Tom Cable announced at an interview at the Scouting Combine that there will be "an open competition for quarterback" and the competition will be between "the guys we have and guys we add. There was heavy speculation that JaMarcus would be handed the starting job again in 2010, I have thought those stories were crazy since day 1. The last time that anybody said anything about the Raiders QB situation it was Tom Cable saying that Al Davis said to Cable: "Your the coach, you make the decision." Cable went with Gradkowski and then Charlie Frye. Russell was the 3rd string QB the last time I saw the Raiders play. But now let's take a look at the Raiders options at QB in 2010.
JaMarcus Russell: I don't make too many Hannah Montana references, [...]
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With this loss to the Ravens to close the seaon, the Raiders finish 5-11. That ties the best they have done since the Super Bowl season. Four of the five wins were against playoff teams and the defending champion Steelers and the other was a come from behind thriller at Kansas City. The Raiders also had two close games with the Chargers this year. But they have been blown out too many times: New York Giants and Jets, Broncos, Texans, Cowboys and they lost at home to the Redskins and Chiefs. But is that all the fault of Tom Cable.
What do most of the losses have in common? Who was at QB? JaMarcus Russell. The Raiders were 2-7 with Russell starting and then they fell out of a close game with the Redskins when Russell entered. Lately Russell has been somewhat [...]
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The Raiders and Broncos have had a reverse effect on home field advantage lately. Last year the Broncos had a blow out Monday night win at Oakland while the Raiders shocked the Broncos later that year at Mile High. Earlier this year the Broncos blew out Oakland 23-3 in a game for the AFC West lead. The Raiders are now on their 3rd quarterback of the year with Charlie Frye starting in place of the injured Bruce Gradkowski and the ineffective JaMarcus Russell. The Broncos are playing for a playoff spot while the Raiders are playing for pride. This was the scenairo last year when the Raiders stunned the Broncos at Denver late in the season.
Charlie Frye vs. His Nerves: Frye has gotten the nod from Tom Cable to be the starter for the Raiders. It [...]
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Usually on Sundays I write a postgame article reflecting on the Raiders game that day. But I can't possibly repeat what I heard on the radio all afternoon against the Redskins. To give a brief recap: the referees still have a problem with the Raiders with horrible rulings and penalties that didn't happen and JaMarcus Russell stepped in the 3rd quarter because of an MCL sprain to Bruce Gradkowski. Russell was sacked 6 times while Gradkoski was sacked 2 times. They each played a half of the game and Gradkowski led the Raiders to 10 points with no turnovers while Russell threw INT #10 and the Raiders had an opening drive FG on Russell's first series to open the second half. That was the only scoring from Russell.
With Gradkowski banged up Russell could get more playing [...]
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December 9, 2009 by
Danny O'Connor |
Bruce Gradkowski,
Chaz Schilens,
Chris Johnson,
deangelo hall,
Heyward-Bey,
Johnie Lee Higgins,
Louis Murphy,
Namdi Asomugha,
Oakland Raiders,
Washington Redskins
With the Raiders coming off of a big win at Pittsburgh, it is easy to be confident. While the Redskins were in position to give New Orleans their first loss, they blew the lead after missed field goals and lost in overtime. These teams were both in a come from behind win last week. The Raiders rallied 3 times to beat the Steelers while the Saints came back from 2 possesion deficits to top Washington. DeAngelo Hall will play his former team in front of the fans who once enjoyed watching him wear the silver and black.
Raiders vs. Losing Streak: Every time the Raiders have won this year they have followed it with a blowout loss. After they won at Kansas City they were shattered by the Broncos. After they beat the Eagles they were destroyed by [...]
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Who saw this one coming. The Steelers are the defending Super Bowl champions and are fighting for a playoff spot and were at Heinz Field against the 3-8 Raiders. The opening kickoff was returned by the Steelers all the way to the Raiders 20. But a solid effort by the defense held the Steelers to no first downs and a field goal made it 3-0. The Raiders drove to mid-field when 4th and 1 came up. Gradkowsi ran a play action and rolled out and hit Justin Fargas to move the chains. That drive tied the game 3-3.
Then it looked like it would become the blow out that many people expected. Big Ben executed back to back huge plays with the last one being a strike to Santonio Holmes for the first touchdown, 10-3 Steelers lead. The Raiders didn't go down though, they [...]
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The Raiders are 3-8, and I don't expect to see an 8-8 finish to the season. So what are the Raiders playing for? Well, Tom Cable is trying to get another season to show what he can do with a football team, any coach of Al Davis is on the hot seat. Bruce Gradkowski has no job security. He is playing to force a battle between him and JaMarcus Russell in the off-season and to stop Oakland from taking maybe Tim Tebow or possinly Jimmy Clausen in the 2010 draft. Heyward-Bey is playing to prove that he is not the bust of the 2009 draft. He just got his first touchdown in an Thanksgiving massacre from the Cowboys. Kirk Morrison is in a contract year. The Raiders better put all they have into re-signing him but if they can't keep him then he is playing for a massive contract [...]
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