on in our organization? Who made this call? We’re having a practice with the lowly 49ers? Give me a break. What a joke. Must be some publicity stunt to get all the local sports writers together. Just another in a long line of decisions which affect the quality of this team, and further illustrate to our players just how far away we are from the Super Bowl.
Simply ignorant. What are we doing: having another “SENIOR BOWL” moment just to get the coaches together. It’s not like we are going to learn anything from the 49ers….oh wait, maybe we will. But if our staff needs to learn anything the 49ers have to teach, then we should be firing them, not stringing the idea along.
Kiffin is going no where, and he is taking the Raiders there along with him. This man will never win in this league, it’s like watching Don Schula’s son trying to make it all over again. It’s not too much of a stretch for me to make these kinds of predictions, just hell bent on spreading a little knowledge here on the net, simply because 9 out of 10 of you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about…..
Lets find out kiddies…..
In fact, lets change this into a Farve thing, the Raiders ain’t doing anything but practicing this season…
Where is Farve headed and was he planning all this all along or is it just a day to day thing? Who knows besides ME?
July 21st, 2008 at 12:12 pm
What would be great is buying Coach Elkins for what he’s worth, then selling him for what he think’s he’s worth, and throwing a party for the Raider Nation with the procedes!! It would be HUGH! olinda cat
July 21st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Thanks John!
Might wanna bait your hook again, your worm fell on the ground.
Great argument btw!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:09 pm
Ok Coach Elkins I did agree with only 25% of your first comment. But the fact is that Mccown was a good if not servicible QB for us last year. As much as I didnt like him I still thought he helped russell in terms of guidance, and i do whish him luck in miami.
As towards his toughness yea he limped off field but he didnt stop playing untill the choaching staff said he couldnt play any more due to his injuries (finger foot toe and ankle) to me playing through that is preety tough. The only thougher was pisa tinosoma in 2006 when he broke both arms dislocated a shoulder and broke one hand and stilled played and called it quits when he broke his last arm.
As for kiffin obviously your not “in”, but I know “I’m In” because anyone who had to go through two different starting QBs and try to train a rookie QB after missing training camp and dealing with a horrible run defense. I dont think Madden, Flores, Shula, or Ditka would do any better than 4-12 maybe 6-10. so I think kiffin did good for his first year but there are somthings I want to complain about kiffin but thats for another comment. But the best part about kiffin is he doesnt blame his players for his failures. Every time we lost I heard him say at least once that he blame himself for losing the game (unlike some coaches, Callahan)
So as long as Kiffin improves the line (which he did) brings energy to the players and game (which he does) and looks for the best talent on the team and gives everyone a chance to get a strarting job (which he is and has been doing) the raiders and russell will be a great and prosperous franchise.
Like we always say, “Theres only one Nation, The Raider Nation”
oak fo sho!!!
July 21st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Wow coach you are a absolute idiot. When the players are saying kiffin is a great motivater how can you say he is not. Sure he is baby faced, but last year there were atleast 10 times that he would gather the WHOLE team after they scored a touchdown that got them back into the game to have a huddel and motivate the team, Then our kickoff coverage would rush down the field and smack the living SH** out of the other teams returner. You need to actualy watch the games instead of critisize them cause of our record. Kiffin made out team 5x better than the previous year. If all would back off and let him coach i can gaurantee he would be a top 10 coach.
July 21st, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Ralph, yes, he was “Serviceible” as you put it. If thats the same as saying he took the snaps, then I agree.
Coach Kiffin has never bothered to utter the words Super Bowl. That, my friends, is because he has no confidence. I beg to differ with you saying he took the blame for any losses last season. I did hear him say once that “we”, meaning the coaches needed to get better. Conversely, he rarely if ever took any sort of blame last season. As indication by the fact that he wanted Coach Ryan out following the season. The fact you brought this up is an area of concern in my mind. If he had taken the blame, as you claim, I feel the Raiders would have done much better last season.
He claimed he was going to bring a “HIGH POWERED” offense to Oakland. He has done no such thing. He runs a basic Pro Set STYLE Offense and runs the stretch play 40% of the time.
