Thanks Lee! I’m interested to see Bush. I heard a lot of big things about him last year too.

Me too

Nice breakdown Lee! What do you expect out of Russell this year?

Thanks Tim.Good question.I would have to say that my expectations for Russell this year are not extremely high. By this I mean, he will not be handed the reins and let go full steam ahead. He will be asked to do only so much, and the offense will rely on the running game far more then the passing.I see a lot of short outs, and screen plays, and I would guess that McFadden will be used a lot for the dump passes.I am a true believer in getting a quarterback and giving him time to be the backup for a couple years. Letting him watch and learn the game first, and then get his chance later. Much like what Green Bay was able to do with Rodgers.However, in Oakland, we do not have the choice of doing that, because we do not have the veteran QB to hold the fort.If Russell was taken by the Raiders in the draft two years before Rich Gannon retired, then we would have been set.But then maybe Gannon would have retired and then asked to come back and then ask to be released……..oh wait, thats another guy!But back to the point, I think that Russel will have his rookie mistakes, and his moments of greatness this year, and if he can simply not mess up more then he does well, he will be fine.He needs to know that this year the team is not on his shoulders, but rather, he is on theirs. (for now)I believe that he will do fine. Not great, not poor, just fine. Which will be the idea.

I think that is very fair. How is the O-Line there? Do you think the running game can carry the offense enough to give Russell the time he needs to develop?

I read your breakdown of running backs, but do you think that McFadden could be this year’s Adrian Peterson (not to that level of course) and have a good rookie year?

Nice breakdown Lee! What do you expect out of Russell this year?

Thanks Tim.
Good question.
I would have to say that my expectations for Russell this year are not extremely high. By this I mean, he will not be handed the reins and let go full steam ahead. He will be asked to do only so much, and the offense will rely on the running game far more then the passing.
I see a lot of short outs, and screen plays, and I would guess that McFadden will be used a lot for the dump passes.
I am a true believer in getting a quarterback and giving him time to be the backup for a couple years. Letting him watch and learn the game first, and then get his chance later. Much like what Green Bay was able to do with Rodgers.
However, in Oakland, we do not have the choice of doing that, because we do not have the veteran QB to hold the fort.
If Russell was taken by the Raiders in the draft two years before Rich Gannon retired, then we would have been set.
But then maybe Gannon would have retired and then asked to come back and then ask to be released……..oh wait, thats another guy!
But back to the point, I think that Russel will have his rookie mistakes, and his moments of greatness this year, and if he can simply not mess up more then he does well, he will be fine.
He needs to know that this year the team is not on his shoulders, but rather, he is on theirs. (for now)
I believe that he will do fine. Not great, not poor, just fine. Which will be the idea.

Should be a interesting season by the bay !

Yes it should. There is a lot of questionmarks about our young guys, and whether or not they will step up to the challange. I truly believe that this team could go either way. Some teams you can only really expect so much, but in Oakland, I would say that anything is possible.