FanPost

The Future of the Oakland Raiders rests on Jamarcus Russell's Shoulders

Well, Our organization started to rebuild itself are a league worst 2-14 season by Drafting QB from LSU Jamarcus Russell with the first Overall pick in the 2007 Draft. He was projected to be the "Savior" of this Franchise but, A long signing hold out cost him to miss all of Training camp. First game played was at home in Oakland, California inside of Mcafee Coliseum where he completed his first professional pass to WR Jerry Porter on a play action play. First professional pass as a starter was week 17 against the Chargers and he was picked off by an offensive linemen while he tried to do a screen pass. Throughout that time he has shown signs of improvement this year ending the season on a two game winning streak and one of the top rated QB in that time. He ended the 2008 season with 13 Touchdown, 8 Interceptions, 2,423 Yards through the air, and a 77.1 Rating.

 

 

 

PRO: Talented QB who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft by Raiders…2007: Saw action in four games in December…Inactive from 9/9-11/25.

PERSONAL: Attended Lillie B. Williamson High in hometown of Mobile, Ala....One of the nation’s top-rated quarterbacks...Consensus top-five national pro-style quarterback by every major recruiting publication...Named to the prestigious Parade All-America Team…Named Alabama’s Mr. Football and SuperPrep Dixie Offensive Player of the Year...All-time leading passer in Alabama history, throwing for 10,744 yards, eclipsing the mark set by former Alabama and current Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Brodie Croyle...Two-time 5A all-state selection who rewrote the record books with 84 touchdown passes...Connected on 219 of 372 passes for 3,332 yards and 22 TDs as a senior...On the ground, added 400 yards and five TDs in 2002...Passed for 1,850 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior...Also standout basketball player…Made national news in the fall of 2005 after sharing his apartment with legendary musician Fats Domino in the days following Hurricane Katrina... Actually housed more than a dozen family and friends for a week following the storm.

Here are some people who will be helping Jamarcus Russell on his way to Success.

 1) Darren McFadden-  Selected 4th overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2008 Draft. Al Davis type pick also with him being one of the fastest players available in the Draft.

 

Oakland Raiders selected Arkansas RB Darren McFadden with the #4 overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. McFadden rushed for 4,590 yards on 785 attempts, averaging 5.8 yards, and scored 44 touchdowns during his career at Arkansas.

During his career at Arkansas, McFadden caught 46 passes for 365 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw seven touchdown passes and returned a kickoff for a score.

In 2007, he rushed for 1,830 yards on 325 attempts, averaging 5.6 yards, and scored 17 touchdowns.

McFadden, a two-time Heisman Trophy runner-up, is regarded as one of the finest players in college football in recent years and one of the best to come out of the University of Arkansas. The two-time Doak Walker Award winner shattered numerous school and Southeastern Conference records during his three seasons at Arkansas, establishing himself as one of the league's elite all-time backs -- Herschel Walker of Georgia, Bo Jackson of Auburn and Emmitt Smith of Florida.

McFadden was often utilized as the quarterback in the "Wildcat" formation, dominating defenses with his running and passing. He shared the backfield with another 1,000-yard rusher and first-team All-American kick returner Felix Jones, as the duo formed the most potent running back tandem in the nation, helping the Razorbacks average 286.5 yards per game on the ground in 2007.

In 38 games as a Razorback, McFadden rushed for over 100 yards 22 times. By winning the Doak Walker Award in both 2006 and '07, he became just the third Arkansas player to ever garner national award recognition in the 112 years of the program, joining Bud Brooks (1954 Outland Trophy) and Loyd Phillips (1966 Outland Trophy).

By gaining 1,113 yards rushing in 2005, 1,647 in '06 and a school-record 1,830 yards in '07, McFadden joined Georgia's Herschel Walker (1980-82) as the only players in Southeastern Conference history to rush for over 1,000 yards as a freshman, sophomore and junior. He is also the second UA player to rush for 1,000 yards three times, joining Ben Cowins (1976-78). McFadden is the first to do it in his first three seasons.

