Going into Year 3 for any young quarterback is usually the barometer for whether or not he will be a successful quarterback in the league. Very often, what they do in this crucial year determines their immediate and future success. Is it time to panic, is it time to rejoice, or is it time to give the child a break? No matter which corner you find yourself on, one thing is for sure, it’s time to hold on or shut up.

Do we all remember the Jamarcus Russell who wooed scouts at 6’6″, 255lbs, starred at LSU and shredded the SEC, and in his private workouts had what that veteran scout referred to as the best workouts since Peyton Manning? ?Where? Is that Jamarcus Raider fans? Did the long layoff from his rookie year hurt him that much? You have to say yes. Did the big money without throwing a single pass come to him, who knows? Lack of work ethic and steady weight gains? with no supervision to achieve it, well, probably. That’s why this year is so important to Raider nation and to a young man’s psyche. It’s no coincidence that Jeff Garcia has been hired to be waiting in the wings, just in case, of course. Can you say a three-loss game and you’ve gone to the bench? That’s what’s in store for this young man. It’s time for Mr. Russell to step away from the table of the buffet and re-engage with your teacher Zion. If not, the silver and black have a reliable jump starter to plug in and give a moment’s notice. Amarcus just has to dedicate himself to his team, the city, the rabid fans, and most importantly, himself. The streets are literate with young people of the caliber of young people who did not prosper because they did not do the necessary work to make them successful. Can you say Todd Marinovich Raider fans?

I’m really going for the guy. It has all the intangibles you are looking for; Proven college track record in a great program under the microscope, BIG arm teams drool, size, chip on the shoulder attitude and small town upbringing to be humble. What he needs is someone at the end of those pitches, some linemen who can keep him upright, and some tough love when needed. Do the Raiders have that guy in the locker room right now? Who knows. Just this week, Warren Sapp came out and said he was ignored by the youngsters during his time there, is this a trend, or is it just the way of sports right now, or was Warren dressing up too much? One thing is for sure, the child has “star” written all over it if he receives the right support and mentoring. Do raiders have more enablers or more guys who will get in your face when necessary? Let’s not forget, football is not for the weak and this could be the last bastion of true gladiator spirit and mentality on a sports field. You have to have a mental toughness that many don’t see but is on display on a daily basis. That is something that cannot be measured, timed, lifted or thrown.

The quarterback position, if drafted and developed correctly, will set your team up for success for 10 to 15 years. Look at the model NFL franchises right now, Pittsburgh, New England, Indianapolis, and the Giants to name a few. Every Raider fan knows what happened after Rich Gannon left. Do we want to go down that road again? That’s why we should all be rooting for Jamarcus right now.