Bust tag being whispered for Oakland Raiders' JaMarcus Russell

December 12, 2:01 AMOakland Raiders ExaminerPatrick Patterson

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It was inevitble that it was going to happen. There are whispers around the Raider Nation already that quarterback JaMarcus Russell is a bust. Considering that he has not even completed his second season as a Raider and first season as a starter, its premature to put him in the same category as Todd Marinovich. However, with Russell's status as the top pick in the draft a year ago and his gargantuan contract, there were going to be expectations for him that were nearly superhuman. However, those expectations aside, he has looked mediocre for most of the season. The above said, it is still too early to term him a bust.

Moving from the ranks of the NCAA to the NFL is a huge step, especially for a quarterback. Russell hurt his development badly with his storied holdout that cost him his rookie training camp. That set him back, but he was able to learn on the go throughout much of the season in 07, before he finally took the field late in the season.

Many in the Nation are comparing him to the successes that Baltimore's Joe Flacco and Atlanta's Matt Ryan are having. What has been more disconcerting to the Raider Nation is that even Kansas City's Tyler Thigpen has been out performing Russell. Here is where the comparison is a bit false.

Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan were put in positions where they could succeed. They had above average offensive lines and receiving corps. Tyler Thigpen was thrust into a starting role by injures, but Herman Edwards was able to improvise a system that fit his abilities. Russell on the other hand was thrown behind the two worst tackles in football, and is on the most dysfunctional team in football.

So far, Russell has been thrown into a no win situation. He is on his third play-caller and second head coach in one season as a starter. Rather than playing towards his strengths, he is running an antiquated system that is similar to the one that was dubbed the Bed and Breakfast back in 2006. If the Raiders can get things right this offseason, there is hope that Russell can develop.