Raiders’ newest quarterback Campbell opens camp as starter
Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable has to be feeling pretty good about heading into training camp this year compared to the last couple of years.
The last couple of off seasons were difficult for Cable and the Raiders. Last year, in Cable’s first full season as head coach, his starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell showed up for training camp overweight and had to be fined. On top of that he was faced with criminal charges for allegedly assaulting assistant Randy Hansen.
This year, he’s a little more optimistic as he has a new quarterback in Jason Campbell after the Raiders traded for him with the Redskins shortly before releasing Russell, their first overall pick three years ago.
Many challenges still face the team as they have gone seven straight years with at least 11 losses. Cable remains confident heading into the season though.
"There's a lot of excitement but there's also a lot of caution in that there's a lot of work to do," Cable said. "I know we're going to be a good team, and I'm not afraid to say that. We're going to go after the AFC West. I'm not afraid to say that. I believe that that's what we're going to do. It's not anybody's. If they picked someone for it already, that's too bad. It doesn't work like that. You've got to play the games. This team will be ready to do that."
The Raiders plan to start camp with what they call ‘intensive learning’. For the first four days, the players will not wear pads and will focus on re-learning everything to ensure they’re up to speed once contact practices start.
The Raiders traded a fourth round pick to acquire Campbell and many anticipated him to be the starter but Cable said there would be an open competition for the starting job. Campbell will start out the camp practicing with the first team offence and many believe he will indeed be the starter.
Cable said it is the case for now because Bruce Gradowski, the current backup, has sat out the last three months with a torn pectoral muscle.
Campbell is coming off his best season with the Washington Redskins. He is a former first round pick himself and last season he completed 64.5% percent of his passes and threw 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions with a passer rating of 86.4. The Redskins still went 4-12 last season and traded Campbell to make room for their big offseason move in acquiring Donovan McNabb from the Eagles.
Since his arrival in Oakland, Cable has been very pleased with Campbell’s professionalism and leadership. He, like McNabb, is looking for a fresh start himself and looking to help the struggling Raiders franchise begin to rise back to the top.
Campbell has started 52 games in his career and has had mixed results. He has thrown 55 touchdowns, 38 interceptions and has a passer rating of 82.3 in his career.
There is no doubt in a lot of people’s minds that Campbell is a big upgrade on JaMarcus Russell and with the way things were going, almost anybody was an upgrade. Campbell provides some stability at quarterback and Cable thinks he can help the team make the next step
"We are very competitive. Now it's time to take the next step," he said. "The next step is to not listen to all the negative. People are going to have an opinion. That's just what it is. But they're not going to dictate who we are or what we are. All that is back there. What's in front of us is winning a championship. That's the goal now. Let's go for it."
The Raiders have lost so many games since their trip to Super Bowl XVII, but this offseason, they showed they are ready to start building some stability and a no nonsense syle. Hopefully Campbell is the first step.
Tags: