What Is The Answer For Oakland?
“It always sucks when you lose at home.” Thomas Howard

By Barbara Mason 9/20/09
Raiderdrive.com/Bay Area Sports Drive

Another ugly performance by the Oakland Offense and another loss; what is the answer?  When an entire stadium is chanting “Russell sucks” it doesn’t get any more disparaging than that.

 The Oakland defense made a great goal line stand in their first series denying Denver the score when the Broncos went on 4^th down.  It was more of the solid play that the defense has been showing this season. JaMarcus Russell and the offense took the field and two plays later an interception by Russell.  There would be two interceptions and three fumbles in this 23-3 loss.  With Russell averaging 1.8 yds per pass, this team is in trouble.   

 These fans spend thousands of dollars each year for tickets in a stretched economy and what are they getting for their hard-earned money?  They deserve more, a lot more.  It is easy to see that there are players on this team that really care and that are playing hard, but there is something terribly wrong offensively. Some of the blame goes to the front line, some goes to the quarterback and then there is the issue of protecting the ball.  The defense has held up its end of the deal for the most part, but they have been out on the field for far too long in every game.  Where does fatigue fit into this equation?

 It was another tough press conference for Head Coach Tom Cable.  What do you say after an abysmal performance like this one?  “I thought we would have a chance to run the ball early in the game.  The turnovers were huge issues,” he said.  “3^rd downs are an issue on both sides of the football.”

 “We just need to keep moving forward.  There were some opportunities that we missed,” he said.  “I’m shocked right now.  I know how much work we have to do to get where we want to be.  It’s very disappointing,” said Cable as he looks ahead to their meeting next weekend against Houston.  He admitted to some issues during the week in regards to their preparation for this game and it can’t happen again.  “Friday, we did not practice very well.”

 “It’s a tough loss for us,”: said Thomas Howard after the game.  “You have to go out there and play wherever they get the ball, that’s our job.  You’ve got to go out there and stop them.”  Howard had encouraging words for JaMarcus Russell during the game.  “We know what you can do so keep your head up,”  was what Howard told the young quarterback.  “It always sucks when you lose at home.”

 All that has been said in regards to quarterback JaMarcus Russell is right on the money.  He is having trouble reading the field at times missing open receivers.  He is not very mobile, and even appears confused at times although that may not be the case.  He is not the first young quarterback to experience setbacks and he will not be the last.  He makes a lot of money and needs to be earning that paycheck.  Right now, he’s not even close.