HIGH SCHOOL: He was the only player from the state of Arkansas to be named to the Parade All-America team in 2004. He was also selected to the second team All-South squad by Countdown to Signing Day. He racked up 4,871 yards rushing on 497 attempts in his prep career and averaged 9.8 yards per carry for Coach John Mayes. He was named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. He was also selected to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s All-Arkansas squad. He was also tabbed as the 4A-Southeast Conference’s Outstanding Back. He earned all-state and all-area honors as both a junior and a senior. He rushed for 1,965 yards and 27 touchdowns on 184 carries as a senior. He averaged 10.7 yards per carry and scored three or more rushing touchdowns in six games during his senior season. He made three receptions for 67 yards and one score. He completed six-of-15 passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as a quarterback. He also returned nine punts for 370 yards and three touchdowns. As a junior, he rushed for a school-record 2,027 yards and 19 touchdowns on 204 carries. He averaged 9.9 yards per tote as a junior leading his squad to an 8-4 record and second-place finish in the 5-AAA Conference. He hauled in nine passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns as a junior. He also earned 103 yards on 12 punt returns. In his sophomore campaign, he rushed for 859 yards and 13 touchdowns on 109 carries. He hauled in 12 receptions for 333 yards and five scores. He also returned 10 punts for 82 yards and 14 kickoffs for 372 yards. In the summer of 2004, he was named as the most valuable player of the Houston Nutt Football Camp. In addition to football, he was a standout in baseball and track and field in high school. He owned a vertical jump of 32 inches in high school. He was ranked as the No. 23 prospect in the nation and the No. 1 prospect in Arkansas by Rivals.com. The organization also rated him as a five-star prospect and the No. 3 athlete in the country. Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report rated him as the No. 8 running back in the nation. He was No. 21 on the Mobile Register’s Super Southeast 120 listing. He was also listed as No. 21 in The Dallas Morning News Top 100. He was also among the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super Southern 100. He participated in the 2005 Arkansas High School All-Star Game at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. He was also recruited by a host of other schools including Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska, Auburn and Iowa.

PERSONAL: Born August 27, 1987, he is the son of Graylon McFadden and Mini Muhammad. He is enrolled in the College of Education and Health Professions and is majoring in kinesiology with an emphasis on teaching. He was named to the Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll for Fall 2006. He was also named a Hard Working Hog for the 2005-06 academic year.

2) Zach Miller- One of the Top Rated TE in the game today. With Tony Gonzalez leaving the Chiefs thing will open up for Miller as a pro bowl type of player. He has sure hands and Jamarcus Russell's favorite go to guy right now.

PRO: Major contributor to Oakland in first NFL season. Had 44 receptions for 444 yards and three touchdowns to lead all NFL rookie tight ends…Set a Raiders rookie tight end record with 44 receptions…Caught a season-high eight passes for 84 yards in the final game of the season, which was QB JaMarcus Russell’s first career start…Started all 16 games as a rookie.

PERSONAL: At Desert Vista High School in Phoenix, was unanimous selection as the No. 1 tight end prospect in the nation…USA Today first team All-American tight end and played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl High School All-Star Game…Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year in 2003…Named the Phoenix Metro Magazine Player of the Year…Had 47 catches for 790 yards and six touchdowns as a senior…Also added 134 tackles on defense, 11 sacks and one interception as a linebacker…Won the Larry Gordon Award, presented annually to the state’s best linebacker and the Henry Stanton Award as the state’s top receiver…Amassed 27 receptions for 520 yards and six touchdowns as a junior…On defense, accumulated 102 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 11 sacks…As a sophomore, made Student Sports Magazine Sophomore All-America tight end…Was third team all-state by the Arizona Republic…Made All-Central Region second team at tight end as a freshman…Earned four letters in football and three in track and field…Set the school discus record and was the shot put regional champion in 2004…Also earned all-city honors in discus in 2004…Finished third in the state in discus in 2003…Brother, Brent, also played for Arizona State and shared tight end duties with Zach in 2006

3)Darrius Heyward Bey- Selected by the Oakland Raiders 7th overall in the 2009 NFL draft. Fastest WR in the draft and is a good target for Jamarcus to throw to. Also he is able to free up people like JLH and Darren Mcfadden with his type of threat.

 

4) Johnnie Lee Higgins-  Very versatile type of football player had a combined 7 total TD's last year 4 from SP and 3 receiving TD's. One of the quickest people I have ever seen and good hands to catch the ball.

PRO: Versatile wide out who also saw duty as the team’s punt returner…Played in 16 games with two starts in his rookie year…Caught six passes for 47 yards.

Since 2006 we have gotten player to produce with Jamarcus Russell he has many targets now and with our reliable running game we should have a very strong offensive attack. Ghosts from 2002?

Credit Raiders.com

 

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