http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jo4WIkvgaXkfT0ZD8BJZ38eDbZywD92EIBHG1 Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell also struggled in his first exhibition game after missing the entire preseason as a rookie in a contract dispute. Russell, who played in just four games as a rookie, was not sharp, finishing 2-for-5 for 15 yards in two drives.
he has 2 options... He wont show his face in this thread. He's a coward. ( we knew all along ) He shows his face in this thread. He's stupid. ( we also knew ) We know he's a stupid coward, but with this thread, he will finally be admitting to it. Brilliant GM.
I feel like he may take the opposite argument today. JRussell's numbers is very simlar to Peyton Manning rookie number (Both struggled as rookie qbs). Everyone (experts) say that there develpment path is siimilar (2 years away.)
He also mysteriously had nothing to say about the fact that Javon Walker was ready last week to retire and give back his signing bonus before being convinced to stay by Al Davis.
He did, actually. First, he suggested it's nothing more than a veteran sitting out the preseason a la Strahan or Tomlinson. You know, to stay healthy. Then, saving his best for last, at the end of the post he suggests that Walker may just be unwilling to show all the goods in the preseason, like he's hiding the good stuff for the regular season, not trying to beg his way out of the NFL. http://forums.theganggreen.com/showpost.php?p=891511&postcount=10 Classic stuff.
I will just post this. WEB EXCLUSIVE: MCDONALD Raiders need to unleash Russell and shield McFadden By Jerry McDonald Staff writer Article Launched: 08/09/2008 06:16:43 AM PDT OAKLAND - As preseason games go, the Raiders' 18-6 win over the 49ers Friday night at McAfee Coliseum wasn't bad - better than a poke in the eye patch with a sharp stick. A team that intends to run the ball ran the ball. A team that wants to shed its reputation as an easy mark against the run gave up 70 yards on the ground. A team preaching turnover ratio had four takeaways and no turnovers. Three preseason games remain, so no need to get too worked up over how the Raiders went about their business in what doesn't even amount to a dress rehearsal. But as the Raiders inch toward the regular season, it would be wise for Lane Kiffin to flip the script regarding his youngest potential stars. Take JaMarcus Russell out of the protective glass case, and put Darren McFadden in it. Russell completed 2 of 5 passes for 13 yards and took the rest of the night off. He wasn't asked to do much, and obliged by not doing much. At 6-foot-5, 270 pounds, Russell is nimble enough to execute the rollouts and bootlegs that are essential to the Raiders offense and dovetail perfectly with a zone blocking scheme. Not that we saw any of it against the 49ers. The same pass plays which will be a big part of what Russell does were shelved during what amounted to a cameo appearance. Instead, those plays were saved for backup Andrew Walter, who took the plays Kiffin wouldn't call for Russell and drove the Raiders 75 yards in 13 plays for the game's only offensive touchdown. ``With JaMarcus, we didn't run play-action where you come outside the pocket,'' Kiffin said. ``I just didn't feel like getting him on the move that much. That's where he can take some big hits in the first game.'' As for the plays which gave Walter success, Kiffin said, ``Those plays were there the whole time with JaMarcus. I just didn't feel like doing them.'' Meanwhile, Kiffin, the former USC play-caller, harkened back to the days of John McKay when it came to McFadden. When McKay was once asked about giving the ball to his tailback so much he replied, ``Why? It's not heavy.'' Entering with 7:35 left in the first quarter, McFadden carried the ball 12 times in a span of 21 plays and gained 48 yards. With no gain longer than six yards, the rookie showed the ability to dart through holes in between the tackles and to secure the ball in heavy traffic. This was in keeping with Kiffin's promise during the week that McFadden needed to play so he could get hit and prove he was indeed past the fumbling problem that plagued him at Arkansas. Done and done. As the Raiders go forward in the preseason, they need to see more of Russell and less of McFadden. Russell is the most important offensive player by virtue of his position, and his training camp has been a mixed bag. The Raiders will be a run-oriented team, but Russell will need to make the kind of plays on the perimeter that make a zone blocking team even more effective on the ground. Former Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert used to say that the thing that made the Denver Broncos so special was that it was impossible to diagnose a run from a pass based on the initial movement of the offensive line and the footwork of the quarterback in the bootleg game. Russell has a ways to go to get to that stage, and the Raiders did none of that with him in the game against the 49ers, wasting an opportunity against a team that has had pass rush issues. While Russell is the most important offensive player, McFadden is already their best player. He brings the ``Wow'' factor the offense has lacked for years, capable of turning the most routine snap into a touchdown. Kiffin simply lined him up as a tailback and ran him from scrimmage against the 49ers, wisely keeping him under wraps as a receiver or even more exotic roles. I asked Kiffin the other day if he considered keeping McFadden on the shelf in the preseason, much like the Chargers do with LaDainian Tomlinson or the 49ers will do with Frank Gore. Neither of those backs may carry 12 times the entire preseason. He rejected the notion, wanting McFadden to get acclimated to the NFL against the 49ers. He got the work. Now it is time to be smart and make sure the only player capable of turning a plodding offense into an explosive one is ready to face the Broncos in Week 1. At the same time, the Raiders must put Russell in harm's way enough so the regular season isn't a complete shock. If the first-team offensive line has to play longer to make sure he is protected, so be it. Where the management and development of McFadden and Russell are concerned, there really isn't much riding on it except the future of the franchise.
