Jason Campbell officially replaced by Bruce Gradkowski (1 Viewer)

[Raiderfan32904]

http://www.ibabuzz.com/oaklandraiders/2010...vesy-free-zone/

Guys,

The determination of Raiders beat writer that Campbell was the going to be the new #3 QB turned out to be a typo.

But Campbell's tenuous hold on the starting gig is strongly in doubt. Many insiders believe that Tom Cable has no other option but to make the change permanently at QB. Campbell should remain a strong QB #2. We will see this all play out some time tommorow. I am sorry if I have misled anyone. I still think the overall point of the thread hasn't changed, just whether Campbell is the #2 or the #3.

Here is the correction:

"Cable said he’d address the issue again Wednesday and talked up the quarterback depth that also includes No. 3 quarterback Kyle Boller."

before the log entry read:

"Cable said he’d address the issue again Wednesday and talked up the quarterback depth that also includes No. 3 quarterback Jason Campbell."

again, sorry for the confusion.

 

[⚡DEADHEAD⚡]

Wow.

After all the talk about how great Campbell is and how the Raiders would be a new team with him. Blah blah blah. Nobody knows $%%).

 

[Dr. Awesome]

Wow. Was he not studying the playbook or practicing well enough?

 

[FavreCo]

Wow. Was he not studying the playbook or practicing well enough?

Raiders are learning faster than the redskins did that this guy sucks.

 

[Eastwood]

As a Redskins fan, this does not surprise me one bit. He is just awful.

 

[Bojang0301]

And that's a career.

 

[Mello]

I thought Campbell would really improve the team. Completely wrong. Gradkowski made a world of difference yesterday.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Bump LM, DHB, DMC, JLH, etc....

This is awesome news!

But I am not ready to throw Campbell away. We really do need him as a backup. Grads health will be precarious.

 

[Brady Gaga]

Bump LM, DHB, DMC, JLH, etc....This is awesome news!But I am not ready to throw Campbell away. We really do need him as a backup. Grads health will be precarious.

Sorry but JLH?Never mind - got it - Jonnie Lee Higgins.

 

[Nightly Mistake]

As a Redskins fan, this does not surprise me one bit. He is just awful.

The hyperbole gets ridiculous. Russell was awful. Leaf was awful. Akili Smith was awful. Campbell is average. Some games he's below average. Some games he can be above average. Mostly, though, he's just average. He needs help around him. He needs a pocket to throw from, a relatively simple offense with few demands for reading the field. He needs some playmakers. In ideal circumstances he could actually be pretty good. Think Kerry Collins. He's really not had ideal circumstances in his career though. Oakland doesn't have many if not most of those things he needs, and frankly their coaching staff is among the worst in the league. I suspect that Gradkowski simply does better amidst the chaos there than Campbell does.

 

[tud_duke]

Bump LM, DHB, DMC, JLH, etc....Grads health will be precarious.

What injuries did he play with last year? I can't remember but wasn't it something that should have ended his season and he was still playing anyways?

 

[RenegadeGM]

Bump LM, DHB, DMC, JLH, etc....This is awesome news!But I am not ready to throw Campbell away. We really do need him as a backup. Grads health will be precarious.

Sorry but JLH?Never mind - got it - Jonnie Lee Higgins.

or Jennifer Love Hewitt

 

[Raiderfan32904]

It's all about speed. Campbell went through primary and secondary progressions and if nothing looked open, he'd dash for yards and not even know how to slide. His pocket awareness was below avg. Gradkowski has the quick decision making going through all his progressions and finding a wide open Louis Murphy on a busted route. He knew where Murphy was going and tossed to the space and Murph got a big gain. Those are the kind of intangilbles that Campbell lacks.

I said it before, I'll say it again. The NFL speed is like driving a car 90 MPH. Gradkowski plays at about 100 MPH, but Campbell plays at about 65 mph. Campbell's career as a starter is over barring injury in my opinion.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

Bump LM, DHB, DMC, JLH, etc....Grads health will be precarious.

