Favre, Vick Sagas Emphasize JaMarcus Russell’s Importance to Raiders

The media circus surrounding the recent signings of Brett Favre and Michael Vick serves as a reminder that the Oakland Raiders have reached a stress-free level unknown to them in recent years.

Thanks to newfound stability at head coach and quarterback, the Raiders are finally starting to shed the controversies that had become commonplace for them.

A team’s most important player is its starting quarterback, and it sends a bad message to the fans and players in Minnesota and Philadelphia when their teams are seen scrambling to land long shots at that position.

Bringing in a player off the street who threatens the current starter in the middle of preseason is bound to rattle a team. After all, you don’t see passengers being called up to the cockpit as a plane takes off.

How much confidence can a team have if they know their quarterback isn’t good enough to definitively hold off someone who wasn’t even in the league a week ago?

The Eagles are sticking to their stance that Vick is nothing more than a backup/wildcat option, but even if Vick never starts a single game for them, Philadelphia will eventually have a very public quarterback controversy on their hands.

The first time Donovan McNabb struggles, his status will be questioned and all eyes will turn to Vick. That’s what bringing in a talented, big-name backup does for your team.

When Oakland drafted JaMarcus Russell first overall in 2007, they did so in the hopes that he would solidify the quarterback position for the next decade, allowing them to observe such signings with nothing more than casual amusement.

And sure enough, after running through Aaron Brooks, Kerry Collins, Marques Tuiasosopo, Andrew Walter, and Josh McCown in the post-Gannon era, the Raiders finally have an established plan under center. It’s no surprise that this newfound stability at quarterback coincides with the most stable team Oakland has fielded since their 2002 Super Bowl run.

Of course, seeing as this is still a team with swords, a pirate, and an eyepatch in their logo, not everything’s sunshine and baby kittens. The good news is that the coaches are at least fighting each other now, rather than going after the owner. There’s a sense of hierarchy now, which is a positive sign.

The Dallas Cowboys aside, winning teams tend to be steady year-to-year, which is why it’s significant that the Raiders have finally found a reassuring presence in Russell. No longer are there questions in Oakland about how long their quarterback will hold out or whether he’s able to start at the professional level. Instead, Russell’s aim is simply to be better in 2009 than he was in 2008.

And while Oakland’s running game figures to do most of the heavy lifting this season, Russell will be counted on to make up for a receiving corps that grows thinner by the day.

Of course, when you draft a player first overall, you expect him to make up for some of the team’s shortcomings. You expect a leader, a superstar who will help carry the franchise. In short, he’s expected to be The Man.

Young passers are under pressure to develop quicker than ever before, and the immediate success of Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco as rookies has only shortened the timetable of expectancy even further. As the Eagles have demonstrated with McNabb, teams won’t hesitate to line up replacement quarterbacks well before one is necessary.

JaMarcus Russell’s status in Oakland may never be more secure than it is right now, and now is the time for him to capitalize on it. It’s up to him to keep the Raiders out of the free agent fray and away from the NFL’s traveling media circus.

The Oakland Sports Examiner: New columns every Tuesday and Thursday.

Time for Darren McFadden to Be Named the Oakland Raiders’ Starter

Oakland’s preseason kicked off Thursday night against Dallas, an unremarkable game for the first 10 minutes. Middling along as preseason games tend to do, the Raiders and Cowboys played to an uneventful 7-3 score, at which point Oakland made a key substitution.

With five minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Raiders inserted Darren McFadden into the lineup, and he immediately jolted the Oakland Coliseum to life.

Playing at a different speed than the other 21 players on the field, McFadden turned a simple handoff into an electric 13-yard carry, instantly melting away any lingering training camp malaise.

On the next drive, the Raiders’ 2008 first-round pick ran around the left side as though he were shot from a cannon, breaking a 45-yard run that took him from second base to left field on Oakland’s makeshift baseball/football pitch.

And just like that, a worthy opponent emerged to challenge Jahvid Best for the title of best Bay Area running back.

It was only the first game of the preseason, and it was only two carries, but McFadden’s Thursday night effort is still reason for excitement in the East Bay. Dallas’ defense may not have been in midseason form, but McFadden wasn’t exactly running against a cover band.

With his two lightning-quick runs, McFadden kick-started the 2009 season and demonstrated that no player on either team was more prepared for his return to the gridiron. That McFadden is running with the vigor of an undrafted rookie rather than a first-round bonus baby who is a great sign for Oakland.

McFadden was an all-world tailback in college, but injuries forced him to sit out half of his 2008 rookie campaign. He even looked slower last year, running in the Raiders’ black socks rather than the customary high whites he sported in college.

But it took only two carries Thursday night to refresh the image of the real Darren McFadden, the one who struck fear in the hearts of SEC giants.

The Arkansas McFadden was faster than everyone opposing defenses threw at him, and he was stronger than most of them too. Watching him run in college was like watching Super Mario run around after picking up the star.

McFadden is also the rare star whose backups thrive in his wake. Felix Jones was able to parlay his success as McFadden’s sidekick into a first-round contract last year, and Justin Fargas should see similar success spelling the second-year back this season.

The incumbent starter in Oakland, Fargas has proven to be solid if unspectacular as a No. 1 option. Over the past two seasons, Fargas has averaged 931 yards and three touchdowns on 4.2 yards per carry.

Decent numbers, but no one will ever confuse Fargas for a game-changing runner. McFadden is stronger, faster, and more talented, a threat to break a big play every time he touches the ball. Players like that don’t come around very often in the NFL.

It’s the reason why there’s still so much interest around the league in Michael Vick, why teams keep signing T.O., why Reggie Bush will always be drafted too high in fantasy football leagues, and it’s the reason Tony D’Amato brought Willie Beamen with him to Albuquerque.

Speed isn’t a coachable quality, and it’s not easy to find.

That McFadden’s 45-yard dash landed him in left field is only fitting, given that he burst through the hole with quickness that would have made Rickey Henderson proud. By the time he was eventually wrestled to the turf, Raiders fans were already scanning the Chargers’ depth chart for defenders capable of catching McFadden in the open field (it’s all on you, Antonio Cromartie).

Opposing defenses will be keying in on McFadden’s speed all year, creating more room for Oakland’s receivers to operate. That’s just the advantage the Raiders need to take pressure off of their young quarterback and dangerously inexperienced wideouts (Chaz “Just” Schilens and Darrius “Cal State Hayward-East Bay” have a combined fifteen NFL receptions).

With so little familiarity on offense, the Raiders don’t just need to get McFadden the ball; they need to marry him to it.

According to local reports, Tom Cable is already close to announcing McFadden’s status as a starter. But if it’s a foregone conclusion that he’ll start, why not just announce it now?

Creating a spirit of competition at training camp is one thing, but there’s no denying that McFadden is the best running back on the team. If the Raiders are worried about their young star getting hurt again, then simply name him the starter and limit his preseason carries.

Even Cable himself seems to be getting tense over the decision.

It’s time for Oakland to promote Darren McFadden—before anyone else gets hurt.

 

The Oakland Sports Examiner: New columns every Tuesday and Thursday.

Oakland Raiders: Competition Could Lead to New Faces on Defense

At first glance, the 2009 Oakland Raiders’ defense looks nearly identical to the one that finished 2008.

Oakland’s defensive roster remains virtually unchanged, a surprising development for a team that finished 27th in the NFL in overall defense.

But the unit that takes the field this season could look remarkably different, thanks to the environment of competition instilled this offseason. A defense plagued by missed tackles and open holes along the line is expected to be more aggressive this season, both on and off of the field.

While the Raiders didn’t bring in many new faces in response to last year’s poor defensive performance, returning players are feeling pressured just the same. John Marshall has replaced Rob Ryan as the defensive coordinator, and he’s made it clear that outside of the team’s superstar cornerback, there are no sacred cows.

Some of the team’s most recognizable defenders are now in dogfights for starting positions, and may be facing their final chance to start for Oakland. Like The Bobs in Office Space, Marshall and head coach Tom Cable are forcing the team’s defenders to reapply for their own jobs.

The Silver and Black figure to blitz more under Marshall than they did with Ryan, which should improve a pass rush that has been sporadic the past few years.

Derrick Burgess was brought in several years ago to harass opposing quarterbacks, but his holdout led the team to sign free agent Greg Ellis. Burgess has lost nearly all his leverage, and wouldn’t be guaranteed a roster spot even if he reported to camp tomorrow.

