The Oakland Raiders are sitting on the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft (which, if you haven't heard, is in two weeks; seems like ESPN ought to start paying a little attention to that). Among the names being discussed for that pick are LSU QB JaMarcus Russell, Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn, Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas, and Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson. While Russell destroys the competition in the "Who has the best name" category, drafting him would be a huge mistake for Oakland.
Russell, obviously, is a remarkable prospect. At 6'5" and 256 pounds, he's large enough to withstand contact and get off good passes. He can move well inside and outside of the pocket, and if he gets into the open field, he's bigger than most linebackers. Add to that an arm that suits NFL standards, and he sounds like a can't-miss prospect, right?
Well, not really. Russell is still pretty raw; he has only 29 starts under his belt, and he was only a full-time starter for two years. As such, he's still on a learning curve, which is a dangerous place to be for an NFL quarterback. He still faces questions about his "decision making," which sounds more like a Pacman Jones problem than a quarterback problem. Further, there's nothing that suggests that Russell is a great student of the game; he locks onto his primary target far too often, and most of his good checkdowns come as he rolls out, when the defensive secondary is stepping up for support on a scramble.
Essentially, for all the physical advantages Russell holds, he does so at the one position in the NFL where they matter the least. While people like Sean Taylor, Walter Jones, or LaDainian Tomlinson excel because of their superior athleticism, such is not as readily an option for a quarterback. A quarterback must be a tireless student of his offense and of his opponents; defensive coordinators feast on quarterbacks whose actions they can predict. It's why Michael Vick, for all his freakish athleticism, has not made the leap to "great quarterback." It's how Kurt Warner, who more closely resembles a lawyer than a professional athlete, earned Super Bowl MVP status. And while there's no evidence to suggest Russell will be lax in his game preparation, it's still not a certainty, and that is a huge uncertainty to base a #1 pick on.
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Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - nyraider
Am I missing something? That was more of an argument TO draft Russell.
You start out by saying Russell is a "remarkable prospect," then concede the Raider fans are "wary of taking a lineman" (Gallery bust) and there's an "inherent danger" to selecting a wide receiver (Johnson).
The "strength" of your argument rests on Russell's inexperience and the lack of coaching on previous Raider staffs.
That's easy. Raiders trade for a stopcap QB (McCown) which will afford Russell plenty of time for his "learning curve." Your point about coaching is completely without substance since the Raiders have an entirely new coaching staff.
2 - Darrel
I love how everyone has the best intrest of the Raider's at heart by trying to convince us that Russell is 'Not' our #1 pick. It gives me such a warm Silver and Black feeling to know the rest of the NFL actually desires to help the Raiders into picking what is best for them. I'm sure with all the love that my leader 'AL' has been getting through the years from all his non Silver and Black NFL fans that he will see this for what it is...
-Raider Cool From Dixie
3 - Adam Jacobi
But nyraider, just because Raider Nation will start comparing Thomas to Gallery doesn't make Thomas any less of a great prospect. You can never have too many great offensive linemen, and Thomas fits that bill. The odds of a bust are far, far lower with Thomas than with Russell.
4 - Will
"Russell looks like a fantastic pick for a team with a great quarterback coach and staff of assistants. The problem is that there's no real evidence that Oakland has that support structure in place. They've spent early draft picks on quarterbacks like Marques Tuiasosopo (pick #59, 2001) and Andrew Walter (pick #69, 2005), neither of whom have shown any signs of real development or success on the field. What makes Al Davis think that the JaMarcus Russell Experiment will end much better?"
You forget that the whole coaching staff has been changed and the new staff may be able to transform a raw talent into a PRO
5 - Fed-Up
I'm sorry, but anybody that thinks we should do anything but draft JaMarcus Russell just doesn't know football. He is EXACTLY what this franchise needs, to rebuild a path towards sustained success.
If the Raiders DON'T draft Russell, It will be the biggest personnel mistake in franchise history, and honestly - I will be done with them if that happens.
6 - nyraider
AJ, I agree Joe Thomas is an excellent choice, but not with the #1 pick. If the Raiders want Thomas, they need to trade down a couple or more spots. Even so, I can't imagine Al Davis making that pick so soon after the Gallery mistake. There are plenty of OL propects available later in the draft.
7 - raiderken
Trade the 1st pick to the Bucs who want the most talented player in the draft (Calvin Johnson). Take thier first round #4 and thier second round #3. Draft the DE out of Arkansas in the First, then package one Second and one Third to get back into the First round and take a reciever. Then with the first overall pick in the Second round take the best QB available. Peace Out!