What injuries did he play with last year? I can't remember but wasn't it something that should have ended his season and he was still playing anyways?

He injured his pec muscle right before TC around OTA's. Had to rest it as he was overdoing the weightlifting. That guy is committed to getting better, faster, stronger.

 

[the rover]

Something about Jason Campbell makes people believe that he's right on the verge of everything coming together and becoming a great QB. Good to see the Raiders realize that it's not going to happen. He's as good as he's going to get, and that's not very good.

 

[Nightly Mistake]

Something about Jason Campbell makes people believe that he's right on the verge of everything coming together and becoming a great QB. Good to see the Raiders realize that it's not going to happen. He's as good as he's going to get, and that's not very good.

Who says that? I've been one of his bigger defenders on this board and I've never said something like that.

 

[timschochet]

Frankly, and I write this as a bitter Steeler fan, I don't know why Gradkowski wasn't the starter from day 1. He singlehandledly ruined our season last year.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally.

Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

 

[Slevin Kelevra]

Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. .

But he won the game

 

[footballnerd]

I think this kid had the longest hype train ever.

 

[biggamer3]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

Do not agree with you at all. Football is a what have you done for me lately league and the Raiders owed Campbell nothing at all. He looked horrible for 1.5 games and Cable knew a win was do or die since 0-2 for Raiders is like a death spell.Glad he at least tried to shake it up a bit and it worked, so no reason to fault the coach here, J Camp blew it

 

[Slevin Kelevra]

I think this kid had the longest hype train ever.

With Alex Smith

 

[Raider Nation]

Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. .

But he won the game

The game had a completely different feel and energy level when Bruce Almighty came in. The tempo is just different, for the better.

 

[gbill2004]

I dont think the article is stating an announcement/decision by Cable that Campbell is now the 3rd stringer. I believe that a decision/announcement will be made on Wednesday.

 

[tud_duke]

Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. .

But he won the game

The game had a completely different feel and energy level when Bruce Almighty came in. The tempo is just different, for the better.

I totally agree. I had a feeling the Rams were going to lose after he started completing pass after pass. It wasn't flashy, but it didn't have to be.

 

[PinkydaPimp]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally.

Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

Do not agree with you at all. Football is a what have you done for me lately league and the Raiders owed Campbell nothing at all. He looked horrible for 1.5 games and Cable knew a win was do or die since 0-2 for Raiders is like a death spell.Glad he at least tried to shake it up a bit and it worked, so no reason to fault the coach here, J Camp blew it

so what happens when gradkowski starts the first half with a pick or two, do you pull him for boller? when does it stop? its like Tennessee pulling Vince young. i don't get that. give your QB a change to play the game at least. i understand shaking things up. but i think you need to at least give the guy a fair shot.

the moving of a player from 1st string to 3rd just tells me that the staff is doing a horrible job evaluating talent.

 

[fruity pebbles]

They all suck. Its replacing one turd with another just like Buffalo.

 

[fatness]

I dont think the article is stating an announcement/decision by Cable that Campbell is now the 3rd stringer. I believe that a decision/announcement will be made on Wednesday.

I think you're right.Also:

Cable benched Campbell at halftime in favor of Gradkowski, who rallied the Raiders for a 16-14 victory. Gradkowski said he believes he deserves the nod. Cable will wait until Wednesday, at the earliest, before shedding more light on the issue.

Gradkowski and Campbell weren't available to the media Monday. At least one of them will be required to address the media Wednesday; presumably the one tabbed the starter.

link

 

[Vision6]

I hope and expect Gradkowski to be named the starter but in regards to this article it seems to be a typo. I think McDonald meant Kyle Boller not Jason Campbell as the #3.

 

[DesertDawg]

Frankly, and I write this as a bitter Steeler fan, I don't know why Gradkowski wasn't the starter from day 1. He singlehandledly ruined our season last year.

+1He always stood above the rest last year and the raiders actually looked like a decent team with him behind center

 

[gregjcross]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

 

[FantasyMan]

How about somebody changes the topic title to something at least remotely true?

