Great draft read for my Raidernation bretheren......

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 5:21 pm

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... UR0H11.DTL

Tom Martinez knows better. He knows that an arm does not make a quarterback. He knows that Tom Brady, his most famous protégé, won three Super Bowls because he respects the finer points of the job. And he knows that a quarterback should never, ever be asked to roll to one side of the field and then throw to the other. It's inefficient, mechanically unsound, such a scandalous misuse of momentum that a 10th-grade physics student would flag the play.

But Martinez couldn't help himself. JaMarcus Russell's arm is that seductive.

When it came time to create a list of plays for Russell to run in front of dozens of NFL scouts and executives last month, Martinez went with the taboo as their grand finale. Russell rolled right, and his receiver broke that way, too, before switching direction.

"JaMarcus threw it 70 yards and completed it," Martinez said. "It was unbelievable, unbelievable. You could hear this "Ahhhh" coming from all the NFL people."

He wore a mischievous grin when he described the play, still exhilarated that Russell could do something so wrong so right. In his 32 years as a coach at the College of San Mateo and endless summers tutoring quarterbacks at football camps, Martinez has worked with some of the biggest names in the business -- John Elway, future Heisman winner Gino Torretta, USC's Rob Johnson and Brady, who attended his first Martinez camp at age 13 and still calls on him for help with his mechanics. New Englanders view Martinez as something of a wizard.

But the coach has never seen anyone quite like the 21-year-old favorite to become the No. 1 pick in this month's NFL draft or done anything like the prep work that he performed for Russell.

"This thing was very good for me, it was uplifting," said Martinez, 62, who recently went into semi-retirement because three decades of nonstop coaching had worn away at his heart.

The pair worked together for two one-week training sessions and then met up again in Baton Rouge, La., for Russell's "pro day," the NFL draft's equivalent of walking the red carpet. Hired by Russell's agents, Martinez became, for want of a better term, the quarterback's throwing stylist.

At Athletes' Performance, a specialized training camp in Tempe, Ariz., Martinez joined a team grooming Russell to take his place atop the draft. The chief competition, Brady Quinn of Notre Dame, is more polished and experienced than Russell, with four years as a college starter as opposed to two, yet he showed up in Tempe for some buffing of his own.

"They never threw at the same time," Martinez said. "Brady Quinn would throw in the morning and JaMarcus would throw in the afternoon. There was a little bit of competition there."

Russell's size makes him both alluring and unnerving, creating doubts about his agility. He can probably absorb a hit very well, but will he lumber around in the pocket, unable to keep up with the speed of the NFL game? At 6-foot-6, he looks more like a tight end than a quarterback, and he reportedly carried as much as 265 pounds when he led LSU past Quinn's Irish in the Sugar Bowl. His fitness advisers in Arizona peeled close to 10 pounds off him, revealing a sleeker model. Martinez immediately went to work on Russell's feet.

On their first day together, Martinez measured the distance Russell covered in a three-step drop. "The first time he did it, it was 41/3 yards," Martinez said, "and in 45 minutes, we had him dropping back 7 yards in the same amount of time."

Among other things, he adjusted Russell's hand position after the snap, giving him more balance and leverage on the drop. The next day, he showed a videotape of the session to Russell, increasing the quarterback's confidence in what they had achieved.

By the time they were done with their training, Russell's footwork was strong enough that Martinez wanted to showcase it on "pro day."

In fact, he wanted to put all of Russell's presumed weaknesses on display. Agents create scripts for these events, and they are usually written to obscure areas of doubt. Martinez reasoned that the scouts and coaches would eventually, in private workouts, ask Russell to perform drills that emphasized perceived shortcomings. He wanted the script to answer the big questions, to assure the scouts that Russell had nothing to hide.
The Raiders, current owners of the top pick, recently invited Martinez for what was reported to be an interview to become the team's quarterbacks coach. Martinez read it more as "a chance to exchange information," and he filled them in on what he had learned about Russell.

Russell's soft-spoken personality? "He's very quiet, very respectful," Martinez said, "He doesn't say much, but he's always taking things in. You can see him sizing things up and figuring people out."

Russell's background? Martinez believes that any NFL executive who meets with Russell's relatives will gain confidence in the decision to draft him. "He has a very grounded family," Martinez said. "They're all squared away. They're not buying into the fanfare around this."

The other information he would like to impart would apply to any 21-year-old. Russell needs stability, continuity on the coaching staff. Martinez once heard Jim Plunkett describe a harrowing period in his career when the quarterbacks coach changed four times in four years. He doesn't want one of the most prodigious talents the game has ever seen to be squandered.

