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We can all agree a 35.2 percent completion percentage is off-the-charts awful no matter the circumstances.

Whether it’s rookie receivers, poor-play calling, pass protection or any excuse you want to name, if you’re two games into the season and need to complete your next 16 consecutive passes just to get to 50 percent, it’s a crisis.

That much became clear today during an on-line chat which predictably became a breakdown and a beatdown of the Raiders No. 1 overall draft pick. Wise columnists from the beginning of time urge, “When in doubt, write about the quarterback,” because it’s always a point of interest among readers.

Especially so when it’s your guy who may as well be launching SCUD missiles at mosquitos.

We’ve seen this act before to varying degrees. Russell has a 10-for-28, a 6-for-19 and a 13-for-35 on his resume from last season and went 7-for-23 as a rookie. So going 19-for-54 to start 2008 isn’t exactly “Dog bites Vick” in terms of a storyline. During the mandatory minicamp and OTA sessions open to the media, I wrote daily of Russell’s struggles with even the most basic pass plays, often against no defense.

It’s also true he seemed to pull out of it toward the end of training camp, as he did last season with his last seven games at 61.1 percent (93-for-152, including the 10-for-28 game against San Diego).

Russell will either get better or he’ll be out of the league.

He got lucky against Kansas City in that a potential pick or three was dropped, including one which could have been a backbreaking touchdown.

However, in the last two weeks, Russell has been the quarterback of a team that was behind, and then put them back in the lead with a touchdown drive with less than three minutes to play in the game.

Curious to see how often that’s happened with the Raiders of late, I searched through the game books on NFL.com, which are available on-line back to the 2001 season.

The situation I described above _ a touchdown drive to put the trailing Raiders ahead with less than three minutes to play _ happened exactly once in 128 games from 2001 through 2008. Russell has done it in back-to-back weeks.

The quarterback was Kerry Collins, who capped an 84-yard, 14-play drive with a 7-yard pass to Randy Moss with 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders a 23-20 lead against the Chiefs at Arrowhead on Nov. 6, 2005.

The Raiders lost anyway, with Larry Johnson scoring from the 1 as time expired moments after running 37 yards to the 1 with a middle screen against a Raiders blitz.

There were other Raiders come-from behind games decided in the last three minutes. Some were by Collins, a handful by Rich Gannon, but all involved field goals and tie scores, a with a few games decided in overtime.

Although it may not be anything more than a statistical fluke in the long run _ which it certainly will be if Russell’s accuracy doesn’t improve _ he has somehow discovered through two weeks to be on target when it matters most and only a touchdown will suffice. And it’s not like the final drive against the Chiefs was without adversity, with false starts on Zach Miller, Louis Murphy and Cornell Green.

Bottom line is if Russell doesn’t get a lot better, the Raiders won’t be close enough most weeks to put themselves in position to win. If he does improve, there’s at least some evidence he’s got what it takes on the last drive.

By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
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This is all fine and good as long as guys are open on the correct side of the field because according to Steve Young, Russell only looks at half the field when he drops back. Are you kidding me? Only reading half the field? WTF? How can you win like that? Who wants to be a receiver on a pass play running a route knowing all the while that the QB won't even be looking your way?

does the playbook that sanchez have in NY the same as gumps?????
doubt it, gump is done, he sucks!

Russelll is playing pretty bad. If he doens't improve then give Grado the ball. He seems way more polished that Russell. His passes are on point.

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www.790thsfs.com

Russell played as bad it gets. But he did get the job done when it counted. The San Diego game, he also made a hugh play with a pass to Murphy. That put us ahead of the Bolts. It's not Russell's fault that the Raiders decided to use "PREVENT DEFENSE". We could easily be 2-0 right now.

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PEACE RAIDER NATION!

Clutch > Stats.

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Man, at this rate, Russell will be the worst QB ever in Raider History.

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www.790thsfs.com

Dude - he's nowhere near Marinovich, Schroeder, Wilson and the likes. What makes his situation such a problem is that he was taken #1 overall. The return on the gigantic investment hasn't come in yet.

I'm still on board with Russell. I see enough glimpses to remain confident that he can work through everything and develop into an effective player. I do understand why others have run out of patience with him and are ready to move on. I don't agree, but I understand.

He has a complete turnover at WR this season, 3 new offensive lineman, a different starting RB, a new offensive coordinator and new qb coach. Wish the learning curve were shorter, but I think he will get it and be a special player for several years.

Probably with another team. But even if he had a solid oline and WR's. His passes fucking suck! He fucks up the easiest short passes. I understand that his WR's may not be where they should always be, but he has thrown some fucked up ass throws. Its scary. I think he'll improve as the season goes on, but we can't go through this again next year.

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www.790thsfs.com

refresh my memory....oh said T.Munchin/USC....but we are talking about 60m hamburgers for the KING..Russell