This Offense does not help our QB in any form whatsoever. He is not a play Action QB, rather, he is a dropback and shotgun passes, well, at least he should be.
Kiffin, knows little about exploiting a secondary. Instead, he has relied on the talents of Coach Tom Cable, who, will possibly be leaving following this season.
My main point is that Head Football Coaches in the NFL have to win the SUPER BOWL or there will be fired. These are the only 2 options. Basic improvement should not and can not be good enough. This years team should be a Super Bowl contender, regardless of the inexperience of our QB. With Kiffin in charge, we are not even a .500 ballclub!
Lane Kiffin will never win a Super Bowl, ever…
He is not a winner, and never will be….
Below is a link of the Press Conference when he was hired…watch it and see for yourself. The illusionary confidence this man showed that day is now gone, and what remains is the shadow of a once decent college coordinator who actually lost the national championship with 4 or 5 starting NFL players on the Offensive side of the football. His confidence decreases with each passing moment, and will result in the firing and embarrassment of a coach who should have stayed where he was, in College….
http://cbs5.com/sports/Lane.Ki.....51617.html
NateDawg-As you were…..
July 21st, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Coach,
You are always a hell of a lot of fun when you show up around here! I see what you are saying about Kiffin but I ‘m not sure I buy into all of it. He does have to be held accountable though. The press keeps asking about the players, maybe they should be asking him “what have you done this off season to improve yourself and be a better head coach?”
July 21st, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Sorry, folks. If Al Davis is still around, he has one year. If Kiffin has his way, he’ll get 2-3.
July 21st, 2008 at 3:47 pm
elkins what are you even doing being a raider fan? if you dont give the guy another shot before you throw hatred at him, then gtfo raider nation.. no one wants you. THX.
July 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
i mean i understand what you’re saying elkins.. but give him another shot .. he has more talent to work with… i’ll be in the same boat if he can’t generate more points.. trust me..
July 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Oregon, thank you very much. I never feel the need to post unless I feel there is some info worthy of reporting or responding to…..
Patrick and Rob do a wonderful job of keeping the information current, and their opinions are always fresh and creative, I just feel that there is a need to uncover some of the cold hard truth.
I mean, we’ve only won 19 games in 5 seasons….and 2 of those victories came because we blocked a field goal on the games final play.
Something is definately wrong, and I for one ain’t gonna sit around here and tell you all everything is fine when its not.
Honestly, I don’t feel it was neccessary to throw all the money in the world this past off season, but its not my team. I feel the answers lie right in the coaching staff, and that includes our staff along with most of the NFL. Our current staff is average at best. The league in general is in a very sad state in my opinion. It’s being run along the lines with our Country right now in my view, and thats just not good enough. Its the good ole boy system, you watch my back, I’ll watch yours. The players know the coaches are full of crap. This is why you have players like TO and Chad Johnson acting the way they do, because they know more about x’s and o;s then their coaches. There are kids who play video games with more creative ideas then these men. They are all just trying to protect their jobs and not implimenting new ideas. Offensively, I like 3 OC’s in the league: Vikings, Cowboys, and the Patriots….end of story. Peyton Manning is a coach by himself, the Colts would be nothing without him…..
Kushman, I don’t have to give anyone another shot. I was saying the same thing prior to last season when we signed this guy.
We need a leader. If I was coaching this team we would not have been 4-12 last season, and we wouldn’t be finishing at or below .500 this season. You could hold a gun to my head the whole season and I wouldn’t blink. These coaches stink of not knowing what to do, they don’t know x’s and o’s and yet they all pretend to know….
They have all the technology in the world, they have pictures of formations following each and every play and they still continue to make the same mistakes.
If any of you have coached football than you might see what I’m saying. But when we line up against Denver in game one ask yourself why they are continually able to run the ball on our fronts? The answer is so simple, and yet our staff cannot draw up the simple gameplan to stop it. Its basic numbers. The Broncos will put 7 men at the point of attack (LOS-Line of scrimmage) and we will be sitting there with our same front 4. I have even sent emails to the Raiders regarding this fact, to Al Davis himself.
We’ll see if they fix the problem this year….?
p.s.
Rob, I hate the title of this article….however, I think it stirred up enough in me to bother to respond, so GOOD JOB! You know me, I’m the devils advocate, and always will be!