8 - Sonny
All these writers are so concerned that the Raiders make the right pick. It kills people to think of the Raiders having a quarterback like Russel.Life is a crap shoot but if this kid has a chance to become a great quarterback you take him. I keep hearing about his gun of an arm like that is all he has. They say he makes all the throws, makes them all look easy. Those type quarterbacks come around maybe once every 20 years. It makes many people sick of the thought of the Raiders getting their hands on a quarterback like this. I say roll the dice this kid is rare. He if is really as raw as these people want you to think and is already as good as he is with some time the sky is the limit. Many top NFL people say they have never seen anyone with his skill set come out of college, that is really saying something. He has already showen his class compared to Quinn. All Quinn does is knock Russel to try and build himself up for the draft.
9 - sugababe
hello
10 - sugababe
sonny wat r u talkin about
11 - GGRAIDER
I didn't like this article. IM tired of hearing writers attack the desire & intelligence of black QB's coming out of the draft. You hear it time & time again. " He's gifted, but is he capable of learning an NFL offense? " " He's big strong & mobile, but he lacks decision making!!" Jamarcus must have done well on his wonderlick score because if he hadn't writers like AJ would've been all over it! Vince Young proved that you can have talent, desire & leadership & his qualifications were still being questioned on draft day. The same thing is happening to Jamarcus. Quinn, Leinart or Cutlers desire & leadership skills are or were never questioned!!
And then AJ lists the Raiers last 2 QB choices & states that they (The Raiders) have no support structure for QB's. THEN he turns around & says Oakland should draft Thomas & what does Thomas's career have to do with Gallery! WELL WHAT DOES ANDREW WALTERS & MARCUS TUIASOSOPO'S DEVELOPMENT HAVE TO DO WITH J. RUSSELL'S??
Hey Oakland Raiders, Take J. Russell with the 1st pick let him prove them all wrong.........AGAIN!!!
12 - sugababe
i agree with u
13 - Raider2000000000000
I like it when writers state their opinions about which player should be taken by a team, that has a system in place, to make the player better. Well anything is possible on draft day. We could take JR, trade down, take another top 3 prospect. Trade out of the first round and rape another team of their picks/players. Al Davis will do what he has always done and that is Do What Ever The Heck Wants. Look up every top 5 draft picks in the last 5 years and more than half have been busts. Some are not even playing football anymore. So to all the great minds of football like Adam Jacobi, Al Davis will take any player he wants in the first and give him every opportunity to be the best player he could possibly become. NO MATTER WHAT YOU THINK OF THE RAIDERS.
14 - bigraider
it's "fans" like fed up who we don't need in the RAIDER NATION
15 - raidercrazy
I totally agree bigraider, as much as it hurts to suck so bad recently, raider nation only has spots open for those who are committed all the way, no matter what!
16 - Paotie
GGRaider -
Shh .. listen .. do I hear sour grapes, sourpuss?
The point is NOT about race: the point is about the systematic development of QB's in the NFL. It goes waaaaaaay beyond physical qualities; it includes the ability to make the correct decision at the correct time. Peyton Manning is the master of decision-making; as is Tom Brady.
If physicality was the only thing that mattered to being a QB, then I seriously doubt John Elway would have been able to play at all. Warren Moon was a decent athlete who could throw a beautiful pass. Doug Williams was a better decision-maker than he was an athlete. Mike Vick sucks because he perpetually makes the WRONG decision at the WRONG time.
As Matt Serra said the other night in his royal ass whupping of Georges St. Pierre, you don't have to be the better striker to outstrike someone; you don't have to be the better kickboxer to beat someone; you just have to make the right decision at the right time.
Get over your damn self and quit being a fucking victim of your beliefs.
:o)
Paotie
17 - sun405
All this talk doesn't mean a thing. Two week from now Mr J. Russell will be wearing silver and black and I bet you he starts against Detroit on opening day. He is smart, has a good comand of the field and makes great decisions nobody currently on the raider staff or being considered has the talent to keep this giant off the field. So blog on but to no avail this kid will take us to the Super Bowl faster than any other player available so we take him and win. live with it.
God I hate the Steelers but look what thier green can't make good decisions rookie QB did for them.
Now it's our turn and I can't wait!
