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RAIDERS
Russell could make his 1st start Sunday
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2007
(12-19) 21:11 PST -- Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is going to be the starter or he is going to be the closer Sunday. What he will not be, for once, is the middle reliever.
So indicated coach Lane Kiffin, who was vague as ever about his quarterback plans Wednesday as his team prepared for a weekend trip to Jacksonville, Fla.
"Uh-huh," Kiffin said when asked if Russell, the reigning No. 1 overall draft pick, could make his first NFL start. "There's a possibility of it. We're still looking at it. There's a bunch of different ways to do it."
Kiffin seems to have soured on bringing Russell off the bench for a few series, as he's done the past two home games against the Broncos and Colts.
Russell played three series in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Colts, and each series ended in a punt.
When starter Josh McCown went back in the game, the Raiders immediately scored a go-ahead touchdown, causing some to wonder what might have been if there was never a mid-game switch.
Kiffin himself conceded breaking in Russell comes with scoreboard-related risks.
"There's something to be said for not going back and forth," Kiffin said. "I think you saw (Sunday) the momentum swing of going with one, and then going back."
In other words, Kiffin is leaning toward letting one start and the other finish with no changes in between.
McCown has started the past three games and definitely will share snaps with Russell this week. Daunte Culpepper isn't an option because of a quad injury that has likely ended his season, Kiffin said.
Not that McCown is looking over his shoulder, but he keeps wondering out loud when the Raiders are going to give Russell full control of the huddle.
"I think if you're not playing for the playoffs this year, you play for the playoffs next year," McCown said. "Obviously, they selected that guy very high and they have to get him in there. You can't roll into next year and have him not played in games.
"Would you rather him make those mistakes next year when you have a clean slate or now when you're out of it?"
Be sure, the Raiders (4-10) are out of it, and have been since being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago.
Kiffin's concern is exposing Russell to bad situations that could hinder his growth. That's why Russell sat at the Green Bay game two weeks ago after making his NFL debut one game earlier.
That's also why Russell hasn't run a 2-minute offense, which Kiffin said is a "tough situation" because of the tempo and play-calling - yet another side effect of Russell missing training camp during contract negotiations.
Russell is working on 2-minute drills this week, another indication he'll finish either the first or second half.
"I continue to prepare as if I'm going to play, no matter if I start or not," Russell said. "Whatever his decision, he's the coach, he's the boss. I'll roll with it."
McCown thinks experience is the best thing for Russell at this point. Better to learn lessons now than next September.
"I think if you can eliminate as many unknowns as possible before next year, that would be a good thing," McCown said. "I trust what they're going to do. If you can get him in as many situations as possible to get him ready, hopefully that makes him better.
"I think it's a great way that they're doing it."
For those who think Kiffin is coddling Russell too much, tough.
"It is important for us to get him experience for his future and for his learning curve as well as our learning curve about him," Kiffin said. "I think we've done it as slow as you can.
"We try to put him in a position to be ready when he's called upon to play as opposed to forcing him in."
E-mail David White at [email protected].
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/SP17U1C7G.DTL
This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
RAIDERS
Russell could make his 1st start Sunday
David White, Chronicle Staff Writer
Thursday, December 20, 2007
(12-19) 21:11 PST -- Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell is going to be the starter or he is going to be the closer Sunday. What he will not be, for once, is the middle reliever.
So indicated coach Lane Kiffin, who was vague as ever about his quarterback plans Wednesday as his team prepared for a weekend trip to Jacksonville, Fla.
"Uh-huh," Kiffin said when asked if Russell, the reigning No. 1 overall draft pick, could make his first NFL start. "There's a possibility of it. We're still looking at it. There's a bunch of different ways to do it."
Kiffin seems to have soured on bringing Russell off the bench for a few series, as he's done the past two home games against the Broncos and Colts.
Russell played three series in Sunday's 21-14 loss to the Colts, and each series ended in a punt.
When starter Josh McCown went back in the game, the Raiders immediately scored a go-ahead touchdown, causing some to wonder what might have been if there was never a mid-game switch.
Kiffin himself conceded breaking in Russell comes with scoreboard-related risks.
"There's something to be said for not going back and forth," Kiffin said. "I think you saw (Sunday) the momentum swing of going with one, and then going back."
In other words, Kiffin is leaning toward letting one start and the other finish with no changes in between.
McCown has started the past three games and definitely will share snaps with Russell this week. Daunte Culpepper isn't an option because of a quad injury that has likely ended his season, Kiffin said.
Not that McCown is looking over his shoulder, but he keeps wondering out loud when the Raiders are going to give Russell full control of the huddle.
"I think if you're not playing for the playoffs this year, you play for the playoffs next year," McCown said. "Obviously, they selected that guy very high and they have to get him in there. You can't roll into next year and have him not played in games.
"Would you rather him make those mistakes next year when you have a clean slate or now when you're out of it?"
Be sure, the Raiders (4-10) are out of it, and have been since being mathematically eliminated from the playoffs two weeks ago.
Kiffin's concern is exposing Russell to bad situations that could hinder his growth. That's why Russell sat at the Green Bay game two weeks ago after making his NFL debut one game earlier.
That's also why Russell hasn't run a 2-minute offense, which Kiffin said is a "tough situation" because of the tempo and play-calling - yet another side effect of Russell missing training camp during contract negotiations.
Russell is working on 2-minute drills this week, another indication he'll finish either the first or second half.
"I continue to prepare as if I'm going to play, no matter if I start or not," Russell said. "Whatever his decision, he's the coach, he's the boss. I'll roll with it."
McCown thinks experience is the best thing for Russell at this point. Better to learn lessons now than next September.
"I think if you can eliminate as many unknowns as possible before next year, that would be a good thing," McCown said. "I trust what they're going to do. If you can get him in as many situations as possible to get him ready, hopefully that makes him better.
"I think it's a great way that they're doing it."
For those who think Kiffin is coddling Russell too much, tough.
"It is important for us to get him experience for his future and for his learning curve as well as our learning curve about him," Kiffin said. "I think we've done it as slow as you can.
"We try to put him in a position to be ready when he's called upon to play as opposed to forcing him in."
E-mail David White at [email protected].
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/SP17U1C7G.DTL
This article appeared on page D - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
