JaMarcus Russell

We want to believe. The best evidence for it is his last three games of ‘08: six TDs against just two picks and QB ratings of 86, 128 and 99 – all against teams playing well at the time (New England, Houston and Tampa Bay). Most important, the Raiders scored 84 points those three games (two wins). A 77 QB rating is below average, but a sign of hope considering Russell’s lack of playing experience even as a collegian. Ditto the 6.6 YPA. And he was 7.0 or better in five of his last seven games. Don’t worry about Jeff Garcia, who plays over the strong-armed Russell barring injury only over Al Davis’s dead body. The offensive line jelled at the end of the year, especially in the running game, once the awful Kwame Harris was replaced by Mario Henderson. But RT Cornell Green allowed 7.5 sacks and committed eight penalties. The Raiders didn’t draft a solution and will instead look to free agent Khalif Barnes, who has been a disaster himself (for the Jaguars) since his rookie year. The wide receivers are fast but lack professionalism and consistency that an inexperienced QB desperately needs. Javon Walker will be asked to provide that, and who can count on him at this point? Rookies Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy are also fast, but raw. Remember, Heyward-Bey didn’t make many plays in college. Russell gets system continuity now, for now, with Tom Cable, a former OC at UCLA and O-Line coach last year before the mid-season promotion to head coach. Russell is an interesting, developing player and a safe sleeper (considering where you’ll be able to draft him) in ’09.