The Raiders are coming off their worst showing of the season -- a 24-0 drubbing at the hands of the upstart Falcons -- and rock-bottom is still down the road. Owner Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin a few weeks ago in a riveting-in-a-train-wreck-sorta-way press conference, and that turned out to be the opening act for some dreadful displays of football.
For an organization that hasn't had a winning season since 2002, and managed just 21 victories in the six years since, the 2008 squad could be the worst ever. And NFL Network's Brian Baldinger fully endorses this message.
From his NFL.com live chat from earlier today, Baldy, when asked about the Raiders' chances of turning things around in the coming seasons, got right to the point:
"The quarterback (JaMarcus Russell) can't play. He's a bust. Darren McFadden is a bust. He won't stay healthy in this league. He's had only one good game. They have drafted poorly. They are easily scouted. The defense plays schemes that don't make sense. They play the ends out wide, and play the safeties too deep. Al Davis always believes that you have a deep safety, but Atlanta exploited that with Michael Turner. And to just see how bad Russell is, you have to look at what Matt Ryan did in that game. Russell just doesn't know what he is doing."So what you're saying, Brian, is that this isn't all Lane Kiffin's fault? Weird.
And although the Sacramento Bee's Paul Guiterrez isn't ready to call JaMarcus Russell a bust (well, that was his stance prior to last Sunday's disaster, anyway), Baldinger certainly has no reservations, and he throws Darren McFadden in for good measure.
Baldy got so lathered up, in fact, that he totally forgot to disparage DeAngelo Hall, the cornerback who has been worse than advertised, which, honestly, is no small accomplishment. Unfortunately for Hall, however, even the Raiders have come to that conclusion because word on the street is that he could release him. (Definitely didn't see that coming.) As Gretz mentioned via e-mail: "I have no idea why that team continues to lose."
It truly is puzzling.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-04-2008 @ 11:44PM
peter p. said...
jamarcus russell held out for more money his rookie season, got the $$, partied, chased the ladies got fat and forgot why he had so much money...... to play football, you dumb athlete! not that all athletes are dumb, just look at " the admiral " robinson from the spurs or steve young, who is an attorney. but the dumb ones are easy to spot. now he still has a chance to wise up. but thats all going to depend on who he chooses to associate with and his seriousness about his weight.
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11-05-2008 @ 2:13AM
yungyung said...
Jamarcus isn't a bust he just has no offensive line, and if y'all actually watch the games his low completion rate is due to him throwing the ball away and his receivers dropping balls and not getting separation. McFadden has been injured most of the year but that doesn't mean he's a bust (though they shouldn't have drafted him with Fargas back there). Also Jamarcus Russell isn't stupid, he puts a lot of time in the film room and his bad performances are not all his fault...I don't know how people who know nothing about football get jobs on the NFL network, they just look at stats then throw out judgements.
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11-05-2008 @ 8:19AM
jets fan08 said...
Baldinger...hmm wasnt he a bust as an offensive cord. for the jets... oh i know so. he has no room to talk.
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11-05-2008 @ 3:28PM
Dirk said...
Sorry, maybe the Jets sucked. He played great for the Colts
11-05-2008 @ 10:03AM
LeapinLion said...
Cry me a river, I'm a Lions fan. Tired of hearing about the Raiders.
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11-07-2008 @ 12:01PM
Tony said...
Should have drafted Quinn. Trim the fat and start over. The win now mentality isnt working Al. We would be better off with no names like the Titans.
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11-18-2008 @ 12:27PM
Vett said...
Brian Baldinger is a moron. Darren McFadden was thrown into an impossible situation....Dysfunctional organization, bad coaches, terrible O-line that couldn't block pre-schoolers. It's not his fault. Hell, Bo Jackson himself probably couldn't have done much better with these clowns.
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