JaMarcus Russell only completed 29% of his passes in win
(AP Photo/ Ed Zurga)
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JaMarcus Russell is the Oakland Raiders franchise. By virtue of his status as a top draft choice and $60 million contract he is the future of the Oakland Raiders. He found a way to win the game, but spent the vast majority of the game misfiring.
The Raiders won the game, but that won't happen too often as long has he has his accuracy problems. In Sunday's game, Russell was 7 of 24 for only 109 yards. In eight drives (Not counting the kneel-down after the Chiefs final four and out) Russell completed passes in only two of them.
In fact, JaMarcus Russell misfired on his first five passes. Of those misfires, the most egregious was a screen pass where he threw it several feet over Darren McFadden's head. In fact, Russell did not complete a pass until the Raiders third offensive play of the second quarter where he hit Louis Murphy for a seven yard completion to convert a third and four, and that set the Raiders on their first scoring drive. Russell was a very effective 3-5 on this drive. However, he overthrew Murphy in the end zone and the Raiders settled for a 48 yard field goal.
JaMarcus Russell would not complete another pass until the Raiders tenth drive of the game late in the fourth quarter. On the final drive, Russell went 4-7 as he led the team 67 yards down the field for the touchdown.
Even on the drives where Russell did complete passes, he still had a tendency to to miss targets. On the drives with no completion Russell overthrew his targets with startling regularity. It was pure luck that Russell didn't have any interceptions. He had at least two bounce out of the hands of Chiefs defenders. This kind of performance will not win many games.
So far this season, JaMarcus Russell is only 19 of 54 for 317 yards 1 TD and 2 Interceptions. This gives him a dismal 46.6 quarterback rating. With these types of numbers it is a miracle that the Raiders are 1-1 and a few plays away from being 2-0. The Raiders are going to need him to become much more accurate. They will not continue winning with a quarterback who is consistently overthrowing even the simple screen passes.
It is tempting to forget about his struggles for 57 minutes and focus on his heroics on the final drive. However, to put on those Silver and Black beer goggles would be to lose sight of the reality of this team. Russell is going to need to improve his accuracy if he is ever going to be the quarterback that will lead the Raiders to the promised land.
You can also find Patrick Patterson on Thoughts from the Dark Side.
Comments
Coach - Put me in at QB. I'm over 50 years old and never played QB but guess what? I can can hit the broad side of a barn from 5 yards away.
Uncle Rico: "How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?... Yeah... Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind. "
Uncle Rico = JaMarcus Russell
Now you know why Garcia wanted out. There was no way he could sit on the bench and watch that debacle. Cable gets an A+ for patience and loyalty but if he doesn't give Russell the hook when he stinks up the field he is going to lose games, his team and his job. Russell is being babied. Middle school QB's don't bird dog recievers as much as he does. I know it's a buisness and he makes 30 million and was the number one pick but positions need to be earned. He has earned nothing. When he drops back to pass, it's an adventure. He should have been given the hook in qtr. 3 vs. SD and in qtr. 2 vs. KC. That game was a gift. There will no more gifts. When a pitcher can't find the plate he gets the hook. This team is to good and can make some noise this year, so stop babying him and make him produce or take a seat.
I went to Kansas City to watch the game and saw many disturbing things. First and foremost, Russell is the worst quarterback I have ever seen. I was hoping that the Raiders would draft him, so I'm not against him in any way. But its time to cash out and let someone else play. He has no touch at all, no clue of what to do with the ball, and has absolutely no leadership skills. When the Raiders were huddled during tv timeouts, where was JaMarcus? Standing several feet away from all the other players every single time. I couldn't believe it. JaMarcus, watch Tim Tebow in the huddle please. Thats a leader. If that is not your personality than you need to change. I really had high hopes for you but can see there is no way you will ever even make it to being a below average quarterback. You suck. Take the money your guarenteed in your contract and go. Wake up and smell the coffee Al. If you can't see how bad he is, than your blind.
