When the Oakland Raiders kick off their 2008 season, all eyes will be on two offensive skill-position players: rookie Darren McFadden, the draft's fourth overall pick, and second-year man JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick in '07.
For Russell to be successful as the team's starting quarterback, he needs to take a back seat to McFadden and the team's dynamic rushing attack. Russell has a big frame and a big arm, but the Raiders need to avoid becoming enamored of the big passing game, especially after adding wide receiver Javon Walker.
They shouldn't be scared to let Russell loose a few times, but the more games in which they keep Russell to fewer than 20 pass attempts, the better their chances of finishing a surprising .500 or better.
The Raiders were awesome at running the ball last season. They finished sixth in the league (130.4 rushing yards per game), though they were one of only two teams ranked in the top seven that didn't make the playoffs. It didn't matter who was in the backfield -- they kept pounding away old-school style for rookie coach Lane Kiffin.
They produced eight individual 100-yard games, starting with LaMont Jordan, then going to breakout rusher Justin Fargas, then closing with Dominic Rhodes. Rhodes is gone, but McFadden, arguably the most talented player in college football last year, provides a considerable upgrade in both speed and explosiveness.
The combination of Fargas and McFadden could be very productive and devastate run defenses. The Raiders averaged more than 30 rushing attempts per game last season, meaning they wisely stuck with the run in games in which they fell behind during their 4-12 season. They need to dial up the carries to around 40 to make full use of the running skills of Fargas and McFadden.
That leaves Russell to play smart football and not try to do too much with his arm. He needs to play off the run, take calculated deep shots to both Walker and Ronald Curry, and most importantly, protect the ball.
The Raiders figure to see plenty of eight-man fronts this season as defenses work to stop the established Fargas and the promising McFadden. That will put pressure on Russell to make plays, but he also will face favorable coverage. In those situations, he needs get the ball to Curry or tight end Zach Miller on shorter, high-percentage routes.
Many young quarterbacks step into starting situations with little help around them. Russell is fortunate, because Fargas and McFadden can primarily handle the offensive load, while Walker, Curry and Miller offer nice-sized targets with good hands.
Up front, the Raiders have two new starters at positions key to the quarterback. Oakland gave up 41 sacks last season, so it's imperative that former 49er Kwame Harris has a good year at left tackle. In addition, former Buccaneer John Wade takes over at center for Jeremy Newberry, who had one pretty solid year in Oakland. Russell needs to work on clicking with both Harris and Wade in training camp to make it easier on himself in the passing game.
As long as the Raiders don't succumb to the Al Davis-style temptation to chuck and duck and stick with a run-first, play-action pass type of offense, they can help Russell reduce turnovers and produce points. Russell may eventually turn into a consistently good gunslinger, but it's wise to initially bring him on as more of a caretaker.
The Raiders did a good job of controlling the ball last season, but they need to boost their time of possession while putting more points on the scoreboard. Russell can't afford to force the ball and make big mistakes because of the team's issues on defense.
The Raiders have an aggressive defense, so they need to keep their legs on that side of the ball as fresh as possible. The Raiders' front seven will need to play much better than it did last season -- both against the run and when rushing the passer -- for the team to truly contend. But those things are out of Russell's control.
Even if there's frustration that stems from the defense struggling again, it's important for the Raiders to keep running the ball rather than making Russell drop back and try to win the game in pass-happy mode.
This year is about developing the second-year quarterback into an efficient, confident passer. If that happens, then once the Raiders right things on defense down the line, they will emerge as a strong all-around young team.