Raiders Schedule (Games they will win in bold): Mon 9/8 Denver 10:15 pm Sun 9/14 at Kansas City 1:00 pm Sun 9/21 at Buffalo 1:00 pm Sun 9/28 San Diego 4:05 pm BYE WEEK Sun 10/12 at New Orleans 1:00 pm Sun 10/19 NY Jets 4:15 pm Sun 10/26 at Baltimore 1:00 pm Sun 11/2 Atlanta 4:15 pm Sun 11/9 Carolina 4:05 pm Sun 11/16 at Miami 1:00 pm Sun 11/23 at Denver 4:05 pm Sun 11/30 Kansas City 4:15 pm Thu 12/4 at San Diego 8:15 pm Sun 12/14 New England 4:15 pm Sun 12/21 Houston 4:05 pm Sun 12/28 at Tampa Bay 1:00 pm I know (15-1) seems wrong and I am a homer picking the Jets to win, but I just feel the Jets can pull off the upset. I am probably wrong though.
LOL I was watching the godlike Raiders v 49'ers while playing poker. Both teams sucked big time in that game, the Raiders sucked less and won. It was so boring I was watching two fly's fucking and found that way more interesting.
Well than you should take up another sport to watch, because you obviously don't know what your looking for. Second Point , I don't know any serious good poker player, that can watch a football game ,and play poker at the same time.(how much did you lose that night) Raiders showed why they are going to be serious contenders for a playoff spot. All Four of Raiders RBs were real impressive running ther football. That 3to four headed monster at RB is going to be a nightmare for defenses to handle. So much versatility and talent to keep pounding on a defense. Raiders defense overall was very impressive. Raiders consistantly stopped the 49ers running game. Everyone knows that If Raiders stop the run they are a legitimate top five defense. NOw we know why Raiders passed on gholston. Raiders have alot of serious pass rushers to play opposite D Burgess now. Very good Pass rush + ONe of the best pass coverage teams(both in secondary and at LB) = Big time trouble for offenses. So let me recap. Raiders demonstrated like last year that they can consistantly move ther ball on the ground( Jets who are trying to have the same sucess failed miserable in that aspect) + a potential top five defense= Raiders back in the postseason.
You better believe You are wrong. I don't know if Raiders are going to win more than 12 games, but I do know they are going to destroy the jets. There is nothing jets can do on offense, to hurt the Raiders. Raiders run game going to be just a little too much for Jets to handle. Also Jets lack of pass rush(Gholston dosen't look tobe this year answer) Im sorry without gholston, B Thomas and C Pace are not good enough pass rushers to get the job done. Once that pressure dosen't get there, than that Number 2 CB going to get abused in coverage.
The problem, Jeaux, is that you've been wrong so many times (as in, ALL of them), you can throw out predictions now and there's really no risk for you. If you make another bold prediction and you're wrong again, it's just one more wrong prediction. Big deal, Jeaux got it wrong again. And in other news, the sun rose again this morning.
so that does that mean when Jeaux is finally right about something, the sun wont rise and ultimately the world would be coming to an end? :jeauxsucks smilie:
