OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -JaMarcus Russell’s numbers on the road haven’t been great, and the Oakland Raiders’ second-year quarterback knows Baltimore isn’t the best place to turn things around.
“They get to the ball and they look forward to 11 guys on defense making plays,” Russell said Thursday of the Ravens. “They fly around that ball, man. They get around the ball. It’s just something we have to be ready for and go out there and know it’s going to be a dogfight.”
Russell has gotten mixed reviews in his first full season as the Raiders’ starter. He has the second-lowest interception rate in the NFL and is on pace to throw for more than 2,700 yards – respectable considering Oakland spent the first four games primarily running the ball.
Russell led the Raiders to a 16-13 overtime victory over the New York Jets on Sunday, driving the offense 42 yards to set up Sebastian Janikowski’s game-winning 57-yard field goal.
But he has struggled with the second-lowest completion percentage in the league and has thrown only five touchdowns, with most of his problems coming on the road.
been circumstance. The Raiders threw only 17 times in a Week 2 win over Kansas City and passed just 19 times the following week at Buffalo. In a 34-3 loss to New Orleans on Oct. 12 that marked Tom Cable’s debut as interim head coach, Oakland opened up its passing game, but Russell completed only 13 of 35 attempts for 159 yards with one interception.
“It seems like most of the time when we go away we try to establish the run game more,” Russell said. “(Against the Saints) we got into a situation where we had to pass the ball more. But once we get to where things will be leveled out like we do at home, I’m pretty sure it’ll be pretty good.”
Russell has completed only 37.2 percent of his passes in four career appearances on the road, compared to 62.5 percent in six home games. That includes Russell’s game at Jacksonville last season when he passed for just 83 yards and threw three interceptions in a 49-11 loss. Former Oakland coach Lane Kiffin criticized Russell afterward and called it some of the worst decision-making he had ever seen.
Russell has improved slightly on the road this season, but Cable is encouraged by what he saw from his young quarterback against the Jets.
ws. We kind of game him everything in New Orleans … and it was too much. I like where we’re at. We need to keep getting him better and better.”
That will be a challenge this week against Baltimore’s second-ranked defense. The Ravens (3-3) are giving up just 67.2 rushing yards a game, best in the NFL, and are fourth against the pass.
For Russell, the game represents an opportunity to put his road problems behind. It’s also his first look at the Ravens’ perennial All-Pro middle linebacker Ray Lewis.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun, I promise,” Russell said. “(If) we don’t get in those behind situations, third-and-longs where we’re behind the eight-ball trying to shoot forward … if we stay in reasonable downs then I think we’ll be OK.”
Notes: The Raiders placed TE Ben Troupe on injured reserve with a foot injury and signed LB Robert Thomas to take his spot on the roster. … DE Derrick Burgess remains out with a triceps strain. … DT Gerard Warren did not practice after injuring his ankle in the win over the Jets but is expected to play at Baltimore. LB Jon Alston (foot) was also held out.
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