QB isn't Raiders' area of concern
These are exciting times for Oakland Raiders fans who look at Lane Kiffin and JaMarcus Russell and ask themselves, "What if Al Davis has found his fastball?"
What if the rookie coach and the rookie quarterback are the real deal?
On both those counts, the Oakland Raiders have the law of averages heavily on their side.
JaMarcus Russell is slowly getting his feet wet. He didn't throw much in practice Wednesday because his wisdom teeth are acting up. He will have them extracted today or Friday. Not to second-guess JaMarcus Russell or the Oakland Raiders, but why not let the young man hold off until the first exhibition game, when an opposing defensive end will do the job for free?
Just kidding! We all know that the Oakland Raiders' offensive line will be greatly improved over last season's model, although I don't remember exactly why. I think it has something to do with Robert Gallery moving from one side of something to the other.
Regardless, JaMarcus Russell and Kiffin are the big Oakland Raiders news these days. Along with executed killers.
When a convicted murderer was led to the death chamber in Arizona on Tuesday, he was asked if he had any last words.
"Yes," the killer said just before receiving a lethal injection. "Go, Oakland Raiders."
In the summer of 2000, the last words of a convicted murderer in Texas were, "The Oakland Raiders are going all the way, y'all!"
The Oakland Raiders did go all the way to the AFC Championship Game, whereupon they were hammered by the Baltimore Ravens.
It's somehow comforting to know that the Silver & Black hasn't lost its edge and bad-boy mystique. You'd think that the Bengals would be the darlings of criminal society these days, but the Oakland Raiders still rule. You never hear a condemned guy saying, "Go, Charlotte Bobcats!"
The Oakland Raiders maintain their dangerous aura even though they have gone clean-cut. They dumped Randy Moss, who always seemed to be sneaking smokes behind the garage, and they added Kiffin, who looks like a Boy Scout troop leader, and JaMarcus Russell, an Eagle-Scout-type young man.
JaMarcus Russell didn't do much in Wednesday's workout except throw a few passes in a receiver-defender drill. He didn't take any scrimmage snaps, possibly because of the tooth situation.
As the team jogged off the field after the spirited practice, JaMarcus Russell was asked if he had a minute for the media, and he replied, "No, thanks."
Polite young man. And not a glory hog.
"JaMarcus has continued to do well," Kiffin said. "He's been great, been in here after hours, extra work, very serious about this."
How soon, then, before Kiffin makes Oakland Raiders fans happy by declaring the quarterback competition over and JaMarcus Russell the winner?
I don't know if it would speed that decision, but you fans might want to mail Kiffin news clippings of Tim Lincecum, whose month languishing in the bush leagues in April might wind up costing the Giants a playoff spot.
Don't expect JaMarcus Russell to get the starting job soon. Andrew Walter is the probable starter, and he deserves a chance to show what he can do running an actual NFL-type offense, assuming Kiffin brought one.
"From our first camp until now," Kiffin said, "Andrew has improved as much as any player on our team. ... He's become very comfortable, very confident, and he's showing a competitive side in this competition."
Pencil in Walter as your starter and JaMarcus Russell as understudy. And continue to eagerly await JaMarcus Russell's inevitable emergence, because he has done nothing to disappoint.
"He's pretty good," starting wide receiver Ronald Curry said. "He throws a nice ball, good touch. You hear a lot about his arm strength, but his job is to know when to use it (the rocket arm) and when to not use it. ... He throws a catchable ball."
Thank God!
The Oakland Raiders just might have their quarterback of the future, but they need to find someone to catch JaMarcus Russell's catchable balls. Curry might be the best athlete in the NFL, and a fine receiver, but he has been plagued with Achilles injuries (three) and sat out Wednesday's practice with a hamstring issue.
As for Jerry Porter, the other probable starting wideout, who knows? Maybe Kiffin will be the rare coach for whom Porter actually can play.
The Oakland Raiders took a run at free-agent Keyshawn Johnson, but he signed with ESPN.
"I had three great conversations with Keyshawn," Kiffin said, "and it just didn't work out."
Jerry Rice, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
Despite the holes and questions, spirits are high at Oakland Raiders' workouts, and in the hearts of Oakland Raiders fans, some of whom are dying to support their team.
See more at http://sfgate.com
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