Martinez has seen all of Russell's flaws up close, and he still finds himself amazed. He says that Russell, fulfilling a typical scout's request, can stand flat-footed at the goal line and, without moving his body for the necessary torque, throw a ball 77 yards downfield.

He can also sit at the opponent's 40-yard line and throw a ball through the uprights of the goalpost. Cal's Kyle Boller once asserted that he could throw the same pass from the 50 while on his knees. But Russell does it on his backside, relying entirely on his arm. Martinez fondly calls this maneuver "the butt throw."

Martinez is a technical wizard, so he probably shouldn't be so impressed. But he can't help himself. Two weeks as JaMarcus Russell's coach turned him into a fan.

JRuss is going to look damn good in silver and black.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:44 pm

He can probably absorb a hit very well, but will he lumber around in the pocket, unable to keep up with the speed of the NFL game?

too bad the dud's won't be able to protect him long enough for him to get off some of those 40 or 50 yard throws.....

a lumbering quarterback behind a suck-ass offensive line.....yeah, should be a real hoot.....

uh, let's just say-he'd better be able to take a hit.....

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 12:38 am

Our line is going to be much better than years' previous.....in fact, it will probably be likened to your very own donks line by the end of this season, Cat.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 2:49 am

The Raiders have not successfully groomed a drafted QB since Ken Stabler was drafted in 1968.
By my math, that's almost 40 yrs.
They're overdue -- sincerely Marcus.

If ever you'd imagine they would TRY HARD to groom a young QB, now would be it.
Despite Al's refusal to ever admit it, they are in a rebuilding phase.
New young coaching staff, change of philosophy, etc.
So sitting at THE prime draft position, and with a couple of highly touted QB prospects waiting to be taken, the time is now.
Let the talented young QB grow within the rebuilding phase.

That probably means Al will outfox everyone and draft a fast DB #1 overall.

I could definitely see Al taking Russell, keeping Moss, and playing BOMBS AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let Curry and Porter work underneath and frequently send Randy deep ....... with arm waving.
I'm OPEN .... I'm OPEN.

I could also see him drafting C. Johnson, trading Moss, and packaging him to make a deal to move up and hopefully land B. Quinn along with C. Johnson.

Whatever happens, I'll probably be disappointed if Oakland does not come out of the draft without either Russell or Quinn.

Myself, I don't feel good about our O-line.
Sure, Art & Co.'s gameplanning made a bad line look worse, but the PLAYERS were absolute horseshit.
And so far all the Raiders have done is bring in a half-cripple center and indicate that they might 'shuffle' the players to new positions.
Color me unimpressed.
I'm tired of making excuses for R. Gallery too.

Boothe and McQ were rookies last year, so yeah, they might legitimately improve this year.
And the new offensive philosophy might help.
More zone blocking, I hear.
But the bottom line is the players have to do a MUCH better job.
On what basis should I expect Gallery, Grove, and Sims to be better players .... ?
I pretty much expect them to suck again.

Th · Post by Th » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:05 am

poptart wrote:I'm tired of making excuses for R. Gallery too.

Yeah, seriously.

Sig,

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:52 am

Gallery is not total dogshit like Mandarich was.
He's just not good.
He is, to this point in his career, a below average starting NFL lineman.
Played pretty decent at RT in yrs 1 & 2.
TOTALLY sucked last year at LT.

If Oakland could just get .... GOOD .... play from R. Gallery I'd cum in my pants.

RevLimiter · Post by **RevLimiter** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:08 pm

TMI, Pops.

RevLimiter · Post by **RevLimiter** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:41 pm

Agreed...the Raydahs are SCREWED for the foreseeable future, no matter WHO they draft or who they hire to coach them.

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:16 pm

I see nobody is stupid enough to step to me regarding our O-line being the second coming of the Broncos line.

Guess the lot of you have heard of the Tom Cable (who is an Alex Gibbs disciple and most recently ran the zone blocking in Atlanta last season) hiring by us, and how he's turning our line into the chop block knee cutting zone blocking artists the Donks currently are......starting with grabbing one the hee haw starting lineman

Fucking. Beautiful.

Chargerfan appearing in any thread and making a comment about coaching staff (Buwahahahahahahahahahahaha!!) when Mr. Roper and Jack tripper are installing the 'bone in thier offense is the absolute height of hilarity.

JaMarcus will be fine once the line has taken out enough kneecaps by midseason.

Paul, do you ever get tired of being a dumbfuck?

RevLimiter · Post by **RevLimiter** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:40 pm

Raydah James wrote:Paul, do you ever get tired of being a dumbfuck?

