SI.Com: JaMarcus Russell pre draft hype, a look back...

[DaWolf]

Pretty fun to look back at the comments from pre-2007 draft:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mul...content.1.html

"I can't remember being in such awe of a quarterback in my decade of attending combines and pro days. Russell's passing session was the most impressive of all the pro days I've been to. His footwork for such a big quarterback was surprising. He was nimble in his dropbacks, rolling out and throwing on the run. The ball just explodes out of his hands."

-- ESPN's Todd McShay

"I think JaMarcus Russell to the Raiders scares me. I would have done the exact same thing Oakland did, to be sure. But the formula for early success is a bad one there. So much pressure on him to perform well early, with such a porous offensive line, and who knows what at wideout."

-- SI's Peter King

"JaMarcus Russell is going to immediately energize that fanbase, that football team -- on the practice field, in that locker room. Three years from now you could be looking at a guy that's certainly one of the elite top five quarterbacks in this league. ...You're talking about a 2-3 year period once he's under center. Look out because the skill level that he has is certainly John Elway-like."

-- ESPN's Mel Kiper

"The workout Russell had was Star Wars. It was unbelievable."

Then-Tampa Bay Bucs coach Jon Gruden

"If you had to choose a quarterback, who would you pick, JaMarcus Russell or Brady Quinn? Both have strengths and glaring weaknesses. It goes down to which guy is most coachable. I might take Quinn for that reason. But, pure skill with a ton of work to do, it would be Russell. If you put a gun to my head, I would pick Russell. But he comes with a lot of risk."

-- ESPN's Merril Hoge

"He's like a video game. There's not a throw he can't make and there's some he can make I'm not sure anyone else can make. That's exciting. But how many times does that happen in a game, making those long throws. Maybe twice in 16 games. I know seeing someone do that is a scout's dream, but it doesn't happen much. ... He seems very first class, very easy to get along with. No doubt he was a great leader [at LSU]. That's why everybody wants him now."

-- Then-Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin

"This year, I can't get over how good and talented JaMarcus Russell is. It just blew me away. If I had the first, second, third, fourth, fifth pick in that draft, I would be tearing apart his personal life trying to figure out whether or not I could trust this kid with $10-million ... From a physical skill set perspective, I've never seen a college quarterback with more ability than Russell. You put the tape on and it's frightening. The only thing that's going to keep [Russell] from being great is him. What it comes down to is you've got to figure out whether or not this kid wants to be the best quarterback in football. If he wants to be the best quarterback in football, he can be."

-- NFL Network's Mike Mayock

"He has a cannon for an arm, can make all the throws and has great size. Heck, he looks like a tackle playing quarterback. I just don't see the pinpoint passing, the great timing of the throws or his feel for the pocket. He's careless with the ball, at times, and he struggled against the better college defenses. Can he develop into a quality NFL quarterback? You bet. Would I take him with the first overall pick? No way. As of now, I have him rated at the 20th-best player."

-- CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco

[Ebolapox]

seems like prisco nailed it.

[keg in kc]

Hoge seemed pretty on-target, too.

[Ebolapox]

I vaguely recall his being a second to fourth round prospect before his pro day. after wowing everybody, he shot up like there was no tomorrow.

[Deberg_1990]

He was definately a Boom or Bust pick.

Nobody disputes he has raw talent. Heck, every 1st round pick has raw talent.

The Raiders gambled he would have the mental game and they lost. It happens to every team at one time or another.

If the Raiders wouldnt have picked him, someone else would have and he would have busted there too.

For the most part a player sucks because he sucks. No excuses other than himself.

[HotRoute]

"I would be tearing apart his personal life trying to figure out whether or not I could trust this kid with $10-million "

Mike Mayock


This is basically what it all came down too, once the guy got paid he could care less.

[RNR]

"He has a cannon for an arm, can make all the throws and has great size. Heck, he looks like a tackle playing quarterback. I just don't see the pinpoint passing, the great timing of the throws or his feel for the pocket. He's careless with the ball, at times, and he struggled against the better college defenses. Can he develop into a quality NFL quarterback? You bet. Would I take him with the first overall pick? No way. As of now, I have him rated at the 20th-best player."

-- CBSSports.com's Pete Prisco
This was a nails on viewpoint I wish he was on the scouting team. The flame thrower wowed most, the flaws he spotted along with the kid being lazy and less than bright did him in. I think if he is brought in to the right situation and surrounded with the right people he still might surprise some people~

[Quesadilla Joe]

Reading McShay and Kiper's thoughts on Russell makes me even more giddy about Tebow.

[L.A. Chieffan]

These quotes are just like when we took TJax.

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by KnowMo2724

Reading McShay and Kiper's thoughts on Russell makes me even more giddy about Tebow.

Shut your Denver trap, yuckmouth.

[BigMeatballDave]

Further proof that the draft is a crapshoot, and no one really knows. They think they do, but really do not...

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by H5N1

seems like prisco nailed it.

Prisco came closest of all the guys who were dead wrong. He said Jamarcus was the 20th best player.

If that's the case, Russell has kept it under wraps.

[Pioli Zombie]

But we all know if you can draft a guy who maybe has a chance to possibly be a "franchise qb" someday you HAVE to draft him or else you're an idiot. - Drafturbators.

[Ugly Duck]

Reminds me of the universal praise heaped upon Oakland for taking Robert Gallery at #2. Stuff like "safest pick in the draft" and "can't miss" and "sure thing" and "anchor the line for 10 years" and "build a team around him" and......

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

But we all know if you can draft a guy who maybe has a chance to possibly be a "franchise qb" someday you HAVE to draft him or else you're an idiot. - Drafturbators.

Not drafting a QB out of fear of the position is the surest way to never win.