I mean was he really the best player in the Draft? What did he do in his College Career?
2007-10-14 08:26:44 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Football (American)
Freshman season
Russell was redshirted during the 2003 season, when quarterback Matt Mauck led LSU to the BCS National Championship. In 2004, he split time with senior quarterback Marcus Randall, playing in 11 games and starting 4. He completed just over 50 percent of his passes for 1,053 yards, throwing for 9 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.
In the Capital One Bowl against Iowa, Russell came off the bench to lead LSU to two fourth-quarter scoring drives, allowing the Tigers to erase a 12 point deficit. However, on the final play of the game, Iowa quarterback Drew Tate completed a touchdown pass to Warren Holloway to beat the Tigers 30-25.
Sophomore season
By the fall 2005 season, Russell was the undisputed starting quarterback for LSU. He led LSU to a 10-1 regular season record, the SEC Western Division title, and a top-5 ranking going into the SEC Championship Game. He also improved statistically, completing 60 percent of his passes for 2,443 yards and 15 touchdowns. Russell received an honorable mention on the AP's All-SEC Team.
Russell led the Tigers to two dramatic come-from-behind wins in the regular season. The first came on a 39 yard pass to Early Doucet on 4th down in the final minute of the game, as the Tigers defeated Arizona State 35-31. Later in the season, LSU defeated a then-undefeated Alabama team 16-13 when Russell completed a 14 yard touchdown to Dwayne Bowe in overtime for the win.
Russell injured his shoulder in a loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship Game, and missed the team's bowl game. Backup quarterback Matt Flynn replaced Russell for the Peach Bowl against Miami, and the Tigers won the game 40-3.
Russell also received some acclaim for his assistance efforts after Hurricane Katrina. After the hurricane and flood, Russell is reported to have housed around 20 people in his apartment, including legendary New Orleans singer Fats Domino, who had been rescued by boat during the flood.[1]
Junior season
Russell was the starting quarterback again at LSU in 2006, beating out backup Matt Flynn and highly-touted redshirt freshman Ryan Perrilloux. He had a productive 2006 regular season, leading the Tigers to a 10-2 record and a BCS Sugar Bowl berth. He threw for 2,797 yards, 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He was also second in the SEC with 2,923 yards from scrimmage. He also won the SEC Offensive Player Of the Week award three times during the regular season.
A memorable performance of the 2006 season came against Tennessee. In spite of throwing three interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), he led LSU on a come-from-behind, 15-play, 80-yard drive in the final minutes of the game. The drive ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to Early Doucet with less than 10 seconds left in the game, and the Tigers defeated Tennessee 28-24. Earlier in the drive, Russell and Doucet also connected for a first down on a 4th and 8 situation. In the final game of his junior year, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Russell accumulated over 350 yards of passing and rushing and scored 3 TDs, leading to the Tigers 41-14 win over Notre Dame. He was also named the Sugar Bowl's MVP.
At the end of the 2006 season, Russell was named to the all-SEC first team, ahead of Kentucky's Andre Woodson and Florida's Chris Leak. In addition, he was named an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated.
2007-10-14 08:29:54 · answer #1 · answered by dj30 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Where were you during the draft? I'm still trying to figure out why he was the number 1 pick. I think people got very excited because he's a big QB with some mobility (like a new age Culpepper) but nobody wants to come out and say that he played with tremendous talent on that LSU team. Also, he won a bowl game versus Notre Dame? Big deal, they get whipped by any team with a bit of talent.
If the Raiders surround him with weapons and maybe if Al Davis croaks so somebody else can run that team, he'll be a good pick. But I see great "Bust-factor" in Russell.
2007-10-14 08:34:31 · answer #2 · answered by Oh Yea Its Af 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Raiders have a horrible draft history. Jamarcus isn't even the first "Russell" taken in the first round in the last 10 years, and Darrel was out of the league by 2003 and dead by 2005.
Last year they took Michael Huff in the first round over Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler. Huff's impressive stats you ask? 16 games started, no sack, no fumble recoveries, no interceptions. Not exactly what you'd call a worthwhile 7th overall pick.
The Raiders won't be worth rooting for until long after Al Davis is dead.
2007-10-14 08:36:35 · answer #3 · answered by jlohlinger 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you must not have seen him play. he has a rocket for an arm.... he can 'flip it' 50 yards with minimal effort. he is also hard to sack he is bigger than most linebackers. last year he put up identical numbers to Troy Smith (heisman winner) but he played against much higher ranked defenses. why he was't a heisman contender i'll never know. he consistantly put up good numbers vs good fast defenses. he only had one bad game (vs Florida) last year. floridas secondary was awesome everyone had bad games against them except Auburn who did not throw the ball.
i mean you see now how talented LSU is now and Russell was the go to guy exclusively with essentially the same guys. that says a lot about how talented a guy is. the only questions with him were leadership and poise and not being able to finsh off good teams on the road. in the end he did ok with that or good enough. NFL scouts most often look at level of competition. like how he did against defenses that had a lot of guys go to the NFL etc. to get an idea of how a guy will do in the NFL.
2007-10-14 08:39:24 · answer #4 · answered by gherd 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The raiders could genuinely p.c.. Calvin Johnson .he's by employing a techniques the main suitable participant interior the draft.as a replace of drafting for want they ought to draft for many suitable participant avaliable.forget approximately approximately 2007. Moss is in simple terms no longer there in 2008.he's going to make 12 millon money.there is not any one exceptionally much as good as CJ in next years draft.So then there caught returned.J.Russell is sweet yet no longer a Franchise guy.they ought to p.c.. maximum suitable participant interior the draft.CJ is by employing a techniques.And get a QB in later rounds or threw loose business enterprise.
2016-10-22 09:48:27 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On almost any other team, he'd be kicking @$$ and taking names. The Raiders are where careers go to die, and he didn't have the nerve to pull an Elway and force them to draft someone else or trade him right after the draft.
Besides, the best player almost never goes #1 -- teams look more to fill current needs than to get that "best" player.
2007-10-14 08:41:50 · answer #6 · answered by herfinator 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
22-4 as a full-time starter.
Didn't have the prettiest stats in the world, but most of the time he showed up and got the job done.
Led LSU to big comeback wins against Arizona State, Alabama, Tennessee, and others.
Very strong arm and pretty mobile.
I think his success depends on how well he adjusts to the pro game and his decision making, which at times was piss-poor.
2007-10-14 09:16:28 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because the NFL drafts based on size and strength instead of talent. NFL coaches think they are the greatest coaches and can mold anyone into being a great player.
2007-10-14 08:41:22 · answer #8 · answered by Nangsta 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like many players out of college he had his big game in the bowl game for lsu
2007-10-14 09:32:25 · answer #9 · answered by texasman75147 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was all hype...based on ONE bowl win against Notre Dame...as is the whole 60 yard pass on his knees...Funny...You'd think the coaches would have that on video somewhere...I've never seen it...
2007-10-14 08:30:43 · answer #10 · answered by Terry C. 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