JaMarcus Russell: How Much of This Is His Fault?

It's a fun argument that has surfaced since about week eight...how much of the Raiders' lost season falls on Russell's shoulders?

A lot of people point to Al Davis because he calls the shots. Fair enough. He didn't draft someone on the defensive line and our defense against the rush has been spotty at best.

He also drafted a RB, when we already had Justin Fargas, LaMont Jordan, Dominic Rhodes, and Michael Bush, although the last one didn't play at all last season.

Russell, to his own blame, didn't sign until it was too late to make an impact, forcing the Raiders to work with three other QBs last season. McCown, Duante Culpepper, and Andrew Walter all took turns at passing, until Russell took the start against the Chargers.

Going into this season, expectations were high, as the Raider fans were hopeful for a quick fix. We had picked up Darren McFadden, spent money like water in the free agency period, and had bid adios to Jerry Porter, Fabian Washington, and Stuart Schwiegert.

But once the preseason games started, ordinary things started becoming difficult. Either Russell still wasn't comfortable, or Lane Kiffin was speaking some other language, we're not sure.

To make matters worse, several players that could have made key contributions were lost before the first real game happened. Drew Carter went down. Oren O'Neal was lost, and probably permanently.

Add into the fact that Javon Walker wasn't even able to play in week one due to injury, spelled trouble for the second-year QB.

While most of his yardage was gained in junk time, some felt it was a learning experience that would help him. As the season progressed, he would have some decent games, but nothing exactly lights out.

His high yardage game this year, was a 277 yard effort in a losing cause to the Chargers. He's also got 9 TDs and 7 INTs so far, and the best game he's seen was the complete game win against Denver in Denver.

To that aspect, I don't think you could hang the entire season's blame on him. You could point to the fact that Oakland now has put four WRs on the IR, as Lelie joined Javon Walker, Drew Carter, and Arman Shields.

You could also point to the numerous drops, ranging from Ronald Curry to Zach Miller, although sometimes drops can't be helped. But when you hit the player in the hands, or hit them in the chest with the ball, you can cringe.

Probably the last aspect, on Russell, might be how he was coached his first few games. Russell, for the longest time, was compared to Duante Culpepper due to his size, his ability, and his strength.

What does anyone remember about Culpepper? His ability to scramble, create, and give the defense a hard time keeping up with him.

This season, rarely will you see Russell scramble. It seems that either Kiffin told him, let the team do that for you, we don't want you hurt...or he told him, we just want you to throw, stand up like a scarecrow until someone gets open.

With a porous line, numerous false starts from Cornell Green and Kwame Harris, plus spotty protection, Russell doesn't have time to wait for a second or third option.

While Harris was recently demoted, this season is already in the books.

I would give Russell a couple more seasons before stamping him a bust. But one thing is clear, regarding the Raiders. If Russell doesn't get some help and help soon, he's going to follow Alex Smith as another big time blunder.