I do like JR and want him to improve, but Sunday he was bad. Really bad. We have McFadden and Bush, two of the best rb's in the league, no question. They got shut down Sunday basically because KC figured out Russell was having major problems connecting with receivers. It was a pretty simple defensive strategy, load up and stop the ground game, forcing the Raiders to go to the air. They gambled that Russell wouldn't be able to hit his receivers with any consistency if they loaded up against the run.And the gamble paid off for 3 1/2 qtrs. I got so angry because you could see that the passing game was there.Guys were getting open all over. Murphy, Miler, McFadden,DHB. They all had opportunities where the play was there and JR over threw, threw behind or threw to the wrong guy when someone else was wide open.He has to improve, or this may be his last season. He was Al's pick and is getting big money, but Davis will only give him so long. Mark my words.
Stick a fork in Russell he is done.By far the worst second team QB in the NFL.Does anyone really believe that after 3 years in the league Russell will get any better? If, you do for $2500.00 I can roll a basketball 2 feet.
JR probably needs to sit again behing Gradkowski. he stinks
JR is HORRIBLE, no way he's a QB.He could make fifth team guard.
Russell chances of leading the Raiders to the promise land is about as good as Steve Wonder winning NASCAR or flying a 767 to China and back.
The Raider brass is going to have to address JR once and for all. He is a bust and needs to be removed as a starter. It is frustrating to watch, especially when an accurate and mobile quarterback, #5 Gradowsky, is sitting on the sideline collecting dust. Gradowsky would be a much needed improvement in the offense and would allow the Raider offensive coordinator to actually run the offense game plan instead of scrapping it to accomodate JR. Get a clue Raiders and make the positive change!
Funny pre season I was saying this very thing, Garcia was our next Gannon, at least for 2-3 seasons. Let JR watch a real pro at work for a few years. But NOOOOO I was bashed on this very site for hinting that JR SUCKSSSSS!!!!!!! He is like a scared little boy playing a mans game. He almost cost our team a win and basically between him and the prevent def. in the 4th against S.D. we should be 2-0, I was at he S.D. game nd yes the guy has no ability to make a touch pass or read a defense let alone not look a receiver through his whole route while patting the ball everytime.
Im not sure Bruce is the answer either but dunno if he could do much worse than JR.
JR was brutal, just brutal yesterday. It appears that he cant make the easy routine type passes, which is kind of scary. Im willing to keep watching less than stellar play out of him if there are at least some signs of progress but damn! On a bright note i cant believe the raiders won yesterday, they dont win games like that.
Next week Denver is going to go with 11 men in the box.
Jay Schraeder
Russell says "I never felt like I was going to get the hook". Maybe that's a small part of the problem. You really can't beleive what you are seeing in the game. It's freakin torture. Call Garcia's agent, NOW. See what Philadelphia want's for him. Who OK'd his release? Can I guess? We wouldn't want poor Jamarcus to look over his shoulder. It's not fair to the fans and to the players who are giving 100% effort all game to shove this guy down our throats. Give Gradkowski some reps with the one's.
All you have to do is complete 19-54 to make 60 mil! ima try out next year
Where was all this JR hate when we won our last two games last year? We won this game and we had the lead in the 4th quarter last week. Quarterbacking isn't easy. I'm still behind JR, but I'm not behind Cable as OC. That is the real problem.
I tried to tell Al. This was going to happen
Where was all this JR hate when we won our last two games last year? We won this game and we had the lead in the 4th quarter last week. Quarterbacking isn't easy. I'm still behind JR, but I'm not behind Cable as OC. That is the real problem.
This comment is for Howies other son! Are you kidding me with the hate towards Coach Cable, so far he has done a great job. JR cant even throw screen passes and cant throw, well almost anthing. When he had murphy in the end zone he threw behind him and way over his head. No accuracy at all, im sorry as much as I would like to support him I cant. But I will try! But so har he is terrible!
Any question how bad the Chiefs suck? We sould have lost that game by 20. But we should have won the first game by 20. So I guess 1-1 is fair. Russell has put together 2 game winning drives in two games. Thank God the defense stepped up yesterday, or too bad they didn't step up week one. 2 and 0 and two games up on the chargers would be sweet. Russell is abolutely brutal. But we could have/should have won both games. He can't be this bad again. I think we beat Denver by 13 next week.
