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		Russell will need to come of age with this Raiders team By Stefani Rebekah Black July 15, 2007

	The Oakland Raiders are training as hard as any NFL team without pads can. You might recall that in early June, new Raider Head Coach Lane Kiffin had everyone dressed up in pads and there some hard-hitting going that would make ex-Raiders Tom Romonowski proud. But after the NFL curtailed that at least this early in the juncture they've gone back to the soft pass and rid themselves for the time being of the shoulder pads. Kiffin likes what he seed in camp with or with out the pads in their rookie draft pick from LSU JaMarcus Russell, who is in the Raiders plans to start at the quarterback position. This was a topic of discussion on our radio show that Russell will start at quarterback in addition, get the opportunity to show his wares but who is going to stay up in front and block for him? Just ask ex-Raider quarterbacks Marquis Tuiososopo and Aaron Brooks that one. You can ask current Raider Andrew Walter that too. They all knew what were up against last season and the season before. It really was not that they, or ex-Raider coach Art Shell's coaching was sub par but it was no one addressed the O-line and if it happens again we'll address it again in this space because the Raiders need to protect the pass if they want to get some yards and a win here and there. However, what Russell brings to camp is a shotgun for an arm or if you like a slingshot arm. Oakland Raider’s owner Al Davis was remarking how Russell hits his marks, drops back, and gets the pass off after Davis does his own version of counting alligators after Russell takes the snap. What does Russell bring to the table? According to the Raiders, the NFL scouting report Russell can throw a football while seated 40 yards, Russell's bread and butter in being the NFL's number one draft pick was his ability to pass for yards and hit his targets accurately. He threw for 23 touchdowns in the LSU 2006 season to his favorite receiver wide out Dwayne Bowe. At LSU Russell went 25-4 at starting quarterback to total the school's third best record, Russell was also the second rated passer with 61.85 completed passes for 52 touchdowns in the 2006 LSU season. Yards: Lets talk about yards and what Russell can do with the football, Russell became the third quarterback in LSU history to throw over 6,000 yards career and lead LSU to ten straight victories. Russell has the ability to come back too. In ten games when LSU was behind in the fourth quarter, Russell was able to get the team back for eight victories. If Russell is anything like he was in college he'll get the Raiders back on the prime time map and maybe Al Michaels and John Madden will come calling then. But Russell has his work cut our for him and with young coach Lane Kiffin on the sidelines directing him it'll be a new scene in Oakland with a new starter and a new coach but will the scene be different in the win column. Kiffin whose been working hard with Russell and watching wide outs Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter is keeping his rookie head coaching fingers crossed. There is a lot of talent on paper with this Raiders offense coming up for 2007 but then again it was like that last season until the morale dropped like a rock. But looking around in camp, the players are fresh, they are coming in just like the other NFL teams on a new slate and with the hope of a new coach and quarterback and trying to make a run at the post season this year and a good attitude at least so far. One thing to note on Russell is that he gains weight fast according to the scouting report and the Raiders trainers have been told to monitor his diet. He was weighed in at 263 lbs at his physical this month but doesn't look it when you watch him drop back in practice or take the keeper drills. Russell can lose speed according to the report when he hits 260 lbs. Also scouts have said that although aware of his strength to throw the ball long in tight scrambles and being chased out of the pocket Russell has been noted to force the ball that’s why having a dependable o-line is vital for Russell and the Raiders to have a plan that works. If not you'll see him do the same things last year's quarterbacks did all season and that was run for your life and them asking, "is it three and out yet?" Russell also can throw into coverage often according to the report. Russell and the offensive coordinators need to avoid that as much as they can because if the line is the way we think its' going to be Kiffin and Russell are going to have to lean on Curry and Porter to get open fast. No worries on Russell's accuracy but protection and throwing into coverage can make the Raiders 2007 offense another adventure. On Friday the Raiders signed third round draft, pick Mario Henderson an offensive tackle out of Florida State. Henderson was the third round pick out of 91 in April and started all 13 games at Florida State. "I'm just planning to go out and make an impact, show the coaches they can depend on me and fight for a spot", said Henderson. The Raiders have signed three of eleven picks from the fourth round John Bowie, from the fifth round Jay Richardson, and from the sixth round Oren O'Neal. The Raiders just recently waived Curtis Brown who was a running back. Stefani Rebekah Black covers Raiders football and co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. quote source: oaklandraiders.com