Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Stepped His Game Up But Where's Everybody Else?

After one horrible Raider game some fans are already calling for JaMarcus Russell's head.

Why? Did they even watch the game? Did they see how Russell played?

For once we can say the QB is not the problem with the Raiders.

JaMarcus Russell's performance was probably the only solid thing to come out of that game. Well I guess Desmond Bryant had a good game and we learned our safeties can tackle.

Why fix what's not broken? It's like drafting a running back in the first round when you already have a top ten rushing team.

Russell had a great game 12-for-18 for 153 yards. He even showed great mobility escaping the rush, scrambling right and threading the needle to hit Louis Murphy for a first down... Oh wait sorry... Ronald Curry. Louis Murphy dropped that one.

JaMarcus threw at least three catchable balls that were dropped by his recievers, and he threw at least one first down pass that was negated by a holding call.

Had the Raider receivers not had a case of the dropsies today Russell could easily have been 16-for-19 for over 200 yards.

Sure Russell was sacked but the defender got to him nearly untouched. That's on the blocking not him. INTs can be put on Russell which he has zero of this preseason.

JaMarcus Russell stepped his game up when the Raiders brought in Jeff Garcia. Russell even held his own personal passing camp and personally paid for Raider receivers to come to his home town in Alabama to get some extra practice.

It is the rest of the team that needs to step up.

First, the running backs: Bush one atempt one yard. McFadden three atempts zero yards.

Yes our running game was horrible. I understand its preseason and the passing game is what needs the most work. But come on. McFadden and Bush combining for one yard on four carries and a fumble?

That is horrible playcalling so next I'm calling out Tom Cable and the coaching staff. I understand preseason doesn't really matter but why go out there without a gameplan on either side of the ball. You also have to make the game watchable and at least act like you care about the outcome of the game. One carrie for Bush was ridiculous.

The QB was pressured too much and it seems the right side off the O-line sucks. Where was Cornell Green on that sack fumble? Green was on the ground after whiffing on a block.

Please, Khalif Barnes, get well soon.

If the last two games are any indication of how Cable will coach in the regular season then we can look forward to another top ten pick and another new coach next offseason.

The defense was also disgustingly bad. Nnamdi Asomugha was beat at least twice which is very rare. On one of those, had it not been for Michael Huff being in the right place at the right time, the play would have resulted in a TD.

Then theres Stanford Rout. I admittedly defended him after the Dallas game but I can't any longer. The aposing QB once again singled this guy out not only completing passes to the man he was covering but also drawing back to back PI calls.

Our run-D also continued to suck as we gave up way to many be plays on the ground.

Out of the Front seven Bryant, Brown and Howard looked good, the rest not so much. We need to get more sacks and bring more pressure. In three weeks we have three sacks, two of which happen to be by DT Desmond Bryant.

Where's this new pressure defense John Marshall promised us? And where are our pass-rushing D-ends Trevor Scott and Greg Ellis?

Pursuit and tackling of all our linebackers was almost disgraceful.

The middle of the field was easy pickings for Brees. I don't know if it was the absence of Morrison or what. Lets hope when Mitchell gets to see the field he can bring some improvement.

I know its just preseason but I am now officially worried about the Chargers game.