jatfly
AKA:Burgraider
- Joined
- Oct 10, 2006
- Messages
- 3,413
- Reaction score
- 198
By Steve Corkran
STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 12/02/2007 02:59:26 AM PST
OAKLAND -- Denver Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun no doubt must have wondered what all the fuss was about. After all, punts are commonplace in NFL games, and it's not as if return specialist Devin Hester was about to receive another shot at weaving his magic.
So, why all the commotion from Raider fans? Thirty yards or so to Sauerbrun's left stood Raiders rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell receiving instruction from quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and placing a helmet upon his shaven head.
Twelve games into his pro career, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft was about to make his NFL debut, and those who braved the cold weather gleaned it well in advance of the notice from the public address announcer at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday.
Never mind that starting quarterback Josh McCown had guided the Raiders to an opening-drive touchdown and owned a gaudy 119.4 passer rating. Fans wanted a look at the future, and coach Lane Kiffin finally obliged.
"I definitely wanted to watch," Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "I made a point to see the first play, at least."
Russell graced the field for two unremarkable series, but it was enough to show that he is competent, confident and deserving of more playing time between now and the end of the season.
Kiffin refused to commit to Russell beyond Sunday. He said he isn't sure it's such a good idea to play him in a cold-weather game against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
"It's not going to be real warm there, going to be a tough environment to go play in," Kiffin said. "We'll look at it all. We'll also look at the health of our quarterbacks."
McCown started because Daunte Culpepper sustained a right quadriceps injury. Culpepper had started the two previous games. McCown played despite a dislocated left pinkie finger, which required attention early in the third quarter.
The record shows that McCown passed for three touchdowns and led the Raiders past the Broncos 34-20. But this game is destined to be remembered as the one in which Russell embarked upon a journey the Raiders hope takes them back to prominence.
That's fine with McCown.
"It was cool for our team because it brought a new energy level," McCown said. "If that helps our team, I'm all for that. So, I'm tickled for JaMarcus. He was great. He did a lot of good things."
For now, there's the small matter of winning games with the players that Kiffin deems best suited to pull off the feat. Russell's day looms. On Sunday, McCown offered the best opportunity, in Kiffin's estimation.
McCown validated Kiffin's faith in him by completing 67 percent of his passes, including the three that registered on the scoreboard. He finished with a 125.2 passer rating. Russell went 4-of-7 for 56 yards and a passer rating of 83.0.
"One hundred percent," Russell said, when asked for his assessment of his maiden voyage. "Why not? I think I did good. A few plays, two drives. We came close to converting the fourth down. I thought we were going to score both drives."
Kiffin's plan was put Russell in a game, at home, in a situation conducive to his succeeding.
That time came with 13 minutes, 48 seconds left in the second quarter, the score tied at 7, and the ball at Oakland's 18-yard line.
"That was right about where we wanted to put him in, give him a certain number of plays, let him move around and get a feel for it," Kiffin said. "And he did some good things, threw the first ball right on the mark."
Russell took his NFL snap, rolled to his left and fired a laser-like pass to receiver Jerry Porter for a 16-yard gain.
"His pass was hot," Porter said, in reference to the force of its delivery and the impact of its arrival.
The sellout crowd roared its approval.
A 20-yard pass to receiver Ronald Curry capped the highlights for Russell during his two eight-play drives. Just as notable were a botched hand-off to running back LaMont Jordan, a fumbled snap on a third-down play and two errant throws.
"He made some classic rookie mistakes," Kiffin said.
Perhaps lost in the excitement was the fact Oakland kept alive its faint playoff hopes. The Raiders stayed within three games of the AFC West-leading San Diego Chargers (7-5) with their victory Sunday.
"The sky's the limit with this team," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said.
Winning the division figures to be Oakland's lone shot of making the playoffs, given the Raiders can't win any more than eight games. For now, the Raiders are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs at 4-8 and are only one game behind the 5-7 Broncos.
The playoffs are a distant dream, a goal that can't be attained in one day. Hence the reason, Russell's debut dominated the thoughts and observations of most players.
Sapp said he wasn't among those who crowded the sideline for their first look at Russell in a game, regular season or otherwise -- Russell missed all four exhibition games.
"You don't need to see the guy in a game when you watch him in practice," Sapp said. "I didn't expect anything different from the kid. He's got it."
Contact Steve Corkran at scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.com.
STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 12/02/2007 02:59:26 AM PST
OAKLAND -- Denver Broncos punter Todd Sauerbrun no doubt must have wondered what all the fuss was about. After all, punts are commonplace in NFL games, and it's not as if return specialist Devin Hester was about to receive another shot at weaving his magic.
So, why all the commotion from Raider fans? Thirty yards or so to Sauerbrun's left stood Raiders rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell receiving instruction from quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and placing a helmet upon his shaven head.
Twelve games into his pro career, the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft was about to make his NFL debut, and those who braved the cold weather gleaned it well in advance of the notice from the public address announcer at McAfee Coliseum on Sunday.
Never mind that starting quarterback Josh McCown had guided the Raiders to an opening-drive touchdown and owned a gaudy 119.4 passer rating. Fans wanted a look at the future, and coach Lane Kiffin finally obliged.
"I definitely wanted to watch," Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. "I made a point to see the first play, at least."
Russell graced the field for two unremarkable series, but it was enough to show that he is competent, confident and deserving of more playing time between now and the end of the season.
Kiffin refused to commit to Russell beyond Sunday. He said he isn't sure it's such a good idea to play him in a cold-weather game against the Green Bay Packers this Sunday.
"It's not going to be real warm there, going to be a tough environment to go play in," Kiffin said. "We'll look at it all. We'll also look at the health of our quarterbacks."
McCown started because Daunte Culpepper sustained a right quadriceps injury. Culpepper had started the two previous games. McCown played despite a dislocated left pinkie finger, which required attention early in the third quarter.
The record shows that McCown passed for three touchdowns and led the Raiders past the Broncos 34-20. But this game is destined to be remembered as the one in which Russell embarked upon a journey the Raiders hope takes them back to prominence.
That's fine with McCown.
"It was cool for our team because it brought a new energy level," McCown said. "If that helps our team, I'm all for that. So, I'm tickled for JaMarcus. He was great. He did a lot of good things."
For now, there's the small matter of winning games with the players that Kiffin deems best suited to pull off the feat. Russell's day looms. On Sunday, McCown offered the best opportunity, in Kiffin's estimation.
McCown validated Kiffin's faith in him by completing 67 percent of his passes, including the three that registered on the scoreboard. He finished with a 125.2 passer rating. Russell went 4-of-7 for 56 yards and a passer rating of 83.0.
"One hundred percent," Russell said, when asked for his assessment of his maiden voyage. "Why not? I think I did good. A few plays, two drives. We came close to converting the fourth down. I thought we were going to score both drives."
Kiffin's plan was put Russell in a game, at home, in a situation conducive to his succeeding.
That time came with 13 minutes, 48 seconds left in the second quarter, the score tied at 7, and the ball at Oakland's 18-yard line.
"That was right about where we wanted to put him in, give him a certain number of plays, let him move around and get a feel for it," Kiffin said. "And he did some good things, threw the first ball right on the mark."
Russell took his NFL snap, rolled to his left and fired a laser-like pass to receiver Jerry Porter for a 16-yard gain.
"His pass was hot," Porter said, in reference to the force of its delivery and the impact of its arrival.
The sellout crowd roared its approval.
A 20-yard pass to receiver Ronald Curry capped the highlights for Russell during his two eight-play drives. Just as notable were a botched hand-off to running back LaMont Jordan, a fumbled snap on a third-down play and two errant throws.
"He made some classic rookie mistakes," Kiffin said.
Perhaps lost in the excitement was the fact Oakland kept alive its faint playoff hopes. The Raiders stayed within three games of the AFC West-leading San Diego Chargers (7-5) with their victory Sunday.
"The sky's the limit with this team," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said.
Winning the division figures to be Oakland's lone shot of making the playoffs, given the Raiders can't win any more than eight games. For now, the Raiders are tied with the Kansas City Chiefs at 4-8 and are only one game behind the 5-7 Broncos.
The playoffs are a distant dream, a goal that can't be attained in one day. Hence the reason, Russell's debut dominated the thoughts and observations of most players.
Sapp said he wasn't among those who crowded the sideline for their first look at Russell in a game, regular season or otherwise -- Russell missed all four exhibition games.
"You don't need to see the guy in a game when you watch him in practice," Sapp said. "I didn't expect anything different from the kid. He's got it."
Contact Steve Corkran at scorkran@bayareanewsgroup.com.
