McCown To Start Final Preseason Game

[Stanny]

Raiders | McCown to start finale
Mon, 27 Aug 2007 16:26:40 -0700

The NFL Network reports Oakland Raiders QB Josh McCown will start the team's preseason finale Thursday, Aug. 30.

 

[Stanny]

Damn....just saw HB beat me by a minute. Bastard just put down the poi quick enough to post the news. Nice one HB, ya bastage.

Hey by the way Im heading out to Maui on Sept 30th...I asked a year or so a go and you gave me a few, what are some good restuarants to visit while Im there pal?

 

[hawaiianboy]

Narrowing the field

Posted by Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer on Monday at 3:20 pm

While much of the outside world views Daunte Culpepper as the inevitable Week 1 quarterback for the Raiders, coach Lane Kiffin seems to be indicating Josh McCown rates a 50-50 chance of being the starter.

McCown, in fact, will start Thursday night in Seattle against the Seahawks.

"It's become a two-man race with Daunte and Josh," Kiffin told reporters Monday following practice. "We'll let both guys play in this game. Josh will go first. I don't have the exact number of reps for you. We'll play it by ear."

Culpepper has shown better-than-expected mobility and exhibited signs of at least being something similar to the quarterback who passed for 4,717 yards with 39 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004.

Then again, Culpepper has played in 11 games since 2004 _ seven before he suffered a serious knee injury and four more with Miami to begin last season. In those games, Culpepper threw eight touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, fumbled eight times and was sacked 52 times.

Kiffin is not interested in any before and after scenario. He is looking at Culpepper only as he has performed since signing with the Raiders on July 31.

"It doesn't mean anything to me," Kiffin said. "It doesn't because that's not our system. That's not today. We're going to judge people based on the day we got here, the day he's gotten here, that's what we're judging him on."

Culpepper, who has done very few interviews other than one on the day he arrived and then after games, politely declined to speak with the media.

McCown said he doesn't look at himself as an underdog even if it seems that way from the outside.

"From a public perception standpoint it may be that way because of the success that Daunte’s had, but for me, at the same time, I got here before him, so I got a little bit of a jump on him as far as learning the offense," McCown said.

Monday's practice marked the first time that Andrew Walter, now the No. 3 quarterback, had reduced repetitions in practice.

"You have to realize, when you tell players and when you sit down and talk to players and tell them your honest opinion, you don’t expect them to agree," Kiffin said. "They’re not going to agree most of the time at all because they’re always going to have a good opinion of themselves. Was he happy? I’m sure he wasn’t happy. But he’s proved people wrong before and he’s the type to do that again."

Walter, Kiffin said, has improved a great deal since his first minicamp in the new offense.

"I remember the first day we had him, hwe went with the first group out here and I think he completed about three balls in that first 7-on-7 we had," Kiffin said. "He was all over the place. This is not a reflection of Andrew playing poorly. This is a reflection of the other guys _ in my opinion _ giving us a better chance to win."

News and notes:

– Zach Miller is getting no breaks lately. Both John Madsen (hamstring) and Tony Stewart (back) were out of practice Monday, with Miller and James Adkisson getting all the work at tight end.

O.J. Santiago has also missed the last two practices with a hamstring injury.

Madsen said the rest was precuationary and expects to face Seattle Thursday. Kiffin also expressed concern that Madsen, a converted wide receiver, is down a few pounds and and needs to regain some bulk.

– Rookie Johnnie Lee Higgins, who went to the hospital Sunday for some tests on a pain in his side, was back at practice Monday, reporting no pain.

– Tommy Kelly will be the Raiders starting right defensive end, Kiffin said, joining Warren Sapp, Terdell Sands and Derrick Burgess on the defensive line. Kelly will be available to move inside as matchups dictate.

The move means sleek rookie end Quentin Moses will likely be broken in as a pass rush specialist.

– Safety Donovin Darius did not practice and his appearance in the Seattle game appears unlikely.

Although McCown and Culpepper will get extended time, Kiffin said many starters will be out of the game after a single series, with the rest of the roster fighting for spots on the final 53.

Teams must arrive at a 53-man roster Saturday.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Last-ditch chance for McCown to win the job.

Whichever guy starts, if we don't score at least 23 points on Detroit, that guy shouldn't start Week 2.

 

[S and B Executioner]

Last-ditch chance for McCown to win the job.

Whichever guy starts, if we don't score at least 23 points on Detroit, that guy shouldn't start Week 2.

I couldn't agree more!! Detroit is having a rough go this preseason and I don't expect them to get much better as the season progresses. We should be able easily put up 23 on those guys and i don't expect them to score much more than 14-17 on our defense.

I think Pep has the edge to be the starter againts Detroit. But if he doesnt win the game and like you said, put up at least 23 on them, then Josh should start the next week against _enver.

On a different note, it was nice to here Solomon Wilcots say on Sirius NFl radio today that, "... San Diego cant expect 2 automatic wins against Oakland this year..."

 

[SoCalRaider]

I've suddenly lost interest in watching the game on Thursday.

I look at McCown's entire body of work this preseason and still think his performance is more on par with Walter than with DC. What concerns me is Kiffin's acting like he still hasn't made up his mind. I'm not sure how much more insight he's going to get watching his offense go up against the Seahawk backups with a vanilla scheme.

 

[Crossbones]

Well be lucky if the Hags play their regulars for one series. To me if Pep is the guy (and from what I've heard he is) he should be getting more reps, at least a quarter, with the first unit. It's time to make a decision. Sure it's close but if Pep is healthy than I think he gets the job. Shit, and I'm going to the game. I was thinking all along we'd get a good look at Russell but the scum bag fucked me.

