Al Davis has a decision to make: supply new head coach Lane Kiffin with the draft’s best quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, or its best player, wide receiver Calvin Johnson. When it comes down to it, Oakland only has the choice of picking between those two players. Both have received plenty of headlines in their honor, and now it is Davis’ job to decide which would be the best fit for his Raiders.
Enter me. I’m here to give Al Davis three reasons to draft Russell and three more to draft Johnson. Think of it as “free advice” for the struggling franchise.
Draft Russell because…
1. He has a strong arm. Russell’s laser passes and ability to effortlessly throw the longball make him similar to Daunte Culpepper. That is, the Daunte Culpepper of a few seasons ago, before the major knee injuries made him immobile. That brings us to reason number two:
2. He has mobility. While it may not be Vince Young- or Michael Vick-mobility, Russell has adequate speed and pocket presence. Whoever lines up under center next season will need those qualities to survive; in 2006, Oakland surrendered a league high 72 sacks. A quarterback like Brady Quinn simply won’t make it in Oakland but Russell could.
3. He can make Randy Moss excited to play again. Moss’s attitude last season was that of an unhappy athlete. Rarely do players in the NFL so clearly display their feelings about their team’s failures, but Moss was very outspoken, claiming that he needs to be “happy” to play well. Give him a new quarterback, one who can seriously turn the franchise around and make use of Moss’s athleticism and deep ball potential, and you can give Moss a reason to return to Oakland for 2007.
Draft Calvin Johnson if…
1. Daunte Culpepper is acquired before the draft. If the Raiders have Culpepper the team can feel free to pursue Johnson. The need for a quarterback will be fulfilled. And combining Culpepper’s strong arm with Johnson’s awesome athleticism could be prove deadly. It would force defenses to respect the long-ball once again, something Oakland struggled to do last season.
2. There is no intent to keep Randy Moss. Moss might not appreciate the Raiders bringing in young talent, especially a game changer of Johnson’s caliber. The Georgia Tech stud will give Moss serious competition, which may turn the veteran off. Randy has never been the type of player to teach a younger apprentice his position, and someone who could replace Moss would not make things better.
3. The offensive line improves. The Raiders have made some strides this offseason to improve an offensive line that couldn’t produce a running game and allowed 72 sacks. Cooper Carlisle, an ex-Denver guard, was the latest and the most notable addition. But the team must continue its effort to improve the line because it cannot see success if the quarterback has no protection. A player like Calvin Johnson has the ability to stretch the field, which is his greatest asset. But if someone like Culpepper has limited time in the pocket, there will not be sufficient time to throw deep. Without that threat, Johnson’s potential to strike fear into a defense will be severely damaged.
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