July 21st, 2008 at 5:44 pm
I kinda like the Packers gameplans as well, but regarding the recent treatment of their QB, I have to retract that idea.
The Pack ran some Power I sets this season and even passed out of them, which was nice to see. That along with their 2 TE, 3 WR set was vert nice to see. Spreads the Defense out vertically and horizaontally and allowes to keep one or two TE’s for protection against the blitz…very nice set!
In my opinion, Farve should be the starter without question. Who the hell does everyone think Aron Rodgers ia anyways, he ain’t no Steve Young, let me tell ya. In fact, he hasn’t even thrown 60 passes in his whole NFL career. Why isn’t that being reported?
He has only 1 TD pass in his career, 1 INT. He has fumbled 3 times….These are the facts….yet, Brett Farve, because of his age, has been run out of town. The fact that the league is almost trying to keep this entire story under the rug is funny to me.
Let Frave play, and let him play for the Packers….
Won’t happen though, too many ego’s in Green Bay, no one willing to say I messed up. Just like Lane Kiffin.
Whats wrong with messing up, we all do it everyday of our lives, no one is perfect, yet, it takes a leader to be able to do own this kind of behavior, and the NFL lacks this very important Charater point in this regard….
Okay, I’m done! Ahhh, I feel better!
July 21st, 2008 at 6:24 pm
There is no doubt that he is a solid QB. However, he is very young and will make some mistakes. As stated before , being that the team has a potent rushing attack, it will give him the oppurtunity to succeed earl in his career.
Walter was a victim of a far worse O-line, than what JR will have this year. Also, Walter was even more a victim of an old offensive philoshpy that depended on 5 and 7 step drops to push the ball down the field. Plus they didn’t have a good rushing attack either.
Plus JR is a better QB than Walter, way better. Walter is a solid backup with a chance to become a servicable starter in the future with another team. But, JR has a chance to be great with his natural talents, moderate mobility included, and his cool demeaner under pressure.
July 21st, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Patience,Patience,Patience.We have three inexperienced qb”s because Big Al is an idiot.this is not Kiffin’s fault but i am sure he will be blamed by mid season and most likely fired. Big Al needs to let his qb and coach grow together .It is not Walters fault that he had no blocking what so ever during his time at qb,and it is not tui’s fault he never saw the field in his previous tenure with the team.I’m sure Big Al will blame Kiffin for his awful run defense or seabass the former number one pick missing every critical kick he’s ever tried(tell me again why is he still here?)Please hire a g.m. and enjoy your oatmeal Al and let this young team grow together so we can get back to being those feared RAIDERS of old.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Personally, I don’t know why there is so much anxiety over how Russell will perform. I think that people forget how much hype surrounded him when the Raiders drafted him and how experts said that a quarterback like him comes once in a generation. I was impressed at how he lit up the vaunted Chargers defense for 223 yards and a TD. He did have two turnovers, but one was a lucky pick, and the other was pathetic blocking from a washed up Sims. I have full faith in Russell and with the weapons we have surrounding him, he should turn a few heads with some stellar games.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I for one will not give Russ any slack. I’ve met him with my kids and he is an asshole. I hope for our team that he turns out to be a great QB. But if he don’t, cya fat boy. I’ll still be a Raider fan if we go 0 and 16 this year and next year and the year after that. I know our QB will come if its Russ or someone else.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Elkins- you’re dangerous because you’re an idiot with an ego. Last season, the personnel was not there to go beyond 4 wins. Kiffin coached them up to as high as they got. I know you could have done better, because, after all, your Tecmo Bowl Raiders team never lost, but there’s more to it then that. If you fire the coaching staff every non-Super Bowl season, you will never, ever, ever win. How about letting the QB learn the system and the coach who beat KC and Denver hang out for awhile?
Jon Gruden started 8-8 and 8-8. You’d have canned him, too. And we would have missed a great run.
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:48 am
Decent opinion Spokane, with an exception of the idiot comment.
You’re right, my Tecmo Raiders team never did lose, Bo was just that good….lol
Canned Gruden, I doubt it…..
