More Musical Quarterbacks for Oakland Raiders

“I’m fired up right now.  I’m excited.”-- Quarterback Daunte Culpepper

By Barbara Mason 11/1706
Raiderdrive/Bay Area Sports Drive Columnist

Who’s hot and who’s not in Sunday’s upcoming game that pits the Oakland Raiders (2-7) against the Minnesota Vikings (3-6)?  Both teams are having a miserable season, so it’s probably a toss-up as to which team will come out on top.  The only part of this game that may grab a little interest is the fact that Daunte Culpepper will be starting at quarterback.  A repeat of the game he played in Miami earlier this season would be greatly appreciated by the Raider Nation.  Once again, the Raiders are playing musical quarterbacks, and Culpepper could not be happier.  “I’m fired up right now.  I’m excited,” he said.

The Minnesota Viking fans are purple with rage, regarding the team’s inefficient offense, which comes in at 2nd worst on 3rd down conversions in the NFL. The Vikings come off a 34-0 drubbing at the hands of the Packers. They now also share the pain of the blackout that Raider fans have suffered for a while now.  Equally painful for Minnesota will be the absence of rookie running back Adrian Peterson. 

Raider fans are screaming for the debut of the sleeping giant that paces the sidelines at each game.   The fans are no doubt wondering just what is JaMarcus Russell learning from the bench?  Ah yes, how to look regal when you are sacked or the precise precision it takes to throw the pick and, of course, the valuable lesson of accepting losing like a man.  The front line that has had some issues is decent enough to provide time for Russell, and the time seems ripe for the debut of the number one draft pick.  The passing game is sorely deficient, throwing an anemic 80 yards last week against the Chicago Bears.  This was the third time this season that the Oakland offense came in under 100 net passing yards in a game.

There has been so much pressure placed on the Raiders defense, which continues to rise to most occasions, only to watch in dismay an offense that squanders away opportunity after opportunity.  The Raiders led in the 4th quarter of six of the nine games that they have played this year.  They have to learn to finish, and excuses about timing issues are getting old.  Inconsistent pass protection, poor execution and having the most penalized offensive line in the NFL have hampered them all season.  Defenses have little or no respect for Oakland’s receivers, and this does nothing to further the team's cause at all. 

This is a team that has a good defense, and one of the best if not the best kickoff specialist in Sebastian Janikowski, and punter Shane Lechler has been right on the money.  Lechler’s performances all season have been electric not only in regard to distance but also hang time and position.  It just comes down to the offense.

The Oakland defense can handle the Vikings.  Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Fabian Washington practiced this week, which is good news.  The question is can the offense find the end zone and can they finish?   If they can find the promised land at least a couple of times and finish the game, the result is obvious.  They will take up where they left off on September 19, 1999, with a victory at the Metrodome. If they fail to do so, the last seven games of the season could seem like an absolute eternity.  Maybe it's time for the music to stop.  And time, the fans believe, for Russell to get in the game and find himself in the quarterback's seat and, just maybe, the tempo will pick up.