Even the Raiders’ top tackler is not immune to the threat of being replaced. Middle linebacker shouldn’t rank high on Oakland’s list of concerns, yet Marshall freely admits the spot is open to competition.

Despite averaging 128 tackles for Oakland the past three years, Kirk Morrison is now fighting for his job with Ricky Brown, an undrafted fourth-year player with a total of 58 career tackles.

Oakland’s defensive line has provided little resistance to opposing runners in the past few years, and Morrison and outside linebacker Thomas Howard have often acted as Oakland’s first line of defense.

Unless Morrison is still hurt from making so many tackles, or has some obscene tackling incentive written into his contract, it’s hard to see how the Raiders could consider replacing the former Bishop O’Dowd star.

Amidst all the shakeups on defense, one player has remained bulletproof. Not only is Nnamdi Asomugha’s position safe, he signed a contract extension over the winter that made him the NFL’s highest-paid player at the time.

Respect for Asomugha’s skills throughout the league has earned him the 1994 Deion Sanders treatment, as quarterbacks virtually ignore his side of the field.

For Chris Johnson, that should mean plenty of opportunities to establish himself as a top-level corner. Because Asomugha acts as an island, Johnson will receive extra safety help while covering teams’ second receivers, which should free him up to make plays on the ball.

Kevin Smith, Eric Davis, and numerous others made the most of a similar situation playing next to Sanders in the ’90s, and Raiders fans don’t need to be reminded of what that opportunity meant for Larry Brown.

While Asomugha and Johnson have their starting jobs wrapped up, the spots behind them are up for grabs, involving two players whose draft position merits special attention from Raider Nation.

Former first round pick Michael Huff is fighting to win back the free safety spot from Hiram Eugene, and this could be Huff’s last chance to make it as a starter in Oakland. Huff has disappointed thus far, but he can take solace in the fact that he’s at least competing for a starting job, unlike draft classmate Matt Leinart.

The Raiders hoped they had a playmaking safety in Huff, and that same hope has now been placed upon rookie strong safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell has apparently been doing his best Jack Tatum impersonation in training camp, and he could be starting by the time the Chargers roll into town to open the season.

As Oakland’s offense continues to search for its identity, the defense won’t have much margin for error in 2009. And with San Diego coming to visit in Week 1, the Raiders don’t have much time before their decision to renew last year’s personnel is put to the test.

 

The Oakland Sports Examiner: New columns every Tuesday and Thursday.

Oakland Raiders Looking To Be More Offensive in 2009

Now that training camp has arrived, it’s time for the Oakland Raiders offense to begin setting goals for the upcoming season. Having ranked near the bottom of the league in offense for several years now, here’s a modest ambition: Keep Shane Lechler out of the Pro Bowl.

Lechler’s perennial Pro Bowl streak, paired with Sebastian Janikowski’s history of long kicks and even longer nights of partying, has given Oakland the highest-profile kicking duo in NFL.

For the 2009 Raiders, offensive success will be measured by how long they can keep their power-footed duo on the sideline, limiting the number of times they’re called upon to bail the team out with another long-distance drive.

What the Raiders would prefer to see is quarterback JaMarcus Russell delivering long-distance passes to his receivers. But while Russell has a strong enough arm to keep Al Davis happy, he also needs receivers who can both get deep and catch a pass, a commodity currently in short supply.

Of course, if Russell doesn’t have enough time to throw, it won’t matter how far he can heave it. Raiders quarterbacks were sacked once every 11 pass attempts last season (good for 27th in the NFL), and because Russell is larger than most of the defenders chasing him, he won’t be evading many tackles.

As it happens, “tackle” is currently a derogatory word in Oakland, given that the team still hasn’t decided which tackle will protect Russell’s blind side this season.

The Raiders are also light on proven pass catchers, now that Ronald Curry has followed Jerry Porter out the door. Oakland’s lack of depth at receiver means that Javon Walker might actually see meaningful playing time, despite the fact that he may have walked off the reservation years ago.

Fresh off a season in which he was robbed and beaten in Vegas, nearly retired, and produced absolutely nothing of consequence for Oakland, Walker has returned with a vengeance.

