Bleacher Report - JaMarcus Russell

Lessons Learned: JaMarcus Russell, The Failed Experiment

Raider Card Addict — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:12:14 -0500

As Oakland's season now is simply running out the clock, one has to look back at all that has gone wrong.

Injuries piled up, play-calling was shoddy, players underperformed. Sure, some players did perform well, on occasion.

One of these players, JaMarcus Russell, wasn't among the better performers.

Russell, due to the condition of the team was facing long odds. A first round pick, was thrown a ton of money after holding out through training camp. Then he didn't see any activity until late in the season.

Come the next year, the head coach was replaced early, other coaches were swapped out and the cycle kept degrading from there.

Questions had come up time and again, about his weight, his work ethic and his dedication to the team. It looked like the Raiders had picked up the traits of rebel but forgot if the football player was attached.

As it is, the team has a history of problems with quarterbacks that are drafted. Todd Marinovich, who was supposed to bring some stability to the Raiders lasted all of two years. Marc Wilson couldn't beat out Jim Plunkett, who was about 10 years his senior.

Ken Stabler was our lone good selection, and helped the Raiders during the 70's to multiple championship games plus our first title.

Right now, JaMarcus might be lucky to find employment in organized football.

The two problems that Russell now presents to the Raiders, is what to do with an overpaid, under-performing player. And what do we do for a replacement?

First, Russell is either going to kick around on the roster for another season, soaking up money. His number one fan, is Al Davis. Odds are good, Al will find another coach in the off-season to try and babysit his project for another year. The problem is, changing coaches will not help a player who needs to mature and grow up on the bench.

The second problem, fits in with the first problem. Who is going to QB the Raiders? The Raiders do have the advantage of a good history with replacements. Guys like Daryle Lamonica, Jim Plunkett, Jeff Hostetler and Rich Gannon all came to us from other clubs.

Right now we have Bruce Gradkowski who is two games into his starting stint with the club. Honestly, at least Bruce is getting yards. Going into the draft and trying to land Tebow or another high end pick isn't the answer.

As it is, questions on Tebow abound, size-wise, or ability to transfer his skills to pro football, make that idea dangerous. Right now, a safe course of action would be building up the defense, working on the offensive line, and leave the QB duties to Gradkowski.

Maybe if it is possible, trading Russell off, or last resort....drop him like a bad habit.

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Why Charlie Frye Won't See the Field In Oakland

Ramone Brown — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 22:53:42 -0500

There is clearly a production problem with the QB position in Oakland. First JaMarcus Russell completely bombed the first half of the season with a 51.6 completion rate and nine interceptions this season.

He was then replaced by Bruce Gradkowski who gave us very similar results mis-firing just as badly with a 52.2 completion rate, three INTs, and three fumbles this season. Aside from the 0.6 percent completion rate improvement, Gradkowski's performance is nearly identical to Russell's. Gradkowski over-threw receives, mis-read defense, and was unable to recognize open receivers.

With results like that many are calling for the Raiders third QB Charlie Frye. And it isn't completely un- warranted as Frye has the highest career completion rate of the three Raider QBs: Gradkowski 52.8, Russell 51.6, and Frye 62.0. With Frye's completion percentage exceeding the other two QBs by 10 percent it is a wonder why he hasn't seen the field. Frye not only has the higher completion rate, but has more career yards than Gradkowski, and the most NFL experience.

The reason Frye hasn't seen the field is because favorites are being played with the QBs in Oakland.

First off, Bruce Gradkowski. He was coached by Raiders QB coach Hackett while in Tampa, and Hackett was the one who pushed for the Raiders to bring in both Gradkowski and Jeff Garcia, Hacketts two former pupils. Because of there past in Tampa Bay it is clear that Hackett favors Gradkowski.

Then there is JaMarcus Russell. To fully understand this you have to go back to accusations made that Al Davis is racist. A Tim Brown quote was mis-understood where he basically said Al Davis doesn't like black players from Notre Dame because they rely on their education or smarts rather than pure physical ability.

No way am I saying that Davis is racist. What I am saying is he prefers black athletes who rely on their physical abilities over there brains.

