This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
yep, its all up to him.the tools have clearly been there for a while, the kind that makes a team go ga-ga for a QB this time of year. He's massive, strong, mobile, tough, clutch, he's got unbelievable arm strength from almost any platform and on the run. Honestly, the only QB in the league you can even begin to compare him to is Vince Young, and maybe Culpepper and Roethlisberger. He's not nearly as fast as Vince, but he's a much better passer. On the whole, he should grade out as elite physically like Young, and he has a similar seemingly infinite upside. The only real flaw I can find is bouts of inconsistency.It's all up to him.edit to add - I draw the Young/Russell comparison, not because their games are similar, but because they both have the weapons to break a defenses back even when the defense plays well.
There is no way he works out at the combine unfortunetly. I do however think he moved himself up tot he #1 qb picked however. He blows away Brady Quinn in my opinion. I don't know if the Raiders would take him but I could definetly see the next 3 teams (Det., Cle. and/or TB).
was thinking the same thing. Prior to that it was Leinart and everyone else.
especially seeing how VY turned around the Titans season this year.
Yes, because the Browns have been so sage with the few draft picks that they have had towards the top of a draft.
I hope the Raiders draft him or the highest rated offensive lineman (Thomas, I believe).I was all for the tackle to be the #1 overall until last night. Jamarcus looks to be a very accurate passer which makes him unique with his physical talents.
Does Russell have the same scrambling/running ability that VY does? Haven't really watched a ton of his games except last nite.
True but the guy did have 28 TD passes for the year so it's not like last night was the only great game he's had.To me he reminds me of a young Steve McNair.
I'm in the same boat as you (just watch the bowl games for the most part) but I'm sure one of the guys can weigh in on his abilities. From what I've read he's a decent scrambler but doesn't have VY's speed.
Last night was his 7th straight game with at least 2 TDs. He is usually a guy that steps up in the pocket or avoids the rush very well. He has a very accurate cannon for an arm that can fly 70 yards in the air without stepping into the throw. He will be a great NFL QB. He has lead the tigers to many come back last drive victories. Ole Miss, Tennesse, and Alabama and Arizona State last year. He almost did it against Aurburn, but there was a miss call by the offical, and the last drive, time just ran out.It's only been the 2nd half of this season that they have used him in the draw. Honestly, last night he looked much quicker on the run than he did in the regular season. His weakness is sometimes his size works against him. He should take the sack, but he doesn't and loses the ball much like last night, or he might try to throw it away with a bad pass. Although he is much better, this has not happened as much this year. He does tend to put too much air under some of his passes and is not affraid to throw to a well covered WR. LSU is notorious for the WR screen, so his completion % of 68 is somewhat deceptive, but he can zip a 10 yard quick out, curl or slant better than anyone I have seen. If Russell does not go #1 over all someone will get a steal.
This is true about VY too, always trying to keep the play alive, and practicing poor ball security in the process.
believe it or not it's actually much better as the season progressed. That first pass to Early Ducett that he had to jump for was a lot like his deep ball was last year. The rest of his passes I thought were ok. There are times were he tries to hit a RB over the defensive lineman by floating the ball way too high with a touch pass. He needs to use his size more and get the ball down to just out of reach of the DL. If he tries to do that in the NFL, he will get his RB killed.
Again, eerily similar to Young's story...Young still needs to work a lot on his mechanics, and he's far from "there", but there's still plenty of gamebreaking ability even with those flaws.Russell will likely work out the same way early in his career. Some bad games and "WTF?" plays, but some
plays mixed in that change the outcome of games.Also like Young, if he truly "gets it", watch out.
I don't know where there is video, but in Russell's first game as a true starter the game after Katrina against Arizona State, Russell threw a 4th down bomb jumping in the air across his body on the opposite side the field in the corner of the endzone to Ducett.
Here we go again with the Uncle Rico comparisons
I remember this moment well. I tuned in to get a better look at Keller, and by the end of the game, I was *much* more interested in Russell. Great example of how his arm strength does not have to be generated from sound mechanics (stepping into the throw, squaring to LoS, etc). Again... you'll get sick of hearing me say this... like VY.
I was all set to go with Joe Thomas, but if Russell comes out, he's the guy I want leading the Lions into respectability.
I think this is definitely the type of freak of nature that Al Davis takes. My wife can't get over the fact that he was a 15 lb. baby.
That was Herman Johnson the Offensive Lineman. He was the largest baby ever born in Louisiana. I'm looking for a picture of when Johnson hugs Trenden Hoiliday afer his run. Hoiliday is 5'5 170.I think this is definitely the type of freak of nature that Al Davis takes. My wife can't get over the fact that he was a 15 lb. baby.
That's what impressed me the most --- the accuracy of the deep throws.
He has nothing to lose by coming out now. He'll be a top 3 pick at worst IMO. All he can do next year is get injured or have a subpar season.
Plus he's got the leinart thing as a guide. Waiting it out cost him 10 mil and a child.
Hopefully Russell will hear that, take it to heart, and try to prove that it's untrue in the pre-draft season.Not much to add here except something I heard this morningro scount Chris Landry was on the Steve Czaban show and said he wouldn't want to spend a high pick on Russell because he's "lazy off the field" and doesn't prepare well. Landry thinks he is too much of a bust risk in the high part of the first round.
and wasn't VY too dumb to QB in the nfl?Not much to add here except something I heard this morning
Mike Martz can cure that, can't he?Not much to add here except something I heard this morning
I cant think of a worse fit for Russell than a Mike Martz offense.That would certainly be a Millen-esque pick.
It was interesting to listen to because Landry didn't have anything to say about his technique or ability, but kept referencing maturity issues. Me? I have no idea about Russell, but I do respect Landry's opinions. I wonder how much weight he carries in the NFL. I wonder if he even does consulting work for some teams?Hopefully Russell will hear that, take it to heart, and try to prove that it's untrue in the pre-draft season.Not much to add here except something I heard this morning
I think it remains to be seen whether he can run an NFL offense the way it's designed; there's no doubt that his athletic skills and field awareness are huge assets that he can exploit. Anyway, the comparison isn't valid on the most important level: no one to my knowledge has ever accused VY of being lazy off the field or of not preparing. I could easily envision a guy who has been a physical freak like Russel for all of his life relying upon that and not working as hard to prepare as other guys do for the simple reason that he didn't have to. It's something to watch.and wasn't VY too dumb to QB in the nfl?Not much to add here except something I heard this morning
I think that is right on.
85 yards, 60 from his knees, 40 while sitting down on the field
Definitely. And let's hope he does if he decides to take a QB at 1.
