JaMarcus Russell arrested in Alabama drug bust

[12thMan]

Like seriously, I wondered what happened to him. Like one year this guy is playing for the national championship and the next year he's busto. Just doesn't add up...I mean mentally, it doesn't make sense to me.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Like seriously, I wondered what happened to him. Like one year this guy is playing for the national championship and the next year his busto. Just doesn't add up...I mean mentally, it doesn't make sense to me.

The Kiffin firing really hurt him. Kiffin didn't think Russell was much good (and he was probably right), but at the very least, he had him on the Alex Smith development track. Meaning, that by the time he's 25 or 26 he's ready to take over an NFL offense when, clearly, the guy is too unrefined coming out of college to be a serious prospect.

(Matt Leinart was on the path too, although I really don't think he was unrefined coming from USC. He just might not be that good).

But yeah, with Kiffin out, Cable certainly wasn't interested in trying to develop a bad player. And so he tried to win in spite of his quarterback. Thus: the 2009 season. So that really hurt him.

[BringBackJoeT]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

The Kiffin firing really hurt him. Kiffin didn't think Russell was much good (and he was probably right), but at the very least, he had him on the Alex Smith development track. Meaning, that by the time he's 25 or 26 he's ready to take over an NFL offense when, clearly, the guy is too unrefined coming out of college to be a serious prospect.

(Matt Leinart was on the path too, although I really don't think he was unrefined coming from USC. He just might not be that good).

But yeah, with Kiffin out, Cable certainly wasn't interested in trying to develop a bad player. And so he tried to win in spite of his quarterback. Thus: the 2009 season. So that really hurt him.

. . . which is exactly what Al Davis called Kiffin out on in his list-of-grievances letter to Kiffin that he read publicly during that surreal press conference in which he announced Kiffin's firing. ("I realize you did not want to draft Jamarcus Russell. He's a great player. Get over it!").

Only Al Davis could make Kiffin look intelligent.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Like seriously, I wondered what happened to him. Like one year this guy is playing for the national championship and the next year he's busto. Just doesn't add up...I mean mentally, it doesn't make sense to me.

Was he really that good in college though? He had so many weapons around him at LSU, including that defense. Sure he was athletic with a big arm. But I remember his last year at LSU he came to Gainesville for UF's homecoming... and turned the ball over 5 times in an outright pathetic performance. I was at that game. He looked so awful.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Was he really that good in college though? He had so many weapons around him at LSU, including that defense. Sure he was athletic with a big arm. But I remember his last year at LSU he came to Gainesville for UF's homecoming... and turned the ball over 5 times in an outright pathetic performance. I was at that game. He looked so awful.

Exactly. He was never that great in college. Great, awesome arm, decent athlete. He was on outstanding teams in college. He didnt study hard, lazy worker, he just wanted to get paid. Like I stated above great proday, good combine, flawed on film + Raiders draft position = bust