The 1st time I ever AM a "dumbfuck", I'll let you know.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:59 pm

RevLimiter wrote:
Raydah James wrote:Paul, do you ever get tired of being a dumbfuck?
The 1st time I ever AM a "dumbfuck", I'll let you know.

Uhm...aren't you the guy who can't figure out how to log in with a different nic?

P.S.: The comma goes inside the quotation marks...grade school teacher out front should have told you.

Goober McTuber · Post by **Goober McTuber** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:11 pm

RevLimiter wrote:
Raydah James wrote:Paul, do you ever get tired of being a dumbfuck?
The 1st time I ever AM a "dumbfuck", I'll let you know.

Total nonsense. A dumbfuck is not smart enough to know that they’re a dumbfuck. Dumbfuck.

Felix · Post by **Felix** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:17 pm

Raydah James wrote:I see nobody is stupid enough to step to me regarding our O-line being the second coming of the Broncos line.

read this then go ahead and make your case.....

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 951849.htm

You had to assume that the Raiders' turnstile offensive line was in line for a major offseason overhaul.

So far, though, nothing truly major has happened.

Right tackle Langston Walker bolted as a free agent to the Buffalo Bills. The Raiders signed former 49ers center Jeremy Newberry, who missed the entire 2006 season and has played just 11 games the past three years because of knee injuries. The Raiders also re-signed tackle Chad Slaughter and re-worked tackle Barry Sims' contract.

Basically, that's it.

The NFL's top free agent offensive linemen are already off the market. The odds of the Raiders trading for an offensive lineman are slim. Even if the they use a high draft pick for an offensive lineman, that player will be a raw rookie.

So we're left to assume that the Raiders are gambling that new offensive line coach Tom Cable can fix their most glaring collective problem without a major influx of talent.

No pressure there.

My familiarity with Tom Cable is that he was the head coach of one of the worst college football programs in Division 1......

and insofar as his coaching the Atlanta offensive line....they had one thing the Rayduds are seriously lacking.......

talent.......

JaMarcus (assuming that's who they pick) is going to be in for a long season, regardless of whether they get Carlisle or not......

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:25 pm

Felix wrote:
So we're left to assume that the Raiders are gambling that new offensive line coach Tom Cable can fix their most glaring collective problem without a major influx of talent.

No pressure there.

Excellent point, and one that I wholeheartedly agree with.

Cooper is a damn good start to acquiring the best players to run the new scheme and overhauling a line that desperately needs it. Its a long offseason, and many things can happen until camp and preseason begins-namely, lineman being cut for cap reasons. Its already happened quite a bit, and I expect it to continue.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:05 pm

Hey Raiders... if you need O-linemen, I hear James Fitzpatrick is avalable these days...can't be any worse than Gallery.

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:21 pm

We've already addressed the need for a blocking TE by grabbing 2 very good ones. We've eliminated the biggest sieve, Langston Walker, added a pro bowl vet with experience (Newberry swears he's fully healed and ready to tear shit up......we'll see once camp starts) and brought in one of the best Oline coaches in the game.

I'm confident we'll also add another guy or two in the draft, and at least one more cap casualty signing. We will have a solid run game and we will not be asking our Oline or young QB to carry us on his/their shoulders, though JRuss probably could.

From these moves alone, I expect to see at least 3-4 more wins.

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:49 pm

Raydah James wrote:We've already addressed the need for a blocking TE by grabbing 2 very good ones. We've eliminated the biggest sieve, Langston Walker, added a pro bowl vet with experience (Newberry swears he's fully healed and ready to tear shit up......we'll see once camp starts) and brought in one of the best Oline coaches in the game.

I'm confident we'll also add another guy or two in the draft, and at least one more cap casualty signing. We will have a solid run game and we will not be asking our Oline or young QB to carry us on his/their shoulders, though JRuss probably could.

From these moves alone, I expect to see at least 3-4 more wins.

so you're saying the Duh's wil go 5-11? ...that's awesome James!

RevLimiter · Post by **RevLimiter** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 7:56 pm

ChargerMike wrote:
Eternally MYOPIC James wrote:From these moves alone, I expect to see at least 3-4 more wins.
so you're saying the Duh's wil go 5-11? ...that's awesome James!

Mr. Hair Gel walked right into that one....

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:06 pm

ChargerMike wrote: so you're saying the Duh's wil go 5-11? ...that's awesome James!

My final prediction for this season will be posted during the preseason.

As I stated earlier, the moves up until this very moment have increased my win expectations to around 3-4 more.

The second Goodell says the name "JaMarcus Russell" after "With the first pick, the Raiders select" it'll skyrocket to around, oh, 19-0

......tell me you knew.