18 - Victor
I prefer to trade for a veteran free agent QB just like Rich Gannon and draft Calvin Johnson. Unfortunately there is no decent free agent QB available with the possible exception of Trent Green of KC. For some reason, the Raiders are not going after Trent Green so they may have shown their hand already. Taking Russell is more risky than Calvin Johnson, but in the final analysis, you can't win without a decent QB and the Raiders need a decent QB. The Raiders are signing some offensive linemen recently so drafting Russell is becoming more likely. My take? If the Raiders have not signed a decent QB in the next 2 weeks, then I don't believe the Raiders have any other choice.
19 - GGRAIDER
Wow paotie. Thanks a lot for proving that this sites comment policy it somewhat worthless! I just commented on a problem that I see with a lot of reporters & so called experts evlauations of different QB's potential. If you have a problem with that then so be it. I ain't got time for fools like the 1 your mom raised!!
20 - kwaartz
all i have to say is trade moss...he is a cancer to the team he does not want to be here...let him go for some picks. the team can do fine without him (what has moss done since hes left MIN?...nothing ron curry cant do) unless he starts throwing to himself...cut him and let him deal with his fading skills. Im not exactly a 100% jamarcus but i feel he could give a better chance with some picks...calvin is the *&%$ and i do beleive in walters arm...im just glad im not making the decision
21 - Paotie
GGRaiders ..
Maybe it's because the editors despise the Raiders?
*shrugs*
Sounds like a personal problem.
:o)
Paotie
22 - gregg
You have the first pick you take Russell. It's as simple as that. He is the best player at the most critical position. Not even close. I have never seen a QB with more clutch performances than Russell had during his last two years at LSU. Not only that, in 2004, when he should have been the full-time starter, he was clutch off of the bench with some big wins. He also came off of the bench to bring LSU from behind that year against Auburn and Iowa, only to have the defense fail to hold as each game ended. If this guy had played for Notre Dame he would have won the heisman by a landslide last year. Probably for two years. Oakland should be drooling over getting him. Articles like this are hilarious. Just like the ones with Quinn whinning about how he should be the no. 1 pick. He is good, for sure. But he can't hold Russell's jock. There is no debate about top QBs this year as in some years past. There's Russell, and then there's everybody else. If Oakland doesn't take him then the GM should be fired.
23 - Paotie
Gregg ..
Well, I guess it depends on what you want as an organization. I don't follow the Raiders, so I could care less who they draft. I think Quinn is overrated and will just be another back-up NFL QB. Of course, we could all be wrong.
Think: Leif.
:o)
Paotie
24 - SDRaider
Recent rumors suggest that the Raiders are serious about McCown but are unwilling to extend past the one year left on his contract with Lions. That looks like they are setting up for a QB with solid experience to win now and buy some time for JR. Recent history suggests that the Godfather is not into 1st Round QB selections, but this may be too good to pass up.
If a QB is the selection, there is no way they take Quinn who is riding high on the Golden Domers hype but whatever happens draft day... JR or Johnson the Raider Nation is due some good news after too many years of suffering.
The o-line and the coaching staff were clearly the downfall last year. With the new coaching staff and recent offensive linemen acquisitions from Denver with experience in the zone blocking scheme that Cable will be using, the prospects for 2007 are looking good.
Bring it on....
25 - QUINN CAN'T WIN
Clearly, the typical Raider hater who can't possibly digest that possibility that they'll have to eat their venom instead of spewing it over the Raiders every season has got to be killing them... after all the NEXT Elway type plays for the Raiders.
It facinates me how you convinently mix and match your stats just to fit your (bias) Tui was drafter by GRUDEN, 3 coaches ago!!!! How can you claim that on Kiffin or his new staff?
By the way, as a favor to you I believe your not even aware that the Raiders have a new coach? (I could be wrong?)
If you don't? Then be advised that his name is Lane Kiffin... Suprisingly though I somehow don't believe you saw him coming?
Is he a savior? NO dude! There is only one Savior and He coaches the Universe...
It seems there is an element out there in the e-ether that have set out the media machine to try on a wing and a prayer to desuade the Raiders from picking JaMarcus. Otherwise how can these elements possibly laugh at them inhesently if sometime during the next 10 or 15 years they won't be able to proclaim... "How did Al Davis NOT draft JaMarcuss Russell" Man the dude has really gon off the deep end,(LOL)...
Well Adam, nobody knows what Lane and Al will do??? Most of us hope it's Jarock but if it's the waterboy we will be happy because Lane Kiffin is a whiz at recruiting and knowing talent (I know that's got the haters nervous) So if he does pick the waterboy then he will be the best pick available to us.
But, unfortunatly for all of those Raider Haters... We're taking JaROCK!!!!