Sign up or login to track your favorite teams

Sign Up for Bleacher Report

As a registered user you can subscribe to your favorite teams, post comments, write your own articles, and much more.

You must register in order for that functionality to work!








Validating sign up form ...

Bleacher Report articles are written by fans like you

Do you want to cover your favorite sports, teams, and leagues?

Processing writing preferences ...

Great, , you're signed up!

i.e. Big 10, LeBron James, USC Football

Selected Tags:

Logging in ...

There is a lot of hype right now about the Oakland Raiders and their chance to make the playoffs. Here are some bullet points that will make or break this team.....

JaMarcus Russell in the Spotlight: Oakland Raiders Look to their Leader

by Farris Gunning (Scribe)

4

288 reads

Opinion

November 28, 2008


There is a lot of hype right now about the Oakland Raiders and their chance to make the playoffs.  Here are some bullet points that will make or break this team...

First of all, JaMarcus Russell must become the "leader" of this team, a snake without a head is dead.  He has the arm, he has the legs, the question is: Does J-Russ have the head to win and control this team?

Second of all, the Raiders D must become the D that everyone is looking to see.  The DB's are great, the LB's are solid, can the line put enough pressure on the offences to make mistakes?

It's time for Ryan's D to let loose...1-on-1 with wide-outs and BLITZ...BLITZ...BLITZ.  The Raiders can put enough pressure on QB's to allow the DB's to make pics and knock down passes, and that's exactly what they need to do.

Third...The ground needs to rumble!  Fargas is a beast and McFadden is dangerous. Use them both! 

Now that the Raiders have moved Michael Bush to fullback there will be a lot more plays available to the running game and Bush will be great in front of McFadden. 

Fourth and FINAL...O-LINE !!! There is no room for mediocre, absolutely no room.  This line has struggled for years, maybe there is no fix for now, but without the O-Line, the offense will have trouble all day long.  This is an area the Raiders really need to re- enforce! 

Run hard and throw deep, the Raiders need to spark excitement back into the offense by using the talents they are empowered with.

Go Raiders!

 

Author Poll

How far will J-Russ take this team this year?

  • Nowhere...They'll lose at least 3 more games
  • All the way into the playoffs..Then they lose
  • Just shy of the playoffs, Tampa spoiles Raiders hopes...Again.
  • He's still learning, Hope for 2 more wins...No more
vote to see results
Author Poll Results

How far will J-Russ take this team this year?

  • Nowhere...They'll lose at least 3 more games

    18.6%
  • All the way into the playoffs..Then they lose

    25.6%
  • Just shy of the playoffs, Tampa spoiles Raiders hopes...Again.

    27.9%
  • He's still learning, Hope for 2 more wins...No more

    27.9%
  • Total votes: 43
Track this Article on My B/R
Flag This Article
Share This Article

4 comments Last one added 7 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. ...

    O-line keeps the Raiders out of the postseason. We need to address it this offseason. Only then will we have a chance to advance and reclaim the Raiders birthright.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  2. ...

    GREAT POINT!!! We really need to dial it up and we will start to roar!!!

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  3. ...

    Russell may have a strong are but even in college he wasn't accurate. The Defense and Running game should be good though.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...
  4. ...

    Thanks for the comments Mike, and you make a great point. He def. needs to work on his accuracy. With that arm strength, he can make some big plays though. The running game will alloy him to use that arm with a little more time cause people are gonna start to stack the box and leave receivers open.

    Edit Comment Cancel

    ...

    Reply
    Great Comment (
    0
    )
    ...

Leave a Comment

  • You must register to post a comment.

  • Want to write for Bleacher Report

    We are a community of fans who write about sports. And we're growing.

    Learn More and Sign Up »



    Certain photos copyright © 2009 by Getty Images.
    Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Getty Images is strictly prohibited.