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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In case you have been in a cave since the 2007 draft, I'll let you in on a secret...JaMarcus Russell has not led the Raiders out of the Raider Nation recession. The Raiders are still a below average team, but with some very good players. The Raiders had a need for a franchise QB when they drafted Russell, they still have a need for a franchise QB. Coming out of college, Russell was a great quarterback. His college finale was a Sugar Bowl massacre of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and I was praying that the Raiders would draft this kid. Sure enough, they did. JaMarcus Russell spins twice & slings it 53 yards
But the bigger they come, the harder they fall. And Russell's 6'6" 260+pounds fell hard. [...]
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JaMarcus Russell had it all. He was the #1 pick in the 2007 draft and was given a contract of 6 years with $32M guarnteed. The fans welcomed him to a franchise that had seen QBs such as Aaron Brooks, Andrew Walter, Josh McCown and Marques Tuiasosopo. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZubYpplmzVk
Russell had all the fans supporting him in a tam with a history of cannon-armed QBs. Russell didn't play much as a rookie under Lane Kiffin, mainly beause of a contract hold-out and possibly because Kiffin didn't want to work with Russell, as stated by Al Davis. Russell had a rough start when he was the starter all through the 2008 season, but he ended that year with back-to-back wins over Houston [...]
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Hue Jackson is being welcomed into Raider Nation as if he were a returning veteran of World War 2. He is being praised for his work in Baltimore with Joe Flacco becoming a rookie sensation. He is praised for his work in Cincy in developing WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson/Ochocinco into one of the league's top receiver groups. And he deserves that credit.
But when it comes to more responsibilities, Jackson isn't as productive. In 2003 he was the O-coordinator in Washington and again in 2007 in Atlanta. Neither stint was impressive. In 2003, Jackson’s offense was ranked 23rd overall (291.2 yards per game), was 22nd in scoring (17.9 points per game), 21st in passing (187.9 yards per game) and 22nd in rushing (103.3 yards per game).
In his return [...]
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The Raiders drafted Darious Heyward-Bey at the #7 pick in the 2009 draft and he had a terrible 2009. He had more drops than catches in his rookie season which was cut short with an injury. Already there are many Raiders fans and football fans calling him the bust of the draft. He didn't help his case as he finished his season with 9 catches and 1 TD. Those numbers were doubled by Brandon Marshall in 1 game. Compared to rookies, he was still terrible. Michael Crabtree, Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin (pro bowl) and Jeremy Maclin all had much better rookie seasons. But compared to Raiders first round picks since 2005, how bad has he been?
Fabian Washington (2005) didn't last more than 3 years, he was traded to Baltimore for a mid-round draft pick. Michael Huff [...]
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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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With Charlie Frye making his first start since week 6 last year the Raiders seemed to be big underdogs heading into Sunday's game at Denver. Charlie Frye only had 3 quarters of playing time before going out with a concussion. Then JaMarcus came in. Who wasn't thinking here we go again. Russell was 1 of 4 for 4 yards when he got banged up on a hard hit. J.P Losman (#7) came into the game and he had 1 play, an incomplete pass. Then Russell came back in, after missing 1 play. He converted a 4th and 10 to Tony Stewart. Later he put the 10 yard go ahead touchdown pass to Chaz Schilens. Russell was 5/11 for 47 yards and that TD. He also had trouble avoiding pressure and he had a fumble that was recovered by Mario Henderson for a loss of 14 yards.
That [...]
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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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For "A Day in the Life, Pt. 1," click here
When we left: Tom Cable was waiting for players to arrive for their Monday meetings.
Cable, trying to rub away the pickaxe-wielding gnomes in his head, is waiting for Russell while trying to think of a new way to reach him.
“Maybe I should invite him over for dinner like Al Pacino invited Steamin’ Willie Beamon in On Any Given Sunday. Wait, that’s not going to work. What am I going to do, microwave some Hot Pockets and have a sit down in the office? Maybe I could make him watch the movie; or, better yet—I should invite him over [...]
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