Diamond Jim - You make some good points, but i feel the need to remind you, or make you aware of the dynamics of the Oakland Raiders...Garcia wanted out because he knew there was no chance for him to play if JMR played badly. That is, this team does not own a hook - they sold it to help pay for JMR's $alary. Cable is not simply being patient and loyal- Remember how this team works - JMR was given ALOT of $ by uncle Al. 60 mil is not "sit on the bench" money, regardless of how bad he's playing. Remember, positions on this team aren't completely merit-based (see Sam Williams, James Jett etc.). It would be nice if positions were "earned", but that is not how it works in Oakland. Cable knows he can't unilaterally decide to put Uncle Al's multi-million dollar investment aside - that type of awareness by Cable may keep in Oakland awhile. Anyway, I felt the need to clarify. Having said that, JMR will probably given THIS SEASON before changes are made. Shout out to the BLEACHERs crew!
BUST! Everyone is tip toeing around it, but Jamarcus is a BUST! He's too big, too uncoordinated, too slow , too inaccurate and he telegraphs all his throws. He won't be successful in the NFL - there's too many obstacles for him to be great.
Davis should ditch his face saving ways and get someone who is better capable as the starting QB. While on the topic, Davis should get somebody to draft for him - because Davis really sucks at drafting talent.
Until then, it's more of the same ol Davis way - keep guys like James Trapp, James Jett, Derrick Gibson, and RB - Greg Robinson (who Davis started ahead of Marcus Allen). The reason for losing is obvious to everyone but Davis.
Let me be the first to take credit for the comparison - JaMarcus is like Shaq on the free throw line... it all just feels, well, not natural. Still reacts slow to pressure, has poor pocket presence, flicks the ball vs. throwing through, calls horrible audibles, telegraphs balls worse than any "professional" QB I have seen and is treated with kid gloves on the sidelines. Garcia was sent packing in order to give JaGarbage a foam pit for the year, the only issue is that the entire team is on his shoulders - and sooner or later the team will cave on him and resent him - unless he rises above, but after watching football for 30 years, I can say, he just doesn't have it. You can't teach the intangibles - you can't teach leadership, savvy, wily intuition the same way you can't teach someone to throw the ball 60 yards on their knees... trade-offs, and I would take Rich Gannon any day of the week. This week's game is huge - he has to make that next step. F the Donkeys.
I have been a fan of JaMarcus since he came to Oakland and I am not sure that he is a bust yet. He is still very young and can impove. That being said however, there is no way that he is the best QB on the roster. I have to believe that the Raiders front office regret cutting Jeff Garcia. The Raiders need to bench JaMarcus and put in Gradowski or Frye. It is obvious that JR is not the best QB on the team. If he is "God" help us.
Good points by Pat. I can't disagree much. But, I remember when a professional N.F.L. football team would let a talent like JaMarcus sit on the bench. Raidernation, you remember the "Taxi Squad". Players such as Kenny Stabler, Roger Staubach and many others had to mature under this process. Trust me, this kid at a young 23 years old, will take us far. I would definitely like to see him get a nutritionist or dietitian. Also, only the Raiders would start Heyward-Bey and Murphy next to a young upstart quarterback. There is know Tim Brown nor Jerry Rice on this roster. Lastly, this a building year for JaMarcus and the Raiders, so we got to man - up and be patient with this team. In the long run the Raidernation will triumph!
Jamarcus Russell does suck....and his time is running out. As far as Garcia goes...Gradkowski and Frye truly outplayed him. I would have no problem with either of them starting in Russsells place. I'm still willing to give Russell a chance but if he starts out sucking then pull him and put in Gradkowski. Lets win games, not play games just to develop a young QB. If Al Davis really believes "Just Win Baby" then start your best players and to hell with where they were drafted or how much you play them. Do you want to win Al?
Correction How much you pay them. Go Raiders!
Raider Jeff, I applaud your passion. You being part of the Raidernation, know an up incoming football team. Our football team is definitely up incoming. After the Chargers loss, I got accolades how the Raiders played the night before. Yes our team again got jobbed in the Murphy play. But, in that game, I saw JaMarcus struggle with a first-class defense and take a shot from Merriman in the pile. JaMarcus goes out for a few plays, comes back in, and throws a 4th and 15 touchdown. Now that not only shook the Nation, but, shook the Chargers. You know and the Raidernation knows, that the Raiders are close, but, we have to go through some growing pains. Eliminate JaMarcus and you still have Heyward-Bey and Murphy to deal with. Now if these players jell together like JaMarcus and Zach and Chaz, this offense could potentially be scary. Hang in there brother!
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