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:35 pm

^^^ I knew that!

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Mon Apr 02, 2007 11:46 pm

mvscal wrote: shitty owner

However shitty you think our owner is, times that by a fucking 100 and you've got your owner.

You are the Clippers of football. Period.

your shitty head coach,

Come and knock on our door, we've been waiting for you

Stanley Roper for a head coach says what?

your shitty O line coach

Just dont come crying like the spotting sloppy twat you are when Ferriman and your entire D-Line's knees are cut the fuck down mercilessly en route to a Raider asskicking on your shit squad.

I guess 7-9 looks pretty good when you are the league's bottomfeeding bitch.

When you win a fucking playoff game for the first time in 13+ years, and your trophy case collects something other than dust, you can open your cocksuckers, Pmscal. Until then, shut the fuck up-you and your shit team dont fucking rate.

War Wagon · Post by **War Wagon** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 1:06 am

Raydah James wrote: The second Goodell says the name "JaMarcus Russell" after "With the first pick, the Raiders select" it'll skyrocket to around, oh, 19-0

Still several weeks left until the draft, and James is already in mid pre-season form.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:57 am

Raydah James wrote:We've already addressed the need for a blocking TE by grabbing 2 very good ones. We've eliminated the biggest sieve, Langston Walker, added a pro bowl vet with experience (Newberry swears he's fully healed and ready to tear shit up......we'll see once camp starts) and brought in one of the best Oline coaches in the game.

I'm confident we'll also add another guy or two in the draft, and at least one more cap casualty signing. We will have a solid run game and we will not be asking our Oline or young QB to carry us on his/their shoulders, though JRuss probably could.

Oakland also added a guy that is pretty well regarded as a solid blocking FB -- Justin Griffith.

Basically haven't had one of those since J. Ritchie left.

I like it.

Sirfindafold · Post by **Sirfindafold** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 2:05 pm

mvscal wrote:Tom Cable?

Yes.

They also hired Greg Knapp. The two of them were the architects behind the NFL's leading ground game last year.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:03 pm

Architects .... ?
LOL, yeah, with M. Vick gaining over 1,000 yds.
They drew that shit up real smart like.

"Hey Mike, just look around a little, then take off to the side where you don't see many bad-guy jerseys. And whatever bad-guy jerseys you see there ....... you just outrun 'em."

Ironically, Vick's about the only QB in the NFL that might have actually had a prayer working behind Oakland's O-line last year.

ucantdoitdoggieSTyle2 · Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:14 pm

Sirfindafold wrote:Two of them were the architects behind the NFL's leading ground game last year.

Architects?

You mean... have a shit QB under center running for his fucking life, errr, 1000+ yards? Yeah... that's some... "scheme" they designed. Take away Vick's yards and they are middle of the fucking pack.

SFAF's excrement quotient = this post is too big for your average NYC sewer plant to process.

Edited for: Looks like Pops beat me to the punch. Oh well...

Sirfindafold · Post by **Sirfindafold** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:15 pm

I get your point Tart, but you forgot to mention that bruiser Warrick Dunn who rushed for 1140 and the heralded rookie Norwood who added 633 and then you got to factor in that falcon o-line full of all-pros.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 3:26 pm

I'm just bustin' your balls a little for the 'architect' reference, 'fold.
I laughed at it.

Atlanta running backs rushed for 117 yds a game and 4.6 per carry.
Pretty impressive numbers.

Hey, I'm excited about the new coaching blood.
And nothing can be worse than last season.

Dinsdale · Post by **Dinsdale** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:32 pm

Raydah James wrote: You are the Clippers of football.

Dude, that's totally unfair...to the Clippers.

At least they had the good sense to leave for greener pastures and smarter fans.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Fri Apr 06, 2007 2:40 pm

If someone in the AFC West is guaranteed to be worse than last year it's SD.
Handing a 14-2 team over to Norv Turner is like passing the Mona Lisa & a box of Crayolas over to Pauly Shore and askin' him to touch it up.

You're straight fucked, dude.

poptart · Post by **poptart** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 10:30 am

poptart wrote:Myself, I don't feel good about our O-line.
Sure, Art & Co.'s gameplanning made a bad line look worse, but the PLAYERS were absolute horseshit.
And so far all the Raiders have done is bring in a half-cripple center and indicate that they might 'shuffle' the players to new positions.
Color me unimpressed.

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5656514

Carlisle to play for rival Raiders

Lineman agrees to two-year deal
By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer

Cooper Carlisle appreciated his stay with the Broncos, his agent said, but felt it was time to move on. (Getty / Brian Bahr)Cooper Carlisle will be at Invesco Field at Mile High for the Broncos' home opener this season. But he'll be on the other sideline ... in silver and black.

