Three years ago, the Raider Nation thought it witnessed the worst possible offense in the history of their franchise, as Art Shell tapped Tom Walsh to run his offense. This "bed and breakfast" offense has gone down in infamy as the standard by which inoffensive offenses would be judged. Halfway through the 2009 season, this incarnation is set to under-perform that standard.
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Russell has been just bad so far.
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
In 2006, the Raiders offense looked like a comedy of errors. They could not run the ball, nor could they pass the ball. Neither Andrew Walter, nor Aaron Brooks could generate any significant offense on the way to two wins. This tandem of quarterbacks would have defensive linemen in their faces before they could even step back into the pocket to throw more often than not..
The ground game that year was also non-existent. Justin Fargas led the team with a paltry 639 yards. They were only able to score 16 touchdowns with four of them coming courtesy of the defense.
The 2009 edition features third year quarterback JaMarcus Russell playing the role of Walter and Brooks, who can't move the ball to save his life. Unlike the dynamic duo of '06, Russell isn't spending every down running for his life. His problem has been his inability to get the ball near his receivers on a consistent basis. To a lesser extent, there has been the problem of receivers not being able to hold onto balls that were catchable.
| 2009* | 2006 | |||
| First Downs | 169 | 243 | ||
| Total Offense | 3452 | 3939 | ||
| Rushing Yards | 1498 | 1519 | ||
| Passing Yards | 1957 | 2920 | ||
| Touchdowns | 12 | 16 | ||
| *Projected |
The running attack was supposed to be a strength of this offense. However, between the blowouts and inconstant play the rushing game is also behind the 2006 version. Darren McFadden underperformed right up until his injury, and Michael Bush hasn't found a rhythm. As of now, it is Fargas who is currently leading the team with 263 yards through 8 games.
Much like the days of the Bed and Breakfast offense, the Raiders offense frequently looks confused, and can't execute. In 2006, the biggest problem was that most plays called were five to seven step drops and the offensive line could not hold their blocks long enough for the quarterback to take that drop. There were few check-down routes and the results would be sacks and interceptions. This season, the play-calling has been a hindrance in that it is predictable. However, the bigger hindrance has been Russell's accuracy issues.
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Cable blames the offensive woes on the rash of injuries that the Raiders have suffered, "You can [pin it on the injuries]. For one, you're losing your best offensive lineman. That gives you a lot of solidity inside. It will help open up the run game even more. You're getting a receiver that can impact the game. Those are all things that lead, not only just to more yards, but, obviously, to more points."
It doesn't help that the quarterback has accuracy issues, and the receivers can't catch a cold. Outside of Zach Miller, the receiving corps hasn't been able to make plays. The issues are far deeper than a couple of players who have missed time. This is a team that cannot find any rhythm at all. They have not scored more than one touchdown in a game since opening weekend. They have been unable to score a touchdown in three out of eight games so far.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
man this sucks i wish we'd just win
Think about it: What are the chances of having TWO of the worst offenses in history during a 3-YEAR span? And with almost all different players! I think the only key players on both hapless offenses were Gallery and Fargas. What are the chances?
We u have a line-coach playing head coach and play caller,a QB that can only throw a mid-middle pass on target U are gonna lose big.. Russell cant throw a good ball left at all,his deep ball is HORRIBLE and his slants are behind the wrs.. All of which he had problems with at LSU.. Big arm that can't throw a deep ball..ha only on the raiders!!! Then you have to dummy down the O because he has a hard time understanding it (college 2) its makes us easy prey for teams.. Listen,this qb has said many of times he would mind being a cheerleader,shows no signs of ever being able to lead a team, CUT HIM!!!
The Raiders have been losers because Al Davis ignores the lines. The "O" line in Oakland has been the worst since the last Raider Superbowl. Al thinks the guys on the line can be competitive even when they are rejects from other teams and low round picks from the draft. A great "O" line elevates the players behind but not the other way around. The same works for the "D" line! Seymore and Ellis are the exceptions but were afterthoughts.
