LaMont Jordan, then and now

By Anthony Carroll  |   Friday, June 02, 2006  |  Comments( 9 )

Oakland Raiders
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"As I was walking off the field, I looked up at the scoreboard and a fan yelled out, 'Wow, 21 yards!' And I looked and saw we only had 21 yards rushing. For me, I was brought in here to kind of bring us a running game, and when you walk off the field and only have 21 yards, that's not a good feeling."

Oakland Raiders' running back, LaMont Jordan, uttered that comment after a 16-attempt, 19-yard effort against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week Four of 2005. That week's losing effort foreshadowed the rest of Oakland's season. The Raiders promptly dropped three straight games to start the season, digging the team into a deep hole in the AFC West.

In the midst of the digging, Jordan tried to remain optimistic for the remainder of the season. "Are we going to get out of this hole and get back to being the team that people expect us to be?" he asked. "Or are we going to continue to dig deep and, come Week 9 or 10, we're making plans for the holidays? I don't plan on doing that."

Unfortunately, by the time holiday season rolled around in Oakland, everything was packed and wrapped for the Raiders.

However, in retrospect, much of the frustration faced by the 27-year-old throughout the 2005 season was as a result of the unruly environment surrounding him.

Based upon the early outlook of the 2006 offseason, much of LaMont Jordan's 2005 frustrations should dwindle next season.

Frustration: "Talking doesn't get you wins. Almost winning does not get you wins. So what we have to do now is step up, be held accountable, realize that we're professional athletes, we have a job to do and we have to go out there and do it. That's what it comes down to."

Solution: "Accountability" is a word that has become almost synonymous this offseason with new-fangled head coach, Art Shell. Center Adam Treu, who walked amongst the ex-Hall of Famer in the team's recent minicamp, commented, "There's an emphasis on individual accountability. If something is done wrong on the field, we repeat and correct it."

Frustration: "I'm always going to come off the field feeling like if we don't do well running the ball, that it's my fault. That's just it. The team trusts me with the ball in my hands and to go out and make plays, and it's my job to go out there and make plays."

Solution: Sans the halfback niche, no other offensive position can "make plays" as much as the man behind center. Last season, Kerry Collins sat comfortably in the position--in fact, a bit too comfortably. In the face of pressure, the football was recurrently redirected into three directions: the sidelines, opposing defenders' hands, or LaMont Jordan's hands. With, as it appears now, Aaron Brooks leading the pack, a 342-touch campaign for Jordan appears unlikely; however, as quantity falls for "LJ," expect quality yardage to ascend.

Frustration: "I would hate for us to sit here at the end of the year and say we were the most underachieving team in the NFL because, if we don't make it to the playoffs, we will be the most underachieving team in the league. And quite frankly, it will be an embarrassment."

Solution: For one, it's nearly impossible to underachieve subsequent to a 4-12 finish. Yet, that fact aside, Oakland is purportedly resting in the best mental condition than they have over the past several seasons. Veteran defensive tackle, Warren Sapp, observed, "That is one thing that kind of went awry a year ago. We had groups of guys here and groups of guys there, but now everybody has closed ranks. Let's get in line and march like soldiers. If you're leading in the right direction, people will follow...If we are all rowing the same way, the boat is going to move."

Frustration: "For me to be a starting running back in the NFL and somebody says that I could play 16 games, but I won't get 1,000 yards; for me, I look at it as a slap in the face. That's one of those slaps where I say, 'Okay, you can slap me once. But at the end of the season, I want to make sure I'm hitting you back with a powerful punch.'"

Solution: Dust off the gloves. It's time for Round Two.

Anthony Carroll can be contacted at acarroll@realfootball365.com

Get more on LaMont Jordan at Realfootball365.com
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About Anthony Carroll

Anthony Carroll began writing for RealFootball365.com on Sept. 26, 2005, making him one of the longest tenured contributors to the “365” team. As a senior writer, Anthony has taken on the task of delivering original content to the silver and black faithful year round, despite having to deal...
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CommentsComments: 9  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Gator Monroe		02:35 PM
06/02/2006
After LJ Oakland has a mixed bag of running backs (280 lb. Fullback and world Famous "He Hate Me" Rod smart at tailback)along...
No.2
Rdrsfan		02:45 PM
06/02/2006
The Raiders really need to step up a level next season cause if they keep playing like their playing they wont get anywhere. They...
No.3
markastic		05:27 PM
06/02/2006
I'll say it again: LAMONT JORDAN IS PERFECT FOR OUR TEAM. Having said that, JERRY PORTER STILL SUCKS AND HAS NO HEART - TRADE HIM...
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