Should Raiders’ Russell run the ball more?

By Brad Wilbricht  |   Sunday, June 21, 2009  |  Comments( 8 )

Oakland Raiders
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Since his arrival in the NFL, Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s passing skills have been on full display. However, his ability to run the ball may be they key to a more successful 2009 campaign. Weighing in at 260 pounds, Russell is surprisingly agile for a player of his stature and could prove to be a bruising runner on the ground.

While the 6-foot-6 Russell is generally thought of as strictly a pocket passer, his aptitude to run the ball might become more frequent during the upcoming season. Russell carried the ball 17 times for 127 yards during his sophomore campaign, proving his elusiveness when pass protection breaks down. If Russell is given more authority to run, he could develop into a dual-threat quarterback similar to a young Dante Culpepper.

During his college career at LSU, Russell experienced far greater results in the passing game after becoming more comfortable running the ball. In his first two seasons with the Tigers, Russell totaled 87 carries for minus-63 yards. During that span, he completed roughly 55 percent of his passes and a quarterback rating of 132 (on the college scale). During his final campaign with the Tigers, Russell racked up 142 yards on the ground while completing 68 percent of his passes and maintaining a rating of 167.

If Russell’s presence in the running game is a direct correlation to his success through the air, the Raiders could stand to benefit from his contributions on the ground. Sure, with so much invested in the former first overall draft pick, Oakland fans might be leery of Russell getting injured. However, after ranking 29th in the NFL on offense a year ago, all aspects of Russell’s skill set need to be utilized.

Russell’s size and strength make him extremely difficult to bring down, something that could wreak havoc on opposing defenses. In addition, Russell’s fleetness of foot in the pocket would buy more time when airing it out. The more he’s able to master the art of play-action and roll-outs, the more effective he’ll be throwing the ball.

As the mental aspect of Russell’s game continues to progress, his legs could prove to be quite an asset. While reading coverage, Russell’s ability to buy time and ultimately take off down field could supply the Raiders’ offense with an additional weapon.
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About Brad Wilbricht

Brad Wilbricht covers numerous sporting events including the NFL, NFL Draft and college football. His analysis is simulcast through several media outlets across the country. Additionally, Brad is a regular guest on a variety of talk radio shows and can be frequently heard on the airwaves. To ...
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