Oakland Raiders Quarterbacks: Jason Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski Pros Vs Cons
Oakland Raider Head Coach Tom Cable already has much to ponder heading into Week Three. Bruce Gradkowski showed again that he can rally the troops when things are not going well.
Does this mean he should be the starter?
After Sunday's game, many in Raider Nation believe so.
However, there are as many reasons why he shouldn't as there are that he should.
Turn the page to see what they are.
Jason Campbell: Pro
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Jason Campbell has a stronger arm which makes him a better fit for Hue Jackson's vertical offense. He is also the more accurate quarterback as he has completed 61 percent of his passes.
The running game and shots down the field off of play-action is the formula Al Davis wants to get back to. Campbell has no problem checking down to backs and tight ends when the deep ball isn't there too.
The running game and speedy receivers are there along with the pass catching backs an tight ends.
The Raider offense is tailor made for him.
Bruce Gradkowski: Pro
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Bruce Gradkowski is an emotional player and and the team feeds off it. That's just what you want in a quarterback when you're trying to keep your team's head in the game.
He's the kind of guy that won't let you fall asleep.
That same energy spreads to the fans too.
Jason Campbell: Pro
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Neither one these two have won anything as they have both played for losing team their whole career. However, though it all, Campbell is the one that has been the one that has put up some respectable numbers.
He has a career quarterback rating of 81.6 and has thrown for 56 touchdowns and 40 interceptions.
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Bruce Gradkowski: Pro
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Gradkowski won over the locker room last year and he knows how to get these guys to play for him. That obviously comes from the fact that Gradkowski was here to go through the Raider's struggles last year.
He knows this team better and that includes the receivers.
To a quarterback, knowing the receivers is better than anything when dropping back to pass.
Jason Campbell: Pro
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Campbell is a durable quarterback so he can be counted on to be there when needed. He has not missed a whole lot of time if any during is career in the NFL.
The Raiders have set the identity of the team with Campbell and durability is needed for that.
The direction of the whole team changes when the quarterback is hurt.
Bruce Gradkowski: Pro
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Gradkowski is a scrambler.
Campbell is mobile but he's not a scrambler that can fix broken plays the way Gradkowski can. Campbell definitely needs to be protected as he is more of the pocket passer.
The Raiders don't protect the quarterback well so Gradkowski is very useful.
Jason Campbell: Con
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Jason Campbell is a pocket passer.
He has some mobility but definitely needs to be protected. Campbell was sacked four times in the first half against the Titans then twice in the first half against the Rams.
The Raider offensive line is atrocious in pass protection so that doesn't bode well for Campbell.
Bruce Gradkowski: Con
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Bruce Gradkowski doesn't have a strong arm at all.
His career completion percentage of 53 tells us that he isn't very accurate either.
Even during one of his best moments against the Steelers, Gradkowski threw an ugly ball that could have cost them the game. He threw a ball that looked like a duck being shot down out of the air.
The ball seemed like it was in the air for and hour but Louis Murphy came down with it. In a way, that adds to the magic and the mystique of Gradkowski.
However, you can only get away with so many throws like that in the NFL.
Jason Campbell: Con
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Jason Campbell has the calm of the surgeon.
On one end, it is good to know that your leader doesn't panic in the face of adversity. On the other end, a team can come out flat and needs someone to get them going.
It would also be nice to have someone hold guys accountable for not being ready.
Bruce Gradkowski: Con
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Gradkowski has done nothing to indicate he could be the guy in his five years in the NFL. He has a career quarterback rating of 66 and has thrown for 16 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in his career.
Some Raider fans only see the magic but Gradkowski has never put together more than two good games in a row over his five year career. That's where people saying "He's a career back up for a reason" starts to come in.
Would starting Gradkowski overexpose him and cause him to be what he always has been?
Jason Campbell: Con
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Campbell has done a good job over his career of learning all the new offenses. Hue Jackson's offense is the sixth offense that he has had to learn in the last six years.
This time, it's a little worse.
Campbell has a whole new crew of receivers to get to know.
That isn't the easiest thing in the world.
Bruce Gradkowski: Con
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Gradkowski isn't the most durable quarterback in the world.
Last year he tore medial collateral ligaments in both of his knees while getting sacked. He comes back from that and tears a pectoral muscle while doing some off-season conditioning. In training camp, Gradkowski pulled a groin and missed half of the preseason.
What happens when the Raiders get used to Gradkowski starting and he gets hurt?
Opposing teams will start to get after him.
How I See It
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I was pro Campbell before the game against the Rams because he was more accomplished .
I was pro Gradkowski after the game because he went in there and made it happen on Sunday.
After really thinking about it, I am as split as this article is.
In a way, I still think Gradkowski is the best quarterback for the Raiders right now. His mobility is the real key for me there because this Oakland Raider offensive line does nothing for the quarterback.
Gradkowski knowing the receivers is also a big factor in the passing game. Then you have the fans that changed the energy in the building when they saw Gradkowski go into the game.
The team just played better when Gradkowski got in there.
I noticed that the game plan changed to more short passes for Gradkowski and the ball came out quicker. Campbell threw a lot of deep balls in the first half the so he had to hold the ball longer.
One of those deep balls should have been caught but the 2009 Darrius Heyward-Bey showed up on the play. He jumped for no reason at all and it ended up being the reason why he did not to catch the ball.
Would that play have changed the first half?
Campbell was in the west coast offense last year and is more accurate. That makes me wonder if the if the Raiders could have changed the game plan with Campbell in there.
Another thing I noticed was how the Raiders got to the Ram 11 yard line and ran it four straight times in the with Campbell in the game. Then they open the playbook when Gradkowski gets them there and he throws a touchdown pass.
Do they not trust Campbell?
They should because he threw 18 touchdowns with no interceptions in the red zone last year.
Another concern is if Gradkowski starts, Campbell won't get to know these receivers. Then we must consider the fact that Gradkowski has never been consistent and gets hurt a lot.
If you sit Campbell now, have you mentally lost him if you need him later?
I can't call it.
I guess Cable will.
I hope you enjoyed the slide s.
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