 

[PinkydaPimp]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

then why did they bring Campbell in and name him the starter immediately? Not even give Gradkowski a chance to compete? I know he got injured, but i find it strange that when he was healthy they didn't consider giving him a shot if he was playing that well last year. either way im interested in seeing how he fares.

 

[norgay]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

Perhaps, but this begs the question: why the hell did the Raiders bring in Campbell as QB1?

 

[gregjcross]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

then why did they bring Campbell in and name him the starter immediately? Not even give Gradkowski a chance to compete? I know he got injured, but i find it strange that when he was healthy they didn't consider giving him a shot if he was playing that well last year. either way im interested in seeing how he fares.

You have to see it from the local perspective. Look who owns the team and makes all off season decisions., Mr. Davis. This is vs. the coach who has to live/work with it. Cable had some serious kahonas yesterday to make that move, which was the right one. I dont even care that much about the Raiders but I can only relay what we see every week.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

then why did they bring Campbell in and name him the starter immediately? Not even give Gradkowski a chance to compete? I know he got injured, but i find it strange that when he was healthy they didn't consider giving him a shot if he was playing that well last year. either way im interested in seeing how he fares.

Good question. I think that Campbell really wowed the Raiders with his professionalism, his work ethic, and all the work he put in with Hue Jackson. They felt confident that they had the new #1 QB. It took 6 quarters of regular season football to see he wasn't going to take them where they wanted to go. He still will be a factor and I think will get back in the game.As for someone doubting Jerry McDonald, go ahead and throw your shots at my title. It sticks, because Jerry Mac is money when it comes to Raider info. Gradkowski is the starter.An aside for those interested. I watched the 2nd series after Grads went in and Raiders were in on defense. Hue, Grads, and Boller were all huddled up and strategizing the next offensive series. Campbell was off to the side staring into space. I think the body language is what got him sent down to #3 status.

 

[The_Hoser]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

Perhaps, but this begs the question: why the hell did the Raiders bring in Campbell as QB1?

I was thinking the same thing. I have been a big Grad fan since college, but it looked to me like the Raiders had decided to give Campbell the reins. Six quarters is not enough time to lose that job.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

Perhaps, but this begs the question: why the hell did the Raiders bring in Campbell as QB1?

Because no one has the benefit of having a crystal ball that will tell you ahead of time how a QB will fare in the system?Raiders had a huge need at the position, and they brought in a starting NFL QB to do the job. And it looks like he simply is not getting the job done.I agree with other posters that say that the team is different under Gradkowski -- I still think Campbell is more talented than Gradkowski, but the difference in talent may be marginal, and the difference is that the team really seems to respond better to Grads. Simply put, Campbell may have more skill, but what the Raiders need is a leader of men, and right now, that's what Gradkowski is providing.And while you can slam Campbell all you want -- and don't get me wrong, a lot of it is deserved -- you need to reserve a healthy amount of blame to the porous O-line, who has been horrid, as well as to the Oakland coaching staff, who brilliantly threw a pure rookie tackle to the lions by starting at center on the road for his very first NFL game, and then rotated LTs in the second game like a revolving door, cementing even less consistency in an already inconsistent line.We'll see if things settle down if and when Grads is named starter -- he seems to be faster making his reads and getting rid of the ball when the pocket inevitably collapses -- but a change at QB isn't going to fix the much larger problems this team has on offense.

 

[norgay]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally.

Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

then why did they bring Campbell in and name him the starter immediately? Not even give Gradkowski a chance to compete? I know he got injured, but i find it strange that when he was healthy they didn't consider giving him a shot if he was playing that well last year. either way im interested in seeing how he fares.

Good question. I think that Campbell really wowed the Raiders with his professionalism, his work ethic, and all the work he put in with Hue Jackson. They felt confident that they had the new #1 QB. It took 6 quarters of regular season football to see he wasn't going to take them where they wanted to go. He still will be a factor and I think will get back in the game.As for someone doubting Jerry McDonald, go ahead and throw your shots at my title. It sticks, because Jerry Mac is money when it comes to Raider info. Gradkowski is the starter.