The 06' season will always be the worst for 2 reasons...#1 we have never been 2-14 EVER in the SB era, and we already clinch that record this year, #2 there was nothing positive about the 06' season other than avoiding 0-16 by a hair. This year there have been positives we took the SD chargers to the brink both times this season...06' 27-0 at home 41-7 in SD...this year 09' 24-20 at home 24-16 in SD...night and day from 06' ....06' was the worst season for the Raiders EVER!.
The 06' season will always be the worst for 2 reasons...#1 we have never been 2-14 EVER in the SB era, and we already clinch that record this year, #2 there was nothing positive about the 06' season other than avoiding 0-16 by a hair. This year there have been positives we took the SD chargers to the brink both times this season...06' 27-0 at home 41-7 in SD...this year 09' 24-20 at home 24-16 in SD...night and day from 06' ....06' was the worst season for the Raiders EVER!.
I like Cable, but his routine is growing very old. He must think we Don't know who Mcfadden, Schillins, or gallery are. It's not like we're getting Adrian Peterson, Steve Hutchinson, and Larry Fitzgerald back (although we could be, we passed on all of them in the draft). Come on Cable, quit making excuses and telling everyone what you think they want to hear. We know Russell is killing the offense. The rookie receivers aren't helping either. The D lacks any kind of consistantsy. Our injured players comming back is not gonna suddenly turn things around. We could be 4-4 or even 5-3 if we had someone (almost anyone) else starting at QB.
We lack the explosiveness that we had in years passed. Guys are afraid to hit because they're afraid that it will lead to a fine, penalty or ejection. Russell had issues coming out of college and Lane Kiffin knew it but Al Davis wouldn't listen. The way Tom Cable talked about H-Bey, he seemed to be more NFL ready than Crabtree or Maclin, but when you have issues catching the football, you are not the most NFL ready receiver. I really like Gallery as a player and all, but when we drafted him, our OL was decent and our offense lacked an explosive playmaker and we needed on really bad and yet we left Larry Fitzgerald on the draft board. Jay Cutler would've been a better pick for us in 2006 rather than Michael Huff. This would've allowed us to take Joe Thomas in 2007 and then trade down in 2008 since McFadden hasn't shown anything and who knows where that would've left us for 2009. Our first round drafting the last 5 years has been inexcusable as well as free agent signings.
The play calling sucks. Where is the three headed monster rushing attack? They fall behind early and are forced to pass, and #2 can't complete anything, the WR's can't catch anything and we are serewed. I remember watching the horribly inconsistent Jay Shroeder lead the Raiders back from 24-0 in Denver on a monday night. Does anyone think that #2 could ever make something like that happen? Ever? I started the season very high on #2. I thought he was going to have a breakout second half of this season. I must have been high on something else because he looks lost. The season is done, keep rolling with the rookie WR's. Let #2 finnish out the season as the starter. Pull him if he , i mean when he falters and lets look at frye or gradkowski. I am totally discouraged looking forward. We are on the hook for alot of money to alot of worthless contracts. The future looks bleak half way thru the season of 09.
Its the personnel - namely the QB and O-Line drafted by none other than Mr. Davis himself. The WRs get a pass only becasue they're so green. But what other team is so stewpid to start two rookie WRs ith a bust as their QB. Neither Cable nor any other coach can make a PRO football player out of J Russell, The WRs and that stinky O Line.
The entire Raider Nation knows we need a change at quarterback now.
If Jamarcus starts after the bye then you know that will be it, he'll be in for the rest of the year. They'll say he deserves a chance with Chaz Schilens, Gallery and Green starting. Then it's give em time to come together. That'll eat up the rest of the season. Then it's the same thing next year. "Oh he was looking better at the end of the year, he's starting to turn the corner!"
Cable will say, (if he's still around), "Jamarcus is my starting quarterback." Meanwhile the quarterback we need, (Charlie Frye in my opinion),sits on the bench, burning at the bit to get a chance to prove himself. Sad state of affairs.
I say offer to trade Jamarcus Russell for the Redskins 3rd string Qb Colt Brennan then start Charlie Frye and we have two decent backups. Of course we would still have to pay the guaranteed part of his contract but could at least save the extra money he gets for starting most of the games. Who else but Washington would be dumb enough to take him. Any takers?
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