Kiff retracts Russell's Start

[cyanatic]

Damn. I don't want Russell's appearance to be a desperation move, but I want him to get some real playing time before the end of this season.


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/26/SPC3TIUG1.DTL

Retraction time: Kiffin went ahead and named Culpepper the starter against the visiting Broncos on Sunday, instead of waiting until midweek as usual.
So much for last week's ESPN report that rookie JaMarcus Russell was "likely" to make his first start Dec. 2, which Kiffin immediately refuted.
Culpepper, who completed 15 of 22 passes for 170 yards Sunday, knows it's only a matter of time.
"I understand the big plan and the big picture," Culpepper said. "I'm just one of the guys warming up the seat for him to be ready, and I'm excited for him because I like him.
"The clock is ticking for him, to start working him in."

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Trying to get back-to-back divisional wins takes precedence over working Russell in, in my opinion.

The guys playing want to know that they're playing to win, not playing for someone else's future.

Still love to see Russell get a series or two, though.

 

[Swords]

"The clock is ticking for him, to start working him in."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of YOUR abilities. I would hope that you would say *uck all that I'm the man. DC you are not "The one" Heraclitus is talking about...
.....
"Of every one hundred men, Ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are nothing but targets, Nine are real fighters...We are lucky to have them...They make the battle. Ah, but the ONE, ONE of them is a WARRIOR...and HE will bring the others back"----Heraclitus (Circa 500 BC)

 

[massraider]

Well hang on. If Kiffin immediately refuted ESPN's report, then he's not exactly 'retracting' anything, is he?

Lane Kiffin coaches this team. Not 'unnamed sources'.

 

[Rupert]

Lane Kiffin coaches this team. Not 'unnamed sources'.

Yeah, but "unnamed sources" is behind a lot of article writing. You'd think his credibility was spent by now. Not so.

 

[Crossbones]

I'm actaully OK with this. Funny what beating the hated Chefs will do for 'ya. We can beat Denver and maybe get this losing attitude turned around. Right now even though I have been a "play Russell now" guy I'm "retracting" my argument at least to see if we can win back-to-back AFC West games. That would be sweet.

I'm still confident that Ruseel will see some limited action before the end of the year. That too would be fun for Raider Fan!

 

[cyanatic]

"The clock is ticking for him, to start working him in."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement of YOUR abilities. I would hope that you would say *uck all that I'm the man. DC you are not "The one" Heraclitus is talking about...
.....
"Of every one hundred men, Ten shouldn't even be there, Eighty are nothing but targets, Nine are real fighters...We are lucky to have them...They make the battle. Ah, but the ONE, ONE of them is a WARRIOR...and HE will bring the others back"----Heraclitus (Circa 500 BC)

The only question I have is whether Pep "shouldn't even be there" or is he one of the "targets"?

 

[Rupert]

My approach was: if Kiffin has more confidence in McCown than Culpepper and he's not going to use Walter, then it's about time we saw Russell on the field.

Personally, I wouldn't have given the job back to McCown when he got healthy. I wouldn't have listed him as the #2 QB against K.C. (as #2 yes, just not the number 2 QB). In fact, I wouldn't have given him the start for game #1. I wouldn't have traded for him, etc. Okay, enough bashing McCown.

I still want to get Russell some time in a game this season, and from all the talk Kiffin has done, so does he. If we can get some confidence in the running game, and some confidence in the pass protection, he should put Russell out there. remember, it's not only Russell that will feel the pressure of his being on the field, his blockers will, his receivers will, and his RB's will. If these guys aren't confident and comfortable before he steps on the field, they'll fall apart when he does. That won't be any good for him.

 

[RFID]

Though highly unlikely, it'd be nice if we could get a Patriot-esque type lead (last night notwithstanding) and give Russell some PT while we're comfortably ahead.

 

[cyanatic]

Though highly unlikely, it'd be nice if we could get a Patriot-esque type lead (last night notwithstanding) and give Russell some PT while we're comfortably ahead.

