Is Jamarcus Russell the 2nd coming of Daunte Culpepper?

Question

They seem exactly alike, except that Jamarcus went to a much better school than Daunte. Also considering that Jamarcus may be passing to Randy Moss...it's quite funny. If you have trouble comparing the two, try just doing Daunte the Viking, it might make it a bit easier.

Thoughts?

It's easy to say he's going to be better now. Ryan Leaf is supposed to be competing with Peyton Manning for Super Bowl rings right now, that didn't happen did it?

When you get down to the nitty gritty, I'm talking physical traits, similar abilities, a tendency to scramble, the big frame, the strong arm. They both have these.

Answer 1

I think there is no cap on the potential for Russell. He never maxed his abilities at LSU in attempts, yards, touhdowns, or even rushing the ball. He already has the strongest arm in the country but what most people don't realize he has amazing accuracy for such a beast of a man. Jamarcus can effortlessly hit a man 50 yds down field without setting his feet! He could be the greatest quarterback of all time or the most talented quarterback of all time that fails. Most likely we will see him somewhere in the middle, hopefully closer towards the best ever.

Culpepper is a monster. He is athletic enough to play about 16 / 22 positions on the field. Arm strength has never been a factor for Daunte, he could always through the ball as far as Moss could run. His accuracy is good but not fantastic. Culpepper has been hampered by several nagging injuries during his career, limiting his ability to produce at his maximum potential. He is certainly better than Aaron Brooks, who is a great athlete with a strong arm. Brooks is smaller and probably a step or two faster but can't put all the pieces together with any franchise he's played for. Culpepper is probably most similar to Bryon Leftwich. Like Leftwich, his ability to withstand pressure inside of the pocket allows receivers to get the final step they need to be open.

Jamarcus does not like this comparison. He believes he offers his on unique talents. They both are huge: Jamarcus is probably 15 lbs bigger. They both are strong: Dante is definitely stronger due to age and NFL workouts. They both have cannons: Jamarcus can throw the ball from the seat of his pants more than 40 yds, no chance for Dante on that one. They both are strangely ellusive when under pressure, niether is tackled by one man but Dante is certainly faster in the open field against NFL speed. Both quarterbacks lack in leadership skills: Jamarcus never led LSU well enough to fire all cylinders at once, Dante would rather be on the booze cruise than in the Super Bowl again.

One thing will set Jamarcus in front of Culpepper over time. When the Raiders realize how special Jamarcus is at the pre-draft workouts, they won't release Randy Moss regardless of his wishes. Moss is a burner just like all the receivers Jamarcus had at LSU. He will throw more touchdown passes for 40+ yds in his first 5 seasons than any quarterback has every thrown in their entire career. Al Davis will use his puppet head coach as an outlet to bring in the draft class that Davis so chooses. They will go after whichever wide receiver is left in the second round that has the fastest 40 time. There is no way to defend an Olympic sprinter wide out without a faster Olympic sprinter corner. Jamarcus has years of exploiting guys who run slower than a 4.45 in the defensive back field left in front of him.

Culpepper and Russell do look the same and have extremely similar attributes. Russell, simply, will be better in the long run if they put the right pieces around him. His potential is truly unlimited and I wouldn't be surprised if he won an MVP award in his NFL career.

Answer 2

I think Jamarcus is going to be better than Daunte. He will develop into a much better player than Daunte. Culpepper did not seem so consistent throughout his career with the Vikings and surely could not show that with the Dolphins. I can't really be to quick to judge because he got injured and no one can stop that. We will just have to wait and see how he plays next year.

Answer 3

Physically they are quite simmilar yes, but Daunte has still got some left in him ---and he's still playing, so he can't be the "2nd coming" already. If Daunte can stay healthy and start (I'd hope off the dolphins, but he wanted to be there ---but he needs to wake up and see that playing somewhere just to be near family isn't a great decision) he can have sucess (after his great '04 season people were saying he was a future HoFer). He had always been statisically very good (I can't explain the '05 drop off for those 7 games) --except his fumble prone-ness, I'm a little ashamed of that (almost 1 per game average ---supposedly small hands --such a big guy, who'd figure?). So now that he had surgery AND got that damn cartilege piece removed that hampered his recovery, he should be good to go (I don't see why he wouldn't start next year --the injury was what made him crappy ----and the dolphin's horrible offensive line). He's gotten smaller though (healthy for knee, but can't take hits/truck guys AS good as he used to)

Answer 4

Do you mean that he will be like Culpepper and be a monster but have difficulty finishing a season due to injury or that he will become the starter on his team only to lose the starting job to someone like Joey Harrington. For his sake I hope not. I really thought that Culpepper was going to be much better in Miami but for whatever reason he just didn't get the job done. I will say this though he was fresh off of a very serious injury so i'll give him a pass for last season but if he doesn't improve this year he'll remain a back-up for the rest of his career.

Answer 5

If we are strictly talking about physical traits, then yes they have similarities but I think they have a whole different playing style at this point in their careers. Jamarcus has the ability to scramble but he is still learning when to use it. While on the other hand, Dante is learning how to work the pocket and be less mobile due to injury. And I have a feeling that Randy Moss won't be a Raider. I actually think he'll be catching bombs from Brett Favre.

Answer 6

Coming out of college, Russel looks like the better passer though slightly less mobile.

What makes Russel special is that arm. It's clearly better than Culpepper's, and Culpepper has a gun. Who has ever had a cannon comparable to Russel coming out of college? From what I've seen, Russel has the best arm since a young John Elway in 1983. And I'm pretty certain Elway is #1 in velocity and distance in NFL History.

Now, as for Russel's brain ....

Answer 7

Jamarcus is set to rock the Combine late next week. Some(including my friend John Murphy, who is Yahoo Sports Draft Guru) have him Going to the Raiders, but Al Davis Usually doesn't draft QB's in RD 1, so he could become a Detroit Lion. Either way he'd have Good Wr's to throw to...
Only a few tried to point out that JaMarcus might be a Bit Soft, but he was protecting a few tender body parts late last season.

Answer 8

Would that be a good thing? As soon as Culpepper lost Moss we learned how bad he really is, even if few want to accept it. I think Russell will be better and for his sake I hope he is. As to physical traits, too many QBs like that to say it is the second coming of any.

Answer 9

Are you saying Moss will make Russell better than he really is? That's what happened with Culpepper in Minnesota.

I doubt Moss will be interested in football long enough to make the comparison between Russell and Culpepper valid. Moss's "me first" attitude will kill Russell's career before it begins, that is if Oakland even drafts him.

Answer 10

Yes, physically they are much the same type of player, but if Jamarcus can pick up a offense scheme and read defensive coverages than he will be better than Duante. If Duante would of had the option just to chuck it up to the Super Freak and let him make the play Duante would have been much like Ryan Leaf.

Who?