Comparing 2014 Raiders to past decade: Quarterback

The past decade has been a sad state of affairs for the Raiders. This is said to be the first year of their reconstruction so it seemed appropriate to see how they stack up position by position to the players at that same position over the past ten Raiders teams.

I start with the quarterback position. Keep in mind, where the players are positioned isn't with regard to how many wins the Raiders are expected to have this season. I know a lot of people like to judge quarterbacks based on wins alone but Schaub as well as all previous quarterbacks are judged on their entire body of work with win totals being only a partial factor.

1. Jason Campbell (2010) - He didn't have incredible numbers that season with 13 TD to 8 int. But that was mainly because the Raiders were primarily a running team. He was efficient and executed the offensive game plan. The Raiders went 5-2 over his first seven starts and Campbell never had two losses in a row that season. That was the year the Raiders swept the division. As evidence of Campbell's efficiency, he had five starts with QB ratings over 100 and was 4-1 in those games. The Raiders had an overall record of 7-5 with Campbell starting. All in all, he only had one really terrible game in a damp week 6 loss in San Francisco in which he threw 2 interceptions and the Raiders didn't score a touchdown. Even without the gaudy passing numbers, he performed better in the Raiders offense that season than any quarterback had since Rich Gannon.

2. Carson Palmer (2012) - Not once in this season did Palmer have more interceptions than touchdowns in a game and finished with 22 TD to 14 int. Six times he passed for over 300 yards and he finished with over 4000 yards without even playing in the season finale. The Raiders could only win four games, but that was mainly because of an overall terrible team, especially the defense. Palmer received a lot of undue criticism, though he didn't do a whole lot to stifle it - namely put the team on his shoulders.

3. Jason Campbell/ Carson Palmer (2011) - Campbell was 4-2 to start the season and was very much looking like the answer at quarterback for the Raiders when a broken collarbone ended his season, and ultimately his Raiders career. Hue Jackson pulled the trigger on a blockbuster trade to acquire Palmer and after a rough first two outings, Palmer led the Raiders to three straight wins. Unfortunately he could get just one more win over the final five games and the Raiders missed the playoffs. Palmer surpassed the 100 QB rating mark four times over the final seven games. The Raiders still were just 2-2 in those games. Palmer finished with 13 TD to 16 interceptions but six of those interceptions came in his first two games back after not playing any football since the previous season.

4. Matt Schaub (2014) - Schaub's prospects for this season fall right about here. Even if he returns to form, he would be hard pressed to surpass Palmer's 4018 yards passing from 2012 or the kind of success Palmer and Campbell had in 2010 and 2011. He, like Palmer, has yet to show he can put a team on his back and win consistently.

5. Kerry Collins (2004-05) - In many ways seems like a Matt Schaub clone. Statuesque, big armed passer with a couple Pro Bowls to his credit. He even came to the Raiders at the same age (32). One major difference is Collins led a team to Super Bowl (Giants, 2000). He had two seasons in Oakland. The first he had 21 TD to 20 int. His second season was better with 20TD to 12int. On one hand, Collins never had a season as bad as Schaub did last season. On the other hand, Collins can't really touch Schaub's numbers before last season.

6. Terrelle Pryor/ Matt McGloin (2013) -- Pryor looked early on like he might have some quarterback skills and the Raiders pulled out three wins with him behind center. But all that deteriorated quickly once he got rattled and defenses figured out his tendencies. McGloin came in and was serviceable, if not decent. Though the Raiders could only get one win during his six games as starter.

7. Josh McCown/ Daunte Culpepper (2007) - Together they threw for just over 2500 yards with 15 TD's to 16 int. They were placeholders while JaMarcus Russell was holding out for a big rookie payday. It was the only season for McCown and Culpepper in Oakland and it was a forgettable one.

8. JaMarcus Russell (2008-09) - The most colossal bust in NFL history. Set several low marks for the Raiders that we may never see again.

9. Aaron Brooks/ Andrew Walter (2006) - A season of some of the most pathetic offensive futility ever. Brooks was a train wreck and Walter was a statue getting destroyed behind a porous offensive line. Together they had 6 TD's to 21 interceptions and the Raiders had their lowest win total since 1962.

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