I had the same thought...we somehow manage to get a huge lead against the Donks and put Russell in for the last quarter. Mentioned it to a Raider buddy of mine and he asked me what year I thought this was and proceeded to laugh me out of the room.

 

[hawaiianboy]

Though highly unlikely, it'd be nice if we could get a Patriot-esque type lead (last night notwithstanding) and give Russell some PT while we're comfortably ahead.

Dude, remember what we told you about staying out of that Vegas sun when the heat index reaches a certain point?...


I like Daunte's attitude in regards to JaMarcus... It's nice to know we'll be able to work Russell in for a series or two without him pulling a Moss like sideline sulkfest...

 

[RHC]

Pep put up 170 yds and 0 TDs. How that qualifies him for an immediate "he's our starter" is beyond me.

I think Russell can do just as well behind center as the other slugs we're putting out there.

JMO.

 

[S and B Executioner]

Pep put up 170 yds and 0 TDs. How that qualifies him for an immediate "he's our starter" is beyond me.

I think Russell can do just as well behind center as the other slugs we're putting out there.

JMO.

I think what puts this performance above his others this season and in seasons past is the lack of the 3 letters "I-N-T" in the stat line and the word FUMBLES that usually accompanies it. NO MISTAKES is what sticks out at this point!

 

[SoCalRaider]

Pep put up 170 yds and 0 TDs. How that qualifies him for an immediate "he's our starter" is beyond me.

He's 3-0 in games we have a 100 yd rusher. Based on that alone I think he's earned the right to start next week.

I think Russell can do just as well behind center as the other slugs we're putting out there.

What's this have to do with anything?

 

[cyanatic]

That skin-diver in HB's avatar....can't...look...away. Can't think of....anything else. Damn that is fine.

What was this thread about again?

 

[RHC]

He's 3-0 in games we have a 100 yd rusher. Based on that alone I think he's earned the right to start next week.

Great game in Miami. Unable to replicate. No "earning" involved IMO.

What's this have to do with anything?

Getting our rookie franchise QB PT while still having a chance to win games.

What's the point of you asking the point when it's obvious?

 

[Jack's sore libido]

That was the best game any QB has had for Oakland in three years. I think that qualifies him for an automatic start at home against a division rival.

If Russell's teammates don't think he's ready to play and give them their best chance to win, but Kiffin starts him anyway, that will completely undermine both Russell and Kiffin in the locker room.

Guys want to know that you're trying to win games now.

 

[SoCalRaider]

Great game in Miami. Unable to replicate. No "earning" involved IMO.

So what you're saying is winning games doesn't qualify as earning? Laughable.

Getting our rookie franchise QB PT while still having a chance to win games.

It's a good thing you're the only person on the face of this earth that identifies PT as the holy grail of developing a QB.

What's the point of you asking the point when it's obvious?

If it's so obvious, why doesn't anybody who sees Russell on a daily basis see it your way?

 

[RHC]

So what you're saying is winning games doesn't qualify as earning? Laughable.

Culpepper won the game? Really? Fargas, Porter, Jano and that defensive stop on 4th down won the game. 170 passing yds and 0 TDs doesn't win games.

Laughable.

It's a good thing you're the only person on the face of this earth that identifies PT as the holy grail of developing a QB.:

Mike Ditka doesn't count right? Bones doesn't count right? Somehow I doubt I'm the only one. But don't let that keep you from making foolish sweeping statements.

If it's so obvious, why doesn't anybody who sees Russell on a daily basis see it your way?

Who fucking cares? I wouldn't be bitching about it if they did.

If Russell's not getting where he needs to be we're in trouble. If he's not working his ass off we're in trouble. If he's not chomping at the bit and begging to play we're in trouble.

The staff needs to see this kid in actual game situations. Practice doesn't tell the story. Any idiot football fan understands that. It's only the profoundly ignorant who would be foolish enough to say otherwise.

So shove your "rollseyes" smilie right where it belongs.

 

[RHC]

That was the best game any QB has had for Oakland in three years.

Wow. That's just... the stupidest thing I've ever seen you write, Jack.