An aside for those interested. I watched the 2nd series after Grads went in and Raiders were in on defense. Hue, Grads, and Boller were all huddled up and strategizing the next offensive series. Campbell was off to the side staring into space. I think the body language is what got him sent down to #3 status.

Maybe once they brought him in they were impressed with his work ethic, but if Gradkowski was as good last year as some in this thread are implying then why bring Campbell in to begin with? Also, I don't ever remember Gradkowski as being in the mix for QB1 this year based on last year's performance.If Gradkowski showed something last year, then bringing in Campbell doesnt make sense. And if Campbell wowed them then he deserved more than 6 quarters. I mean, was he worse than Matt Cassel? Worse than Alex Smith? Worse than Derek Anderson? You gotta give your guy more than 6 quarters if he showed you enough to be QB1 to begin with.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

Perhaps, but this begs the question: why the hell did the Raiders bring in Campbell as QB1?

Because no one has the benefit of having a crystal ball that will tell you ahead of time how a QB will fare in the system?Raiders had a huge need at the position, and they brought in a starting NFL QB to do the job. And it looks like he simply is not getting the job done.I agree with other posters that say that the team is different under Gradkowski -- I still think Campbell is more talented than Gradkowski, but the difference in talent may be marginal, and the difference is that the team really seems to respond better to Grads. Simply put, Campbell may have more skill, but what the Raiders need is a leader of men, and right now, that's what Gradkowski is providing.And while you can slam Campbell all you want -- and don't get me wrong, a lot of it is deserved -- you need to reserve a healthy amount of blame to the porous O-line, who has been horrid, as well as to the Oakland coaching staff, who brilliantly threw a pure rookie tackle to the lions by starting at center on the road for his very first NFL game, and then rotated LTs in the second game like a revolving door, cementing even less consistency in an already inconsistent line.We'll see if things settle down if and when Grads is named starter -- he seems to be faster making his reads and getting rid of the ball when the pocket inevitably collapses -- but a change at QB isn't going to fix the much larger problems this team has on offense.

very so many people misunderstand the Raiders, and dismiss them out of indifference. This is a good start at educating yourself on this QB situation.

 

[norgay]

i dont know. i find it strange they would demote him to 3rd string. Even stranger that they benched him after 1.5 games under center. Gradkowski's stats weren't spectacular. I think you at least give Campbell another half of play to see if he can rally. Just seems like a rash decision to make all of the sudden.

If you had seen Gradkowski play last year, then you know why. Serious player who will raise the team by 3 or 4 wins vs. Campbell.

Perhaps, but this begs the question: why the hell did the Raiders bring in Campbell as QB1?

Because no one has the benefit of having a crystal ball that will tell you ahead of time how a QB will fare in the system?Raiders had a huge need at the position, and they brought in a starting NFL QB to do the job. And it looks like he simply is not getting the job done.I agree with other posters that say that the team is different under Gradkowski -- I still think Campbell is more talented than Gradkowski, but the difference in talent may be marginal, and the difference is that the team really seems to respond better to Grads. Simply put, Campbell may have more skill, but what the Raiders need is a leader of men, and right now, that's what Gradkowski is providing.And while you can slam Campbell all you want -- and don't get me wrong, a lot of it is deserved -- you need to reserve a healthy amount of blame to the porous O-line, who has been horrid, as well as to the Oakland coaching staff, who brilliantly threw a pure rookie tackle to the lions by starting at center on the road for his very first NFL game, and then rotated LTs in the second game like a revolving door, cementing even less consistency in an already inconsistent line.We'll see if things settle down if and when Grads is named starter -- he seems to be faster making his reads and getting rid of the ball when the pocket inevitably collapses -- but a change at QB isn't going to fix the much larger problems this team has on offense.

very so many people misunderstand the Raiders, and dismiss them out of indifference. This is a good start at educating yourself on this QB situation.

