Raiders Want a Redo: Russell Will Compete

 Posted by at 10:36 PM  No Responses »
Apr 282010
 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Russell will be allowed to report to minicamp and compete for the job.

If Al Davis is intent on keeping Russell, this is the way to do it.

Cutting Russell right now would be a favor, allowing him to potentially hitch a ride with another team. It also gives Russell time to learn the offense for that new team.

Keeping Russell around allows him to compete for *a* job on the team.

If the Raiders decide not to hold onto JaMarcus come cut down day, he will walk away with the $3 million and be hard-pressed to find another team.

This type of maneuver gives the Raiders serious leverage in trying to force Russell to take a pay cut.

If the report proves true, the Raiders are happy to keep JaMarcus around in a reserve roll or are intent on seeing how he responds to true competition.

I'll call ESPN out for reporting this both ways.

It is easy to float a rumor like this, the Raiders will never confirm the report and usually they don't even bother to deny it.

ESPN gets two stories for the price of one when, of course, they report the exact opposite of their previous report.

This type of yellow journalism has earned the network the name, "BSPN" from more than one member of the Raider Nation, something that isn't likely to go away until they stop reporting untrue or inaccurate information.

10 Lingering Questions For The Raiders

 Posted by at 5:23 PM  2 Responses »
Apr 262010
 

The Raiders had a few basic goals this offseason: Improve the rush defense without sacrificing a pass rush, protect the QB, improve the return game, and acquire a better QB.

I'm not sure even the Raiders believed they could address all these goals like they wanted to, but they did about as good as you could hope for them to do.

There are still lingering questions the Raiders must answer before they play a regular season game in 2010.

1 – Can Rolando McClain play three downs and cover a running back or tight end?

2 – Will Lamarr Houston make an impact against the run in the base 4-3 and 3-4?

3 – How long will it take Jared Veldheer to catch up to the speed of the NFL game?

4 – Will Bruce Campbell put the effort in to improve his technique?

5 – Does Jacoby Ford have the ability and hands to go along with the speed that will make him a good return man and slot receiver?

6 – Will Quentin Groves develop into something more than he was for two seasons in Jacksonville?

7 – Will Jason Campbell continue to improve with yet another offensive coordinator?

8 – Will Kamerion Wimbley turn back into what he was two years ago?

9 – Will there be a three-man front and who will play nose tackle?

10 – Will Mario Henderson keep Jason Campbell healthy and off his back?

The Raiders first mini-camp comes up this weekend; maybe we will get the answers to a couple of these questions then.

Campbell An Amazing Value

 Posted by at 6:00 PM  No Responses »
Apr 242010
 

It isn’t often you can get a starting QB via trade.

It is even more rare when you can get a starting QB for a fourth round pick two years into the future.

The Raiders have added a year to Campbell’s deal making him a Raider through 2011.

Jason Campbell’s deal in oakland will pay him $3.14 million this season and $4.5 million in 2011 according to Adam Schefter.

What does this mean for JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski?

Give the reigns to Campbell or a true competition? Time will tell.

So who is Jason Campbell? Some scrub that couldn’t win in Washington?

Not exactly. Cambpbell has improved every year of his NFL career and each year has had a new offensive coordinator.

He already gives the Raiders what they want, a 60% completion percentage and 3,000 yard passer.

Clearly a great draft for the Raiders.

Al Davis reportedly called Kirk Morrison to thank him for his service. Classy move by the old man, Kirk was a fan favorite.

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