The Raiders are coming off their worst showing of the season -- a 24-0 drubbing at the hands of the upstart Falcons -- and rock-bottom is still down the road. Owner Al Davis fired Lane Kiffin a few weeks ago in a riveting-in-a-train-wreck-sorta-way press conference, and that turned out to be the opening act for some dreadful displays of football.
For an organization that hasn't had a winning season since 2002, and managed just 21 victories in the six years since, the 2008 squad could be the worst ever. And NFL Network's Brian Baldinger fully endorses this message.
From his NFL.com live chat from earlier today, Baldy, when asked about the Raiders' chances of turning things around in the coming seasons, got right to the point:
"The quarterback (JaMarcus Russell) can't play. He's a bust. Darren McFadden is a bust. He won't stay healthy in this league. He's had only one good game. They have drafted poorly. They are easily scouted. The defense plays schemes that don't make sense. They play the ends out wide, and play the safeties too deep. Al Davis always believes that you have a deep safety, but Atlanta exploited that with Michael Turner. And to just see how bad Russell is, you have to look at what Matt Ryan did in that game. Russell just doesn't know what he is doing."
So what you're saying, Brian, is that this isn't all Lane Kiffin's fault? Weird.
And although the Sacramento Bee's Paul Guiterrez isn't ready to call JaMarcus Russell a bust (well, that was his stance prior to last Sunday's disaster, anyway), Baldinger certainly has no reservations, and he throws Darren McFadden in for good measure.
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Baldy got so lathered up, in fact, that he totally forgot to disparage DeAngelo Hall, the cornerback who has been worse than advertised, which, honestly, is no small accomplishment. Unfortunately for Hall, however, even the Raiders have come to that conclusion because word on the street is that he could release him. (Definitely didn't see that coming.) As Gretz mentioned via e-mail: "I have no idea why that team continues to lose."
It truly is puzzling.
Brian Baldinger Says JaMarcus Russell 'Can't Play,' Darren McFadden 'Is a Bust' originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.