I wasnt dismissing anyone out of indifference, and I wasnt slamming Campbell. I was merely responding to a post that said that Gradkowski showed last year why he deserved the #1 spot. If anything, my thought is that if you thought you had a huge void at the position so you brought in a guy to address that void, and he then impressed you enough to land the starting job, then he probably deserves more than 6 quarters before turning it over to the next guy on the list.

 

[Raiderfan32904]

I wasnt dismissing anyone out of indifference, and I wasnt slamming Campbell. I was merely responding to a post that said that Gradkowski showed last year why he deserved the #1 spot. If anything, my thought is that if you thought you had a huge void at the position so you brought in a guy to address that void, and he then impressed you enough to land the starting job, then he probably deserves more than 6 quarters before turning it over to the next guy on the list.

No, I wasn't talking about your comments. They are fair questions. But you can't go and throw away the season when it is obvious that it is getting away from you.This is Grads team, and the entire team feels his presense. He has that "it" factor that JC just never had.

 

[norgay]

I wasnt dismissing anyone out of indifference, and I wasnt slamming Campbell. I was merely responding to a post that said that Gradkowski showed last year why he deserved the #1 spot. If anything, my thought is that if you thought you had a huge void at the position so you brought in a guy to address that void, and he then impressed you enough to land the starting job, then he probably deserves more than 6 quarters before turning it over to the next guy on the list.

No, I wasn't talking about your comments. They are fair questions. But you can't go and throw away the season when it is obvious that it is getting away from you.This is Grads team, and the entire team feels his presense. He has that "it" factor that JC just never had.

Fair enough. But then why wasn't this clear enough after last year that they felt they needed to bring someone else in as QB1. Not trying to be difficult, just trying to understand why now it's clear that Grads has the "it" factor but it wasn't clear after his play last season. Has he improved that much the past 6 months?

 

[Warrior]

Nice guy, but not a good QB...not at all. The 'skins fans were chuckling at the Raiders fans who were so high on this guy even after so many mediocre games in D.C. What made anyone think he would excel by going from a bad offense to a terrible one?

Nice move, Shanny.

 

[shadyridr]

Louis Murphy vs ARI next week

 

[Ministry of Pain]

They all suck. Its replacing one turd with another just like Buffalo.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Louis Murphy vs ARI next week the rest of the season

Fixed

 

[hailskins81]

I am a die-hard Skins fan, and for years we have had to deal with the lower-ended mediocrity that is Jason Campbell. First off, he should not have gone in the first round, not to mention trading up and giving 3 other picks to get him there. I think the organization felt since we paid that much for him, we needed to squeeze all the value we could out of him. It just wasn't there, though.

The guy would give up on deeper routes and check down. I can't recall how many times I saw Moss throwing up his hands when he had three steps on a DB.

He only exceedingly rarely could make things happen when a play broke down. Most QB's might try a pump fake, a scramble to open something up, this is not something you would see with Campbell.

His pocket awareness and awareness of the blitz is atrocious. So many fumbles came that just a simple step up into the pocket would have prevented.

Rodney Harrison even said that defenses do not fear him

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsb...s_jason_ca.html

Campbell has a great arm, and all the physical tools, but the bottom line, he doesn't have "it". He doesn't have that fire in him to want the game to fall on his shoulders. I see it in top QB's like Brees and Rivers. I saw it in players like Jeff Garcia, who didn't have the strength that Campbell has, but he was a leader. I see it with Grads. A QB has to know when there are 3 minutes to go in the game, if the team is down, that he can lead the team to victory. Campbell just does not have that.

If you are a Raider's fan, be glad this was seen sooner, rather than later. Campbell was 20-32 as a Redskin. He might have compiled decent stats, but stats don't mean crap if you are sitting at home with a 4-12 record in December.

 

[Stompin' Tom Connors]

I wasnt dismissing anyone out of indifference, and I wasnt slamming Campbell. I was merely responding to a post that said that Gradkowski showed last year why he deserved the #1 spot.