It’s only training camp, but Walker’s third-person references are already in midseason form, and he underwent surgery so obscure that he refuses to reveal even the country in which it took place.

Competing with Walker is first-round pick Darrius Hayward-Bey, who’s already suffered his first injury as a pro, and may have brought a case of the drops with him from college.

Thankfully, the Raiders are replete with running backs, several of whom may be loaned out to the receiving corps this season. Offensive coordinator John Shoop (of Salt N’ Pepa fame) has already experimented with Darren McFadden at receiver in training camp, and devising new ways to get McFadden the ball figures to be a season-long challenge.

Aside from his part-time job at wide receiver, McFadden will also serve as the team’s featured running back and occasional wildcat quarterback. McFadden never got into a groove as a rookie last season, but he’ll serve as the Raiders’ primary playmaker this year, and the team is counting on him for a breakout season.

With McFadden handling most of the carries, Justin Fargas spelling him, and Michael Bush providing the thunder, the Raiders have the kind of running back depth that’s all the rage among the NFL kids these days.

Bush is accustomed to a power running game, having already switched between running back and fullback 43 times in his brief NFL career. Add fullback Lorenzo Neal as the trio’s bodyguard, and Oakland’s running game figures to be even stronger than last year, when they finished 10th in the league in rushing yards per game.

With Russell (strong-armed quarterback), McFadden (quick running back), Heyward-Bey (deep threat at receiver), and Zach Miller (sure-handed tight end), the Raiders have all the makings of a good offense in Madden

How well the Raiders blend these individual skill sets into a functional offense will determine whether Oakland contends for a playoff spot or heads for a starring role in Roger Goodell’s new Thursday night lineup.

The Oakland Sports Examiner: New columns every Tuesday and Thursday.

A Visitor’s Guide to the Oakland Coliseum

If you’re planning on attending your first sporting event in Oakland, or even if you just haven’t been in a while, there are a few things you’ll need to know.

Lucky for you, the Oakland Sports Examiner is here to tell you what those things are:

 

1) Weather

If you’ve never attended a baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum, there’s one thing you need to know about the weather: Everything changes once you enter the stadium.

Say you show up 20 minutes before a 7:05 game, on a picture-perfect summer evening. Seventy degrees outside, nice sunset, the works.

By the sixth inning, you’ll be ready to commit assault for a warm blanket and paying $90 for a hideous yellow jacket suddenly won’t sound unreasonable.

In the afternoon, it’s just the opposite.

That’s because the Coliseum holds the world record for most pounds of concrete per square inch. It’s great for fending off invading armies, but it doesn’t lend itself to airflow.

If you’re not prepared, a nine-inning afternoon game can leave you feeling like human stir fry in the Coliseum’s concrete wok.

 

2) Tickets

The biggest advantage to supporting a small-market team with a poor record isn’t ticket availability, it’s seat availability.

Attending an A’s game this season means you and 8,000 of your closest friends will be the only ones there, which allows you the opportunity to explore new real estate.

Buy a second-deck or bleacher ticket, and move down to the lower deck. If no one else is going to sit there, you may as well.

Also, you don’t need to purchase a ticket before you arrive. The scalper network at the Coliseum is extensive, and they’ll have everything you need.

They may claim that you need to buy seven seats together, or that they only have two-and-one-half tickets left, but haggle with them for a few minutes and you’ll get what you’re looking for.

 

3) Transportation

When traveling to the Coliseum, you have three primary choices: taking BART, driving and parking in the Coliseum lot, or driving and parking outside the Coliseum lot.

Parking in the Coliseum lot will cost you what the A’s are paying their centerfielder this season, and you’ll have to come to grips with the fact that you paid for another one of Al Davis’ sweatsuits.

Park outside the Coliseum lot, and you may receive a good Samaritan award. After all, you will have donated your stereo and at least one of your car’s windows to the local community, in addition to anything you may have left in your trunk.

Don’t bother trying to track it down, either, because your belongings have already been sold four times at the flea market next door. But thanks for playing.

BART, on the other hand, is cheap, convenient, and reliable, dropping you off on the Coliseum’s doorstep. You’ll also have commanding views of the Bay, the Oakland hills, and everyone who ignored this advice and drove to the game.

 

4) Food and drink

Before attending a game in Oakland, repeat the following mantra: I will not rely on the Coliseum to feed me.

