Limit Russell's PT

Jamarcus Russell

So the notion of playing Jamarcus Russell this weekend against the Denver Broncos isn’t the worst idea in the world, granted Lane Kiffin doesn’t get greedy and play the kid significant reps, or worse on a continuing basis the remainder of the season. Here’s why I say that. The Raiders are banged up everywhere, but most notably on the offensive line. Sticking Russell out there for the wolves to devour makes no sense if the intent is to simply get his feet wet.

Kiffin needs to limit Russell’s stint to 10-15 plays from scrimmage this weekend, preferably with the game out of reach (one way or the other). I think Mike Shanahan would like nothing more than to knock around the Raiders future, regardless of his own job status in Denver. Don’t give Shanahan the opportunity to muddy the waters by either injuring the kid or making his first taste of NFL caliber ball a thumping.

The fact that the Raiders decided to do this at home is smart. Russell won’t be playing in a hostile environment, and the Coliseum has no shortage of his supporters.

I’d love nothing more than to see Russell tear up the Broncos secondary with laser beam passes being delivered all over the place, but the Raiders need to be patient. Let him get a taste of the pace, before extending him against hostile defenders.

Of the teams remaining on the Raiders schedule, this is probably the weakest opponent remaining. Jacksonville is ranked 28th in passing defense, so let him air things out in week 16 against the Jags. The Raiders face the Colts and Charges at home, but both of those teams are embroiled in division chases.

Forget about giving Russell any lengthy time over center next week at Lambeau. The weather will most likely be bad and the Packers will still be battling for some semblance of home field in the playoffs. Brett Favre’s injury on Thursday night may make that game more interesting from Green Bay’s perspective, but the Packers pass defense has been one of their strong suits this season.

Let Russell build confidence against teams he’ll have any opportunity to succeed against. Yes, Jacksonville is in the playoff hunt, but that secondary is just what Dr Kiffin ordered. Yes, I’ve heard that the Raiders are a “running team” (or at least until Big Al reminds Kiffin that he isn’t shelling out $80 million to someone so they can hand off the ball), but Russell needs to cut his teeth in the air.

Limit his reps against Denver, extend them against Jacksonville, then wait and see if San Diego is playing for anything on December 30th. If they’re not, turn him loose then.

Then start scouting offensive lineman that you can build an offense around. Russell won’t do squat laying on his back 5-10 times a game or on the IR.

Camp Notes: Day 15

• Don't read too much into Josh McCown's stat at QB on Saturday. Daunte Culpepper has been peppering receivers in camp since signing his 1-year deal with the Raiders.

• Not that Raider fans should get too excited about the preseason anyway, but the offense has a way to go, before you can call it a cohesive unit.

• The one offensive bright spot in camp continues to be TE Zach Miller

• JaMarcus Russell has reportedly purchased a home in the Oakland Hills, but he won't be moving in until his deal with the Raiders is done.

• Derrick Burgess will not play in Saturday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. The Pro-Bowl defender returned to practice this week, but the Raiders don't want to rush him into live action. They would prefer to give his surgically repaired hernia more time to heal.

• CB Stanford Routt injured his right knee on Thursday, allowing Chris Carr to pick up some reps at nickle back.


Around the Nation--

ESPN.com: Notorious image sticks with these Raiders

ESPN.com: Culpepper making Raiders regret draft-day decision?

Raiders & Russell need to figure our gaurantees

JaMarcus Russell and the Raiders are reported to be miles apart in reaching a deal, and until the Raiders are prepared to include basic gaurantees into a deal for the rookie QB, it may take awhile before Russell signs.

ESPN's John Clayton reports:

"JaMarcus Russell's holdout could go well into the exhibition season. The Raiders don't want to pay the standard guarantees given to top picks. Russell wants the typical deal, which includes skill and injury guarantees. The guarantees would likely be in excess of $30 million. Expect a subtle, behind-the-scenes battle in which each side will leak out why the other is wrong in its bargaining position. If Russell can't get a market deal, he will continue his holdout."

Russell's camp indicated to the Raiders back in May that there were certain expectations they had in terms of compensation, and if the Raiders were unprepared to match those demands, they shouldn't draft him.

Granted, posturing by players, agents and teams is part of the courtship process, but by all accounts, the gaurantees that Russell seeks are standard fare. The deal the Raiders have reportedly offered is equal to the deal Alex Smith received two years ago from the 49ers.

If this guy is the face of the franchise, the Raiders need to resolve this issue soon. Daunte Culpepper gives the Raiders some leverage, but Russell is the guy the Raiders want to build around. Nickle and diming your franchise player just doesn't make sense, especially if you're trying to offer up less than the going rate for talent in the NFL.

QBs 'R Us

The Raiders appear to be poised to go on a quarterback stockpile binge. Everyone knows about the JaMarcus Russell / Brady Quinn decision looming with the upcoming NFL Draft, but the Raiders also keep coming up in free agent signing rumors.

David Carr, the former Houston Texans and Fresno State Bulldogs QB hit the open market last week after the Texans decided to acquire Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons. Carr's name immediately becomes synonymous with the Raiders, who are in the uncomfortable position of being without a clear #1 at the position.

Carr, faltered in Houston, where the absence of an offensive line made it difficult for him to be successful. The Raiders are in a similar situation and desperately need to rebuild their line in order to start any serious talk about having a quality offense. What Carr has proven, is that he is ineffective when faced with constant pressure. The Texans allowed an average of 3.4 sacks per game during Carr’s tenure.

With the Raiders line in such disarray, it’s impractical to call Carr anything more than a stopgap solution until one of their younger quarterbacks develops (assuming they draft Russell or Quinn).

Andrew Walter is also someone the Raiders need to decide what to do with. Walter is still a work in progress. Giving up on him would be a mistake, although the Raiders need to decide what to do with him should they take one of the two QBs that are sure to go in the top 10 in this year’s draft.

Keeping Walter and bypassing Russell or Quinn would be a mistake, which means that you either have to make him a backup lifer, or you move him. The Raiders should take the San Diego Chargers approach to a similar problem they had three season ago, when they acquired Philip Rivers and still had Drew Brees.

The Raiders should commit the position to Walter next season. Place his destiny in his own hands by making him the starter in 2007. The Raiders don’t cast rookies into the heat of the fire anyway, so Russell or Quinn will sit next season anyway.

What the Raiders shouldn’t do is pass on the QBs in the draft and proceed with Walter as their committed #1 without a viable option down the road. A Carr and Walter battle doesn’t sound like the best answer, but who knows what the Raiders will do. Calvin Johnson is widely regarded as the best available player in the draft, and the Raiders could need another receiver should they move Randy Moss.

Interestingly, the Texans supposedly were forced to up the ante on Schaub, because the Raiders expressed interest in the former Falcons backup.

Oakland made a peculiar move on Wednesday by signing former Seattle Seahawks QB Josh Booty. The LSU star (and NFL bust) has been out of football since 2003, but the Raiders have him under contract. Unless they intend on using him for sack drill fodder for the defense, the signing makes you scratch your head.