If anything, my thought is that if you thought you had a huge void at the position so you brought in a guy to address that void, and he then impressed you enough to land the starting job, then he probably deserves more than 6 quarters before turning it over to the next guy on the list.

No, I wasn't talking about your comments. They are fair questions. But you can't go and throw away the season when it is obvious that it is getting away from you.This is Grads team, and the entire team feels his presense. He has that "it" factor that JC just never had.

Fair enough. But then why wasn't this clear enough after last year that they felt they needed to bring someone else in as QB1. Not trying to be difficult, just trying to understand why now it's clear that Grads has the "it" factor but it wasn't clear after his play last season. Has he improved that much the past 6 months?

Gradkowski showed last year why he deserved the #1 spot. -- I know this was not your statement, but it puts things in context for me trying to answer your questions. I think relativity matters when discussing Gradkowski.Gradkowski showed he deserved the #1 spot *only* in comparison to JaMarcus Russell, who was one of the more abysmal starting QBs to waddle into the league in a while. It's not as if Grads showed he had the ability to be a consistent #1 starting QB in the NFL.

...why now it's clear that Grads has the "it" factor but it wasn't clear after his play last season?

What was consistent between last year's Gradkowski and this year's Gradkowski is that he provided the team with a little spark -- the team seemed to play "up" around him rather than the QB ahead of him on the depth chart. But again, this is relative -- it's not as if the Raiders changed from, say, the farting, undisciplined apathetic Wildcats to the highly oiled, Wesley Snipes-inspired Wildcats who destroyed their uppity gridiron rival Prescott.

I think it's overstating it that Gradkowski has an "it" factor. Rather, it's more that he simply seems to lead this team on the field with a little more heart and inspiration than Campbell has so far.

But then why wasn't this clear enough after last year that they felt they needed to bring someone else in as QB1?

The players may have responded to Gradkowski last year, but not in a way any NFL owner or coach would have confidence simply handing the keys over to him as the unquestioned starter for the next season. I'm glad the Raiders went out to find a better talent at QB. At the time, Campbell seemed perfect -- a guy with a decent arm and durability, who has faced myriad offensive schemes installed every year in Washington, such that he seemed he could handle the change to yet another system fairly well.

As others said well in this thread, Campbell wasn't Montana, but at the very least he was a middle-of-the-road NFL starting QB -- something the Raiders didn't have last year (and, I'd argue, even this year) in Gradkowski.

...he probably deserves more than 6 quarters before turning it over to the next guy on the list.

I think this is very valid. A switch this fast into the season is specious, and points out a variety of things -- that the Raiders are trying to find a way to win any way they can, even if it comes to desperate measures. That Cable may be trying to shake things out any way he can before he himself is shaken out of the organization. That the entire offense is in disarray and may just need to be turned on its head.

Time will tell what happens. I agree it's too early to just give up on Campbell, and I think he can still make for a decent QB with the right supporting cast, on the Raiders, or elsewhere.

But truth be told, if starting Gradkowski gets the Raiders up for games, nets more wins than they otherwise would have, then I'm all for it. Lord knows I've been watching this team lose ugly -- and win ugly the few games they actually manage to pull it off -- for long enough for a desperate experiment like Gradkowski to be a welcome one.

 

[PahtyTom]

As a Redskins fan, this does not surprise me one bit. He is just awful.

The hyperbole gets ridiculous. Russell was awful. Leaf was awful. Akili Smith was awful. Campbell is average. Some games he's below average. Some games he can be above average. Mostly, though, he's just average. He needs help around him. He needs a pocket to throw from, a relatively simple offense with few demands for reading the field. He needs some playmakers. In ideal circumstances he could actually be pretty good. Think Kerry Collins. He's really not had ideal circumstances in his career though. Oakland doesn't have many if not most of those things he needs, and frankly their coaching staff is among the worst in the league. I suspect that Gradkowski simply does better amidst the chaos there than Campbell does.

this post just about nailed it