Silver and Black Report

This is the time in JaMarcus Russell’s career where you should see the young quarterback getting better, not worse. And the team he’s leading should be turning the corner and not looking like the mess they have been in prior seasons.

Russell had a sampling of NFL life in 2007, but since the start of the 2008 campaign, he has been given the keys to the car. And at this point, he’s carelessly driven the Oakland Raiders’ offense into the ground and has been pulled over for reckless driving.

Head coach Tom Cable pulled the erratic passer yesterday in the third quarter of their 16-10 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. It wasn’t because the opponent was overwhelming him. And it wasn’t because the team was completely demoralized as it was when he yanked Russell the first time in the season during the trouncing at the hands of the New York Jets.

It was because the team as a whole has been held back by Russell’s lack of growth. And losses are piling up again, with the quarterback being a factor for all the wrong reasons in many of those defeats.

Yes his targets victimized him with key drops yesterday. And other times, a play or here could have been gained without other player’s miscues. But Russell is the key and has always been the major part of the equation that would either revitalize the Raider organization, or sink them to lower depths.

So far, Russell’s lack of accuracy has prevented this team from sustaining drives or making key plays. His lack of leadership is troubling on and off the field, especially when he’s taking up a huge chunk of their salary cap, is at a position where a strong voice can influence a club and is at the most vital spot of any organization.

Russell does not get the enormity of his presence on this team. He does not realize that his poor play has an influence on this team’s direction. At times, he seems unconcerned and blasé regarding his performances.

“Things were going OK,” Russell said on Sunday.

Just OK? Ok, lets say things were going just OK — OK is not acceptable. Not what a first overall pick should strive for.

He lacks a burn to win games. Russell’s bad outings and losses don’t induce noxious reactions like other passers that yearn to get to a high level of greatness.

And the constant excuses of him not being ‘Superman’ and looking at the team as a whole during some of his worst stretches are just excuses masquerading the real issue.

Russell is entering the bust zone. And yesterday’s start of the team’s second half couldn’t have been any worse; losing at home a seventh straight time to a far worse Kansas City team.

Fans have booed him at home for weeks. The support isn’t there for a guy who already had the burden of lifting this team to newer heights, was the first player taken in his draft and that had a mammoth contract to live up to.

With no signs of Russell’s fuse being lit.

This could be the beginning of the end for Russell.

Not all quarterbacks mature at the same rate. And many do struggle to find their niche.

“Some guys take longer than others,” Cable said. “He’ll get there at some point. He’s a talented guy. There’s no question about that.”

But when will his talent translate to improvement and ultimately, what a quarterback that high is drafted for – wins.

No one is dismissing the fact that this organization has not provided the most sterile environment for him to develop in, or the best talent for him to depend on.

And Russell has seen his share of weirdness in his short time in Oakland.

But this quarterback just doesn’t seem to get it. He lacks all the traits needed to achieve excellence.

Oakland may have to stick with him through the end because of the monetary investment made and the fact that he was such a high draft pick with immense potential. And the decision to finally end this charade may be a year or two away.

And if Russell continues at this rate or doesn’t change his way of going about his job, there will be more misery in Oakland.