Carlisle agreed to terms Thursday night to a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders.

The Broncos host Oakland on Sept. 16 in the second week of the season. Carlisle was a starting guard for the Broncos the past two years and likely will start for the Raiders, who mimic Denver's zone-blocking scheme. Oakland recently signed former Denver offensive lineman Cornell Green.

Carlisle, 29, was drafted by Denver in the fourth round in 2000. The Broncos had an offer for Carlisle to return, but Denver is going to allow newly signed Montrae Holland and second-year player Chris Kuper to compete at guard. Carlisle visited Seattle, Tampa Bay and Houston before agreeing with the Raiders.

"Cooper appreciated his time in Denver and everything they did for him," his agent, Frank Murtha, said Thursday night. "But it's time to move on."

Defensive tackle Michael Myers is Denver's only remaining free agent.

---------------------------------

Now we're talkin'!!!

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:04 pm

poptart wrote:
poptart wrote:Myself, I don't feel good about our O-line.
Sure, Art & Co.'s gameplanning made a bad line look worse, but the PLAYERS were absolute horseshit.
And so far all the Raiders have done is bring in a half-cripple center and indicate that they might 'shuffle' the players to new positions.
Color me unimpressed.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5656514

Carlisle to play for rival Raiders

Lineman agrees to two-year deal
By Bill Williamson
Denver Post Staff Writer

Cooper Carlisle appreciated his stay with the Broncos, his agent said, but felt it was time to move on. (Getty / Brian Bahr)Cooper Carlisle will be at Invesco Field at Mile High for the Broncos' home opener this season. But he'll be on the other sideline ... in silver and black.

Carlisle agreed to terms Thursday night to a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders.

The Broncos host Oakland on Sept. 16 in the second week of the season. Carlisle was a starting guard for the Broncos the past two years and likely will start for the Raiders, who mimic Denver's zone-blocking scheme. Oakland recently signed former Denver offensive lineman Cornell Green.

Carlisle, 29, was drafted by Denver in the fourth round in 2000. The Broncos had an offer for Carlisle to return, but Denver is going to allow newly signed Montrae Holland and second-year player Chris Kuper to compete at guard. Carlisle visited Seattle, Tampa Bay and Houston before agreeing with the Raiders.

"Cooper appreciated his time in Denver and everything they did for him," his agent, Frank Murtha, said Thursday night. "But it's time to move on."

Defensive tackle Michael Myers is Denver's only remaining free agent.

---------------------------------

Now we're talkin'!!!

Fucking

RACK.

RACK.

RACK.

RACK.

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:12 pm

The Broncos had an offer for Carlisle to return, but Denver is going to allow newly signed Montrae Holland and second-year player Chris Kuper to compete at guard. Carlisle visited Seattle, Tampa Bay and Houston before agreeing with the Raiders.

...and therein lies the story..bwahahal!

trev · Post by **trev** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:14 pm

Cooper???

His parents should be slapped.

Raydah James · Post by **Raydah James** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 6:20 pm

ChargerMike wrote:Just like every time we played him before-Coop is going to chop our D-line's fucking knees out.

...and therein lies the story..bwahahal!

Fixed.

Coop is a good fucking lineman, and Broncofan would've liked to have him come back again.

Enjoy the many cracked kneecaps this coming season, AFC West pussies-I know I will.

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:26 pm

Raydah James wrote:
ChargerMike wrote:Just like every time we played him before-Coop is going to chop our D-line's fucking knees out.

...and therein lies the story..bwahahal!

Fixed.

Coop is a good fucking lineman, and Broncofan would've liked to have him come back again.

Enjoy the many cracked kneecaps this coming season, AFC West pussies-I know I will.

...James, if Denver gets rid of an O-lineman...rest assured he didn't catch on to their Pearl Harbor, knee chopping, crack back blocking, cheating techniques. Hey but I'm sure on that sieve of an o-line up in Oakland he'll be a real stud.

orcinus · Post by **orcinus** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:28 pm

It's all about the sample size.

Compared to the rest of their O-Line, Coop is definitely "a good fucking lineman."

Rack James.

trev · Post by **trev** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:47 pm

Depending on the size your sample should be ample.

ChargerMike · Post by **ChargerMike** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 8:59 pm

trev wrote:Depending on the size your sample should be ample.

..is that a proposition?

orcinus · Post by **orcinus** » Fri Apr 13, 2007 9:06 pm

For realz.

I'm still trying to figure out whether trev just hit me up for the secks or ran me from this thread.

Ponderous.