Could I have done better, tell ya what, I couldn’t have done any worse…
You are 100% correct on 1 point though….I am dangerous….if you only knew!
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:27 am
spokane.. i agree 100% with the coaching in and out… how do u expect to gel??
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:22 am
Our leadership (or lack of it) is why we have had a QB problem. A revolving door for head coaches, a revolving door of new offensive schemes. No continuity and nothing to build on for the last few years. That lack of direction and instability starts at the top.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 am
Good God! What an asinine article and even more asinine comments!
Russell is on the brink of his first legitimate season and you fools are already talking about his demise. BEAUTIFUL!
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Dax - you obviously didn’t read the article before calling it out. Asinine? Hmmm… thanks for stopping by anyway.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:22 pm
Another Good Read, Rob. Hopefully the Nation will give this young player time to develop and hold the boos. He is a young QB who will have his ups and downs but most importantly he will have a running game to help him out.
I think JaMarcus Russell will be fine he just needs time to develop. I don’t expect miracles but I do expect him to take care of the ball. Given time to develop he should be fine.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
After time to think this article over a little more…does anyone remember the Home Denver game last year? The crowd noise in support of Russell was almost overwelming when he took his first snap. There is just no way he will be turned on quickly. I refuse to believe it could happen.
July 22nd, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I will have to say that walter got a very unfair chance and yes should be traded and get another chance. I think tui is as bad as culpepper when it comes to holding on to the ball. Tui should have never been aloud back in oakland. Russell, just WIN BABY!
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:28 am
I feel that he should get 2 years, but I am sad that the management at the Raiders didn’t get it right and draft Cutler a few years ago instead of Huff. I think Russell will be good, but never great. He doesn’t have the head to play in the NFL at QB. I hope I am wrong because I can’t handle 2-5 more losing seasons. Time for a change at the top. Thanks Al, but its time to go. Raider Nation rocks.
July 23rd, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Jamarcus Russell will never be any more than a below average QB and another one of the #1 overall pick busts. Oh how it would be so different if instead of drafting Huff you took perhaps Jay Cutler. and the next year taken with the #1 overall pick the likes of Calvin Johnson. If that would of happened you would be looking at a stud QB with a cannon and a team first attitude along with a freak of a WR. The Faiders wouldn’t of been in position this year to make their most recent awful first round selection and could have gone after the extremely deep OT class to shore up the OL. But instead along with the horrible faider management and coaching staff you have an average safety and a QB who has never been to a single training camp.
This franchise is laughable and absolutely one of the more terrible franchises in the last decade.
I would almost feel sorry for the faider nation if it werent for my absolute hatred for everything and anything silver and black.
Maybe this year the faiders can bump there less than 4 games a win average over the past 5 years but unlikely. jamarcus will suffer behind a horrible OL so will McFadden and Javon looks like he is more interested in getting beaten and robbed, surprisingly it didnt happen in Oakland.
Mayb 4 wins with a sweep of KC..have fun.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Who is this guy Faiders? It seems to me that you don’t make sense in about 99% of your “comment” Seems like you are now the QB “expert” saying J-Russ is going to be a bust and you have “Super Cutler”. Maybe you are right that the Raiders should have looked at picking Cutler but at the time they had a more pressing issue with their secondary and had just signed A. Brooks who was a decent QB with N.O.It just happened that Shell and his coaching staff were never really prepared to be at the NFL level and really set the OL back. I still think Huff was a good draft choice just has been playing out of position. And if you cared to read away from your beloved “donkeys” and actually get facts you might be able to actually write a comment with more accurate information and just not making senseless remarks. I could go on talking about your horrible O-line when you are coming of retirements of Lepsis, possible retirement of Nalen and really have one or two reliable linemen in Hamilton and Holland. Your two tackle slots are questionable at least. Finally the Raiders have more playmakers potentially this year than the donkeys with Marshall going thru problems that might get him suspended and depending on S. Young, the man that bashfully announced 2,000 yds. for himself and the rookie Torrain, whom the donkeys must have seen something on but as a rookie will have lots to prove. I would say at least 8 wins with an acceptable schedule getting 2 vs the Chiefs and 2 vs the donkeys and that wont be fun to you Mr. “faider’.
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