Clearly JaMarcus Russell fits well into what Al Davis wants in his black athletes. Russell is one of, if not the, strongest armed QBs the NFL has seen. Also when Russell was drafted he was very athletic for his size, and fit perfectly in the Al Davis height-weight-speed mold.

Not only that, but Russell isn't seen as the most mentally gifted QB in the league as many have questioned his intelligence.

A QB who made it through college purely on physical ability, and isn't a big thinker. If the Tim Brown quote is true what else would Al Davis want in a QB.

Then there is Charlie Frye. Barring injury he likely won't see any action this year simply because the other two QBs are favored. The only thing he has going for him is being Al Davis's second favorite QB as Davis granted Frye an audience prior to signing him.

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Why Al Davis Should Hire Joe Lombardi As Offensive Coordinator

David Xaviel is the Real Mr. X — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:59:42 -0500

Recently, I wrote an article in support of Raiders coach Tom Cable, after I had written an article earlier this season that expressed my discontent with the Raiders coach.

I believe that the Raiders are on the right track, despite the losses, because I do believe that the current players now care when they lose.

The difference is that I think the Raiders have gone from treading water to rebuilding mode, thus to change course with another coach would be another unneeded setback.

Unfortunately, Raider Nation was stuck with the "pathological liar" known as Lane Kiffin from USC, who attempted to orchestrate a coup by colluding with Michael Lombardi to trade Randy Moss; acquiring his friend and mega-flop Mike Williams from USC; refusing to work with JaMarcus Russell; and trying to fire defensive-coordinator Rob Ryan and hire his dad Monte Kiffin.

That is no theory.

Obviously, Raider Nation has been frustrated with circling the waters. We had high hopes for 2009, but we should not be dismayed about the future. We are on the right track, and must believe that this team will and can continue to improve.

I believe that the biggest need for Oakland is a full-time offensive coordinator. The biggest contrarian voice has been, however: No one wants to coach for Al Davis. I see that as an admission of low confidence.

If any coach said, "I won't coach for Davis," I would take that as admission that the coach does not believe in what he can do for a team.

He's saying that he can't win with an owner that orchestrated three Super Bowl winners and 40 years with the highest winning percentage in the NFL.

Thus, saying, "I can't win with Davis," is just admission that you really aren't that good.

If you want an answer for the Oakland struggles: Look to Michael Lombardi's bad draft picks and the fact that the Raiders have greatly improved on draft day ever since they canned the Bruce Allen puppet for the fifth time in Lombardi's career; the attempted coup by Lane Kiffin; or the muckraking by ESPN and East Coast media ("biggest post Super Bowl collapse in NFL history", which can be disproven qualitatively and quantitatively).

Who better to be offensive coordinator than Saints' quarterback coach Joe Lombardi?

That's right. The grandson of Vince Lombardi. He has been part of the Saints' offensive coaching staff since 2007, where the Saints run an offense similar to that of the Oakland offenses of yore.

When I look at the Raiders' roster, I see talent, but not vision for how to use that talent. The vision I can see for Raider players is similar to that of the Saints offense.

The Raiders offensive-line has been improving, and could stand mostly depth and an upgrade at right-tackle. Between Chaz Schilens, Louis Murphy, and Darrius Heyward-Bey, I think the Raiders have a trio that could be comparable to Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, and Robert Meachem.

Meanwhile, Raiders' TE Zach Miller is practically a clone of Saints' TE Jeremy Shockey, if not better.

Though Darren McFadden was not the super-hyped player that Reggie Bush was, I think that they are similar in what type of plays that they should make: Catching the ball on short routes, and running the ball, "east-west".

I could see Michael Bush in a role similar to Pierre Thomas, and Justin Fargas in a role similar to Mike Bell, with Gary Russell and Luke Lawton to boot.

Lombardi would also have Paul Hackett and Ted Tollner to provide insights, and groom him as an offensive-coordinator.

The biggest question mark has been the quarterback. JaMarcus Russell has all the skills, but seems to lack desire and focus. Bruce Gradkowski meanwhile has given the Raiders a competitor for Russell.

I'm not sure sure as to which quarterback is better suited for the offense, but I do believe that the Raiders have two talented prospects to work with, and that Joe Lombardi would be the perfect match at offensive coordinator to give either QB the chances to make plays.

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Coaches/People/Joe%20Lombardi.aspx

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