Actually I blame this entire Russell mess on Natty. You with me?

 

[GRIM]

I am not surprised Pep isn't going to start. I think we should just save him for the regular season opener. Why risk getting him injured. He's our man.

McCown needs to start throwing some TD's. He hasn't won me over.
Daunte on the other hand... He's thrown TD's, sustained some nice drives, seems a helluva lot more confident than McCown and he hasn't thrown any INT's.

Anyway, I think Pep starts week 1.

 

[Crossbones]

They were speculating on ESPeen that it's McCown's job 60/40 sure.

 

[hawaiianboy]

What concerns me is Kiffin's acting like he still hasn't made up his mind.

Maybe he hasn't... Part of the decision may be weighing running 100% of his playbook vs maybe half of that, IF that with Pepper... A lot of the ways Kiff wants to protect both the O-line and QB may be tied into how versatile his play calls can be... Like I said before, I think what we've seen offensively so far has been a pretty dumbed down version of what we'll see from him in real games... A lot of this is going to come down to just how much of the playbook Pepper can digest and excecute in the coming week IMO...

If the second half of the SC-Notre Dame Bowl game is an example of Pete Carroll taking off the conservative leash and letting Kiff call his game as speculated, I expect the playbook consist of a lot more 3 and 4 wide sets, etc.. than we've seen so far... I don't know how quick a learner Pepper is, but that's a lot to ask anybody to pick up in a months time IMO...

 

[donovan]

Remember last year, when we were 4-0, went up to Seatown, got hammered, Gabriel got cut, and then we were told "somethin' fishy" was going on?


...............................

 

[Crossbones]

Remember last year, when we were 4-0, went up to Seatown, got hammered, Gabriel got cut, and then we were told "somethin' fishy" was going on?


...............................

How could I forget? After Carr's return for a TD I sat there with my finger up my butt for the rest of the game. It was a long night. But the regular season game was even longer. Arrrrrrrgh.


----------------------

 

[donovan]

Haha...

I don't know who had it worse.

You at that 16-0 game, or my friends and I at the 27-0 opener.

Least I had people around me suffering similarly.

 

[SoCalRaider]

Part of the decision may be weighing running 100% of his playbook vs maybe half of that, IF that with Pepper...

For all the talk of DC not having a grasp of the playbook, and Walter only being able to work as a pocket passer... exactly what has McCown shown he can execute on a consistent basis? Based on 3 preseason games, not a whole lot. It's one thing for Kiffin to want McCown to run every play in his playbook, but it's a whole other thing for McCown to actually demonstrate the ability to execute every play in the playbook on a consistent basis.

Right now I'll take the guy that can execute less on a consistent basis over the guy who can inconsistently execute more. This is shades of Jeff George... the guy who could make every throw except when it counted.

That said I have more confidence with DC and half the playbook and even Walter with only pocket pass plays than McCown and his ability to make and miss every play in the playbook.

 

[Jack's sore libido]

Remember last year, when we were 4-0, went up to Seatown, got hammered, Gabriel got cut, and then we were told "somethin' fishy" was going on?


...............................

No, but I remember when Gabriel got traded.

 

[massraider]

My guess:

This is the very definition of 'showcasing' someone.

CPepp has the health (so far) and the history of success, and has looked good.

If McCown looks good, maybe the Raiders can recoup their 4th round pick from Atlanta. If not, then CPepp solidifies his lock on the job. I don't generally think it's so easy to trade a team's riffraff, but Atlanta has a need, and I don't think they believe inb Joey, despite his performance last night.

As for Kiffin announcing the starter, what's the rush? Maybe the team already knows. Why make it easier on Detroit? Let them prepare for both guys.

 

[S and B Executioner]

My guess:

This is the very definition of 'showcasing' someone.

CPepp has the health (so far) and the history of success, and has looked good.

If McCown looks good, maybe the Raiders can recoup their 4th round pick from Atlanta. If not, then CPepp solidifies his lock on the job. I don't generally think it's so easy to trade a team's riffraff, but Atlanta has a need, and I don't think they believe inb Joey, despite his performance last night.

As for Kiffin announcing the starter, what's the rush? Maybe the team already knows. Why make it easier on Detroit? Let them prepare for both guys.

That is NAILS! Make them prep for both guys and we have a SLIGHT upperhand on them. Like Mass said, the team probably already knows and are preparing for the SEASON. We don't need to know until right before the guy steps on the field. In fact, if I was Kiff, that is exactly how close I'd hold my cards to my chest. I'd have both guys standing next to me on the sidelines with helmets on like we were gonna play two qb's then at the last second trot one out get it on! I really like Kiff's style and his level of secrecy on this one.

 

[Rupert]

I saw a report somewhere that Harrington did a good job for Atlanta in his last game. I'm not interested enough to go find out, but if he's doing well, the compensation they're willing to give for a backup will be low.

 

[massraider]

I saw a report somewhere that Harrington did a good job for Atlanta in his last game. I'm not interested enough to go find out, but if he's doing well, the compensation they're willing to give for a backup will be low.

He looked good.

And if he is doing well in the practices as well, then maybe they aren't interested in a QB at all. I find it hard to believe that Petrino is ready to go into the season with Harrington as his unquestioned starter.

Personally, I have seen enough of Harrington, and he sucks. He is afraid to throw the ball down the field, and the first team that shows a rush will turn him back into the little beeyotch I have observed for the last few years.

 

[007]

All of Joey's good completions (Other than a couple) were little dumpoffs and hitches to backs and safety valves...Just like the Joey of old.

IMO Atlanta should be the early frontrunner for the 1st overall pick.