R.I.P. Ray Ray Russell

by Ozraider on Nov 3, 2009 5:59 AM PST Comment 14 comments

Although anyone can see JaMarcus Russell's play on the field this season at times this season one very under reported factor is the fact that in April this year JaMarcus's Uncle and Father figure Ray Ray Russell passed away.

There is a great article at:

http://www.sacbee.com/raiders/story/1927287.html

ALAMEDA – He was his rock. His deflector. His father figure.

And now, he's gone.

Ray Russell, uncle to Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, passed away at 42 years young April 17 of congestive heart failure. He was everything to the face of the Raiders franchise, trying to keep temptation at bay for a youngster with $60 million in his pocket and wanting to keep his nephew grounded.

JaMarcus Russell is the Quarterback for the Oakland Raiders and has the world against him right now he is also a 24 year old who has recently lost the closest person in the world to him.

I have no evidence that this is a factor other than my own logic but it would have to be on his mind.

There is the obvious argument that if he is emotionally unstable at all he shouldn't be playing but I really don't see any great benefit in playing Gradkowski (or Garcia) as he isn't taking us to the playoffs either and these young guys are only going to learn together by going through the hard times together.

I know he is playing pretty shitty at the moment but to me he looks like a good player in bad form rather than just a straight out bad player, he isn't going anywhere we might as well get behind the guy and push him to success rather than failure.

At least this year we have a bunch of young guys with potential to root for than a bunch of pissed off vets.

R.I.P. Ray Ray Russell

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RIP

I think this has effected his game a lot. Remember when Matt Barnes lost his mom? That really effected him as well.

Rookie: "Why did you bench me?"
Nellie: "You're a rookie"

by dubzfan on Nov 3, 2009 11:42 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Its a sad thing...

But, that was nearly half a year ago. I know it must be hard to deal with the passing of his uncle..There has been plenty of time to grieve tho. Im not being heartless but he hasn’t been playing well at all in his NFL career. He doesn’t prepare for games, he doesn’t stride towards be a better QB or leader. I am horribibly sorry for his loss but its not a great excuse.

by Remix. on Nov 3, 2009 11:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

my thoughts exactly

not to be a jerk, but if this is why he’s struggling this year, then he’s not ready to be an NFL QB.

Bucs kicker last year lost I think not even his year old daughter, but he still went 4 of 4 and kicked a game-winner one week after his daughter died.

Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.

by KA1Z3R on Nov 3, 2009 1:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone handles things differently

I know personally if lost someone that close to me it would still be affecting me in a major way. Prater was also a vet and a KICKER JaMarcus is a 24 year old starting NFL Quarterback.
I also just feel that from the moment we drafted him there has been nothing but negativity surrounding JaMarcus and while his play on the field has definitely warranted bad press it seems like people were ready to jump on him from day 1 and most of the off field stuff seems to be reported as major when generally unfounded. I cant see anywhere other than hearsay from disgruntled ex-players that JaMarcus does not prepare for games, all the current players i have heard from recently have said they are behind JaMarcus. It came out that he had been fined for missing a meeting but it was never reported when this meeting was or the circumstances under which this occurred.

Your right if that is why he is struggling then maybe he shouldnt be playing but he does not set the depth chart and he is is a football player so if the coach tells him to play he will play every week – what is he going to do pull himself out??

He has a new offensive system again, his best wide receiver got injured and hasn’t played a game and as a result is playing with 2 rookie wide receivers, 2 arguably best and most experienced offensive linemen injured, biggest offensive weapon injured, also dealing with the loss of his father figure, the media hated him from the moment he was drafted, his first head coach fought the owner through the media and was used as some kind of pawn by Kiffin from week 1 in his first year starting, his OWN TEAM FANS hate him! is the conducive and in any way helpful to a young starting NFL quarterback playing well and the RAAAAAIIIDDDDDDEEEERRRRSSSSS returning to the promised land?