The food at the Coliseum is no different than a high school cafeteria: It has things you like to order, but they’re usually not as good as you hope, and you’re never glad you ate it.

Instead, stop across the street for an animal-style double-double at In N’ Out or a double-double helping of MSG at Panda Express.

As for drinks, there’s a reason the postgame parking lot looks like Mardi Gras just rolled through. The Coliseum is the only place where beer is more valuable than gasoline, and it’s created a new level in the beer economy:

In high school, “beer money” meant throwing down $20 for whatever the guy with the fake I.D. was willing to buy.

In college, “beer money” meant $10 for a 64-pack of Natural Ice.

At the Coliseum, “beer money” means 10 pieces of leprechaun gold and a pint of dragon’s blood for two oversized MGD’s.

You’ve been warned.

 

5) Company

If you bring a date to the Coliseum, you’ll need to temper expectations accordingly.

At the Coliseum, there isn’t much to keep a casual fan (or non-fan) entertained. Where AT&T Park has gorgeous views, boat traffic, and a giant slide in left field, the Coliseum has 3 PM firebombings courtesy of the local army of seagulls.

For a brief period, the Warriors offered a fun environment for non-diehards, but ownership cured that like a bad rash.

The Raiders are the best team in Oakland now, but girls at Raiders games are likely to either get scared or stolen.

If you’re bringing a date, it’s probably best to stick with an A’s game.

 

The Oakland Sports Examiner: New columns every Tuesday and Thursday.

Raiders surprisingly calm amid AFC West storm

As training camp approaches, the Oakland Raiders find themselves in an unfamiliar position. Not only are they now Oakland’s best sports team, but they also enter the 2009 season with fewer distractions than any team in the AFC West.

Divisional rival Kansas City completely overhauled their franchise, bringing in the holy trinity of NFL rebuilding: A new GM, a new coach, and a new quarterback.

The Chiefs also traded Tony Gonzalez, need to find a replacement for Larry Johnson (he’s turning 30!), may deal Pro Bowler Brian Waters, and changed their defense from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4, a transition which takes more than one season.

Things aren’t much better in the Mile High City. For months now, the Broncos have starred in Oakland’s favorite reality show, voting off a new member of the team each week.

First, head coach and Raider nemesis Mike Shanahan (20-6 career record vs. Oakland) was let go. Then new coach, Josh McDaniels, traded Jay Cutler to Chicago, handing his team over to the legendary Kyle Orton.

Star wide receiver Brandon Marshall has also requested a trade and may follow Shanahan and Cutler out the door. And not to be outdone by the Chiefs, Denver is also converting to a 3-4 defense.

If you’re keeping track at home, that makes two AFC West teams with new coaches, quarterbacks, and defensive schemes, which also figures to make for two long seasons. That McDaniels and Chiefs GM Scot Pioli were both rolled off New England’s ‘genius-in-waiting’ assembly line makes this even more enjoyable for Raiders fans.

In San Diego, things aren’t nearly as bleak. The three-time defending AFC West champs are the division’s undisputed kings, averaging 11 wins per year over their reign. But cracks in their foundation are beginning to show, starting with their franchise player.

Injuries and age are catching up with LaDanian Tomlinson, and he took a pay cut in the offseason to avoid being let go. He’ll split carries this season with Darren Sproles, a small back who’s never carried a significant load for an entire season.

Splitting carries between these two worked last season when Tomlinson was hurt and couldn’t shoulder the weight alone. But now that LT is healthy again, playing time in the backfield may be an issue all season.

The Raiders just hope that Tomlinson isn’t on the field when the Chargers visit Oakland, where he seems to run for 425 yards, score eight touchdowns, win two gold medals, and save three babies every time he visits.

At best, Tomlinson’s status in San Diego is now year-to-year, which puts him in elite company: Sproles, Philip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Marcus McNeill, and Shawne Merriman will all be free agents after the 2009 season. Tomlinson and Merriman’s injury histories also figure to test the Chargers’ much-heralded depth, as will the team’s penchant for ending up in San Diego jails.

By comparison, Oakland’s offseason has been downright serene.

The Raiders finished their season without a permanent head coach, but in Tom Cable they seem to have finally found a leader who’s neither a short-term stopgap nor looking ahead to his next job.

The Raiders avoided their usual signings of big-name veterans and Super Bowl winners, and instead extended the contract of Nnamdi Asomugha, ending his attempts to break Charles Woodson’s record for most consecutive franchise tags. And not only did the Raiders re-sign Asomugha, they made him the highest-paid player in the NFL, a rarity in a quarterbacks’ league.

Even the departure of defensive coordinator Rob Ryan qualified as tranquil, given the amount of attention his job status received in recent years.

So what gives? Have the Raiders been infiltrated by invading hippies from Berkeley? Is a drum circle in the offing? How have the Raiders suddenly become the picture of calm?

The answer lies at the top. Al Davis and the front office laid low this spring, which trickled down to the players and coaches. For the first time in years, it’s been a quiet offseason in Oakland, and now there’s nothing distracting the Raiders from playing football.

This isn’t to say that 2009 will be Oakland’s magic year, or that the Raiders are ready to make a leap similar to Arizona last season. Winning the division remains a longshot, but a playoff spot isn’t out of reach.

The 2009 season hasn’t yet begun, but in the AFC West, the Raiders are already ahead of the curve. For a team that won five games a year ago, that’s a pretty good place to start.

The Oakland Sports Examiner, new columns every Tuesday & Thursday: http://www.examiner.com/x-12984-Oakland-Sports-Examiner

Raiders Can’t Let Vick Scramble To Oakland

Now that Michael Vick has been released by both the federal prison system and the Atlanta Falcons, he has reclaimed his customary spot atop the NFL rumor mill. And because Vick is now an ex-con, the Oakland Raiders jump to mind as his inevitable landing spot.

But is Michael Vick a realistic possibility for Oakland? Aside from his ongoing league suspension and the PETA circus sure to follow him wherever he goes, Vick is hounded by several issues as he re-enters the NFL:

– He isn’t what you would call an ‘accurate’ quarterback.

The Raiders already have one squirrely quarterback in JaMarcus Russell, and they don’t need another. Russell is young enough that he may someday shake his accuracy issues, but right now both players complete about half of their passes. Since the Raiders don’t play in the Big-10, that presents a bit of a problem.

– He needs a team with a moral gray area.

You’ve heard all the jokes about the Raiders: they’ll be playing the prison guards in their home opener, their team photo is a collage of mug shots, and the only people who’ve served more time than Oakland’s players are their fans.

The Raiders are so synonymous with outlaw culture that you expect them to not only sign Michael Vick, but to follow it up by bringing in Marcus Vick, O.J. Simpson, Suge Knight, and The Joker.

But while the Raiders still carry a renegade reputation, the reality is that NFL players who’ve run afoul of the law are best-served looking for work in Dallas (if they’re talented) or Cincinnati (if they aren’t).

– He also needs an organization with some stability.

If this issue were listed first, it would make for a pretty short column. On a list of stable NFL organizations, the Raiders rank dead last. If there were something lower than dead last, that would be the Raiders.

Not only has owner Al Davis sworn a blood feud with no fewer than three of his ex-coaches (Shanahan, Gruden, Kiffin), he apparently doesn’t even know who his current coach is.

If Vick did land in Oakland, it’d take less than a week until he started to miss the structure he had back in prison.

– He wants a chance to win a starting job.

The Raiders are JaMarcus Russell’s team now, and he can’t be made to look replaceable by his own organization. Speculation surrounding Vick has seemed to hound Russell ever since he became the starting quarterback. Just last season, several Raiders who played with Vick in Atlanta publicly welcomed bringing him to Oakland.

The Raiders spend enough time worrying about who their coach will be from week to week; the last thing they need is a quarterback controversy.

Even taking into account all the negativity that surrounds him, the most important reason not to sign Michael Vick is that he won’t improve the Raiders on the field. He doesn’t represent a significant upgrade at quarterback, and thanks to Darren McFadden, Vick wouldn’t even be the most dangerous Wildcat threat on the team.

For now, Raider Nation will just have to live with the fact that they’re one play away from their nightmares becoming reality: Jeff Garcia, Silver & Black quarterback.

The Oakland Sports Examiner, new columns every Tuesday & Thursday: http://www.examiner.com/x-12984-Oakland-Sports-Examiner

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