It was about a year ago that fans clamored for JaMarcus Russell to play. Not so much Sunday.
By the third quarter of the Raiders' 24-0 loss to the Atlanta Falcons at Oakland Coliseum, there were chants of "Walter! … Walter!"
as in backup quarterback Andrew Walter.
The last time Walter played extensively was in 2006, when he took a beating behind a bad offensive line in 12 games with eight starts.
Fickle fans withstanding, the team is sticking with Russell.
"I think this is part of the maturation process and part of his process to grow,"
interim head coach Tom Cable said of Russell's play.
For the second consecutive week, Russell took several hits and was sacked four times. He completed 6 of 19 passes for 31 yards with an interception and a 19.0 quarterback rating.
And for the second consecutive week, Russell sounded resolute, with no intention of leaving the game no matter how lopsided the score.
"That would be one of the bad things to do, for the guys, for the offensive line, the backs and the receivers and the rest of the team, to see the starting quarterback come out of the game,"
Russell said. "When there's a chance, be in there making plays."
Russell is 2-7 as a starter dating to last season's finale. Cable said there's a lot that continues to go wrong around Russell.
"You still have to go back and say you have to protect him better,"
Cable said. "(Receivers have) to run routes better. (Receivers) had a few drops today, which we had not really done the past few weeks."
QB Ryan shines – Maybe there is something to that whole sign-and-get-in-camp-early thing, after all.
Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 draft out of Boston College, had a passer rating of 138.4 after completing 17 of 22 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
"We came out and had three touchdowns on our first three drives, then got the field goal on the fourth,"
Ryan said. "We had a good rhythm and good momentum, and I thought we did a good job in the no-huddle today."
Ryan joined his teammates on the first day of training camp. Russell was a holdout until after Oakland's first regular-season game last season.
No-show – DeAngelo Hall normally is willing to address the media after every game, even when he doesn't play well. He did so following the season opener in which Denver rookie Eddie Royal beat him repeatedly.
But after giving up a 37-yard touchdown on the first series of Sunday's game and often being targeted by his former team, the Raiders cornerback cleared out his locker and was unavailable for comment.
Et cetera – Linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba blocked a punt by Atlanta's Michael Koenen in the fourth quarter. It was the first blocked punt by the Raiders since Nnamdi Asomugha did it Nov. 7, 2004, at Carolina.
• Safety Tyvon Branch (shoulder) and linebacker Robert Thomas (hamstring) did not finish the game. Branch was injured on his first kickoff return and was replaced by Johnnie Lee Higgins. Sam Williams filled in for Thomas, who played for starter Ricky Brown (groin).
Defensive end Derrick Burgess (triceps) missed his fourth consecutive game. Running back Darren McFadden (toe) and linebacker Jon Alston (foot) were out for the second game in a row.
• The Raiders were shut out in the first half for the third time this season and the second time in two weeks.
