Will The Real Jamarcus Russell Please Suit Up

Will the Real JaMarcus Russell Please Suit Up

Is JaMarcus Russell the franchise savior or the B in "belly or bust"?  A laser rocket armed QB or the late to sign, overweight and overpaid team leader?  Which one will stand up and suit up on the first week of the NFL season?  Questions likely to be answered come 4th quarter of week one by either JaMarcus or Jeff Garcia.  It's year two for JR and results one way or the other will come, its been a fair amount of time for his development and there are no excuses now.

More hype has been thrown towards the Oakland trio of running backs, Darren McFadden, Justin Fargas and Michael Bush.  Well, if that is in fact the direction of the new offence, then we welcome it.  In fact, Oakland looks like it could blend a running game of three versatile backs to lead the AFC West this year.  However, that is due in part to a lack of a passing attack.  Oakland was at the bottom all year, and without true leadership and stats to show for the passing game, the running game will need to fill in for a mediocre passing attack.

Throughout the training camp, we are told Russell is off target, over throwing his WRs and not in sync.  Then reports claimed the opposite and he was connecting on 14 of 16 attempts.  Well, which QB is going to lead the Silver and Black this year?  The other hang up is they have a new offensive plan, with a new playbook and new offence, and this will require more learning, starting the process back almost at square one.  Geesh, pile that on with a Oline that drew a league leading amount of flags and you have more obstacles then a guy with one leg playing in a soccer game.

One positive article mentioned Russell was leading a passing clinic of his own doing, being a true leader and developing his corp receivers showing true initiative.  Then reports claimed it was over two days early.  Say What!  I for one would like to know who or what cut that short?

Now its true you do need a line in order to be able to pass.  This could be excuse enough for JR to claim he is severely limited in time to get the ball off in a vertically oriented passing game.  That being said, how come the Raiders didn’t address the OL position again, for the third straight year. 

Can the real JR stand up, behind that line?  Can anyone for that matter?  Please someone donate a neck bone to Rich Gannon, get him on the phone, we need help!