He has clearly at times also played like shit this year but I just think all the negativity contributes to him struggling and drives him to failure and think its worth putting the nightmare in the past after the bye week and giving him one more chance and get behind him, he has a lot of talent and when it clicks in him he will be a BEAST!!!!

"Mel Kiper has his opinion and I respect it. But what does it mean? My 9-year-old nephew can watch film and make an opinion. I think I value the opinion of scouts who get paid to make their opinions. It will carry me through my career. It will serve as motivation for me." - Mike Mitchell

"I'll be the guy on top of the Quarterback" - Richard Seymour

Here they come baby, Just win baby, Feel the storm of the cold autum wind baby
Its the Oakland Raiders, Get your mouthpiece
You in the black hole, With the black beast! - Ice Cube 'Raider Nation'

by Ozraider on Nov 3, 2009 4:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He has clearly at times also played like shit this year but I just think all the negativity contributes to him struggling and drives him to failure and think its worth putting the nightmare in the past after the bye week and giving him one more chance and get behind him, he has a lot of talent and when it clicks in him he will be a BEAST!!!!

So I’m not supposed to be negative when our own coach doesn’t trust him on third downs? And what else is going to get him going? We can’t celebrate his horrific performance on the field. As for chances, he’s run out of them. He’s in his third year and should not be this horrible, nor should he be this clearly unmotivated to even try to work on his faults and weaknesses.

Where was all this talent when we were backing him in Week 1, week 2, week 3, week 4, week 5; after 5 weeks of lackadaisical suckitude, most of us stopped backing him. But yet the empty stands and boos haven’t gotten him any more motivated than a stadium packed full of cheering fans.

Evey- "Are you a crazy person?"
V- "I'm quite sure they'll say so."
V for Vendetta, blowing your mind away since 2005.

by KA1Z3R on Nov 3, 2009 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think its a matter of not being negative about bad performance

I think it is a matter of looking at all the factors and not attributing the entire blame to one person and as a result destroy a young player with so much potential. I would have thought that while not trusting the pass game on third down while obviously has a lot to do with JaMarcus also would have something to do with confidence that the receivers aren’t going to run into each other and fall down or drop the ball in a pressure third down situation. On the final drive last week one of our faves Zach Miller failed to pick up a blitz and JaMarcus got planted and from memory we ended up 3rd and 28 or something if JaMarcus leads us on that drive which he has twice this season all is well.

I’m not saying JaMarcus hasn’t made many god awful plays (the fumbles are the number 1 problem imo) and to say he hasn’t played well is an understatement he does not deserve the entire wrath of the nation there are many factors contributing and I just don’t think he is as far away as it looks sometimes.

"I'll be the guy on top of the Quarterback" - Richard Seymour

Here they come baby, Just win baby, Feel the storm of the cold autum wind baby
Its the Oakland Raiders, Get your mouthpiece
You in the black hole, With the black beast! - Ice Cube 'Raider Nation'

by Ozraider on Nov 3, 2009 5:32 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The Fumbles...

The fumbles are not only JaMarcus’s fault. Yeah, He needs to get his QB clock established, but when your line lets someone through almost every time, its must be hard to tell when someone is coming and when someone isn’t

by Remix. on Nov 3, 2009 5:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the wild throws are a big problem as well

he has to hit receivers when they are open. He still looks tentative a lot of the time but the few (very few) times he has locked in this year he has looked great and he seems to be slowly getting more comfortable. It’s a painful road but I think the ceiling of his potential is worth giving it time especially when the alternative is career QB rated 53.0 Bruce Gradkowski is the alternative and Garcia was horrible as well.

"I'll be the guy on top of the Quarterback" - Richard Seymour

Here they come baby, Just win baby, Feel the storm of the cold autum wind baby
Its the Oakland Raiders, Get your mouthpiece
You in the black hole, With the black beast! - Ice Cube 'Raider Nation'

by Ozraider on Nov 3, 2009 6:06 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs