http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3774 Recent articles about Andrew Walter en-us Here are the sentiments of many in the Raider Nation to Darren McFadden. We are grateful to him and J-Rock for the rumblings of the return of the Poise and Pride boizs. It's been a while but we can feel the beginnings of a new rise to power in the AFC West. The Raiders are a historic franchise and will eventually have its foot on the neck of the division again. "I'm (still) In" win Lose or tie, Raider till I die. Tue, 05 Aug 2008 10:50:01 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301219 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/301219 Andrew Walter finally is winning a quarterback race, though not the one he wants to win. The Raiders' onetime quarterback of the future has been rendered the backup of the present, hopelessly stuck behind No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell but still ahead of career second-stringer Marques Tuiasosopo. It beats last year, when Walter idled behind Russell, Josh McCown and Daunte Culpepper as the only No. 4 quarterback in the NFL. Somehow, the slight upgrade is of little cheer. "Well, I understand JaMarcus is the starter," Walter said this week at training camp. The team took Sunday off after practicing 15 times in the first 10 days in Napa. "That's not going to change regardless of anything, barring injury. Am I happy with that? No. I want to be a starter. I've always said I don't want to be a backup in the NFL." Walter has eight starts in three NFL seasons. They came during the Art Shell-Tom Walsh season of 2006, which Walter described as a "fiasco" under a "horrible system" run by the most "clueless of a staff" he has known. He hoped for a second chance last year, but was bumped to the rear of the line despite topping the others in completion rate. This season's comeback hopes ended when Raiders coach Lane Kiffin named Russell his starter in January. So, what's a guy to do when he's neither wanted nor let go? Throw the daylights out of the ball when possible, just in case Russell's sore elbow stays sore or a trade partner makes an irresistible offer. "Andrew does everything you can out here," Kiffin said. "He continues to complete balls and continues to have a high completion percentage. "I'd say right now he's ahead of Tui. He's making more plays and throwing the ball better downfield." That doesn't make him a system fit for the Raiders, to no fault of his own. The Raiders drafted him in the third round of the 2005 draft, which was two coaches and playbooks ago. Kiffin's offense calls for a mobile quarterback who can run play-action rollouts and bootlegs. Walter is more of a drop-back passer who functions best in the pocket. The Raiders' offense won't change to match his skill set. Walter will have to wait until his contract expires after this season before he can find a better fit elsewhere. "That's just the way it is," he said. New faces: The Raiders host the 49ers for two joint practices today in Napa. Kiffin has gone out of his way to say this is not a scrimmage, which means tackling players to the ground is a no-no. Kiffin said the practice has been scripted for some time, with both coaches agreeing on what they would do. If the teams get too scrappy, Kiffin said they'll pull the plug. Strong safety Gibril Wilson doesn't think that will be necessary. "We're practicing, getting another look, get a different jersey in here," Wilson said. "Stuff might happen, but you don't want to hurt their guys. "We're just trying to get as much work as possible and learn from each other." Asomugha shining: Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has four interceptions in camp after sitting out the entire offseason without a contract. Kiffin joked that it's not fair because Asomugha knows the Raiders' offense and audibles by heart. That won't be the case against the 49ers, which is why Asomugha likes the joint practice. "We have no idea what they're trying to do, so we have to go out there and try to be sound technically," Asomugha said. "It's always great to go against guys that you're clueless about what's going on." Mon, 04 Aug 2008 10:06:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300573 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300573 As reported earlier, Javon Walker became big news Saturday. When ESPN's Chris Mortensen broke the news about his attempted retirement, we decided to take a 'wait and see' approach to the news. Even though it's rare that Mortensen whiffs, when it comes to the Raiders ESPN has a way of turning into BS-spin... Mon, 04 Aug 2008 02:20:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300439 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/300439 With the news of JaMarcus Russell missing one session due to a minor elbow injury coming close to causing a full blown panic in the Raider Nation, it begs the question to ask what if? What if the line fails Russell and he gets hit hard enough to cause a season ending injury when the Raiders square off against the 49ers? As of right now Russell is the man in Oakland, and all plans center around him being under center. Here is a look at a few of the paths that the Raiders could take if the worst is to happen. Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:11:44 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298521 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298521 I'm happy, Patrick is happy, Raider Nation should be happy, because JaMarcus Russell is happy. At least he is according to one reporter that we here at TFDS know and trust. According to Jerry McDonald, when asked about the pain of his injured elbow... Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:13:26 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298476 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/298476 Oakland Raiders head coach, Lane Kiffin, wasn't mincing words when he talked about the morning session of training camp day 6. The first edition of Tuesday's two a day was full of physical plays and a hit that forced one player to take the rest of the day off... Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:26:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297883 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/297883 Last season, average backs turned the Oakland Raiders into roadkill. Elite backs? Just say its a good thing that Adrian Peterson was out when the Raiders went to Minnesota last year. This year, the Raiders need to be much better in that department for the revamped secondary to fully do its job. JaMarcus Russell seems to be continuing his development well, and the Raiders seem to be finally doing something to cut down on offsides and false start penalties. Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:23:32 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/296713 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/296713 Going out on a limb here and foreseeing the Raiders QB trio to start the season as Russell, Tuiasosopo, and Walter. All three have held the moniker as the Raiders Quarterback of the Future, but it's now JaMarcus Russell's moniker to lose or succeed at. So how long before Raider Nation starts calling for his head? How much time will you give the rocket armed, virtual rookie to succeed? How long will it be for Kiffin & Co. before they pull the plug? Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:24:13 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293019 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/293019 With the start of Oakland Raiders' training camp only a week away I thought I'd spend the next few days breaking down their current depth chart.  No.1 JaMarcus Russell After an offseason full of speculation over his weight, Russell came into last months mini-camps in great shape.  JaMarcus threw the ball well enough throughout May and June to warrant recognition from his head coach.  "The way that the team is responding to him as you talk to different players, their feelings about him, they're ready to get behind him and go."   Considering it wasn't training camp it's hard to have a great deal of excitement for Russell right now, but you can't ask for a better start.  Next up: Training Camp on July 23rd, first exhibition on August 8th against the 49ers. No. 2 Andrew Walter He's still with the team mainly because he's the only other remaining quarterback from last season; but I don't think he'll hold onto his current spot for very long.  Considering that JaMarcus Russell didn't join the Raiders until after Week 1 last year, no one has had more time in Lane Kiffin's offense than Walter.  But the Raiders offense asks of a lot movement from their quarterback, and although Walter knows where to go, he doesn't get to his spots as fast as the other Raider quarterbacks.  Walter has not progressed the way the Raiders hoped.  He was once thought to have the talent to start in this league, but now I think he might not be worthy of being a head coaches' first resort when going to the bench.  Up Next: his possible last training camp with the Raiders starts July 23rd.  Pressure from the other Raider backups should force him off the roster, but since it's more expensive to cut him than to keep him, he'll probably remain a Raider. "Walter remains in Marques Tuiasosopo-style limbo, under contract and unable to successfully compete for a job which doesn't suit his skill set." – A quote from an assessment done by Jerry McDonald of Inside Bay Area at the end of last season. No. 3 Marques Tuiasosopo Staying with the theme of the quote above, Tui's first stint in Oakland was a tough one.  The former heir to Rich Gannon lost his spot when the Raiders went back to the deep ball when they signed Norv Turner as their head coach.  When Marques left Oakland for the Jets he got lumped into a talent laden quarterback situation, to rich for him to emerge as a 2nd stringer.  Back in Oakland he rejoins an offense more similar to the one Jon Gruden ran than the one Turner did; and he looks good so far.  "He's done a real good job, especially in the move-the-ball situations, moving the ball around and getting it to the right people," Kiffin said (on June 18th).  Up Next: his possible last chance to prove that he can be an efficient passer in the NFL comes on July 23rd when training camp starts.  This writers always liked him, so it's hard for me to imagine him not emerging as the Raiders No.2 quarterback. No. 4 Sam Keller The Bay Area product wasn't the local undrafted quarterback I wanted (Kyle Wright, 49ers), but he knows the west-coast schemes better than any other former collegian QB entering the league this season.  He did well during OTA's and mini-camps.  And although he signed a contract with the L.A. Avengers of the Arena League, he'd obviously take a backup job in the NFL over a starting job in the AFL.  Unless Keller wows the coaching staff enough that they think he'll be an asset on an everyday basis (even as a backup), they won't take the cap hit that would ensue after cutting Walter.  Keller is more likely to make the practice squad, but that might not be the worst thing.  If he applies himself in practice and possibly gets experience in another league during the offseason, he should know by the start of the '09 season whether he blongs in the NFL or AFL.  No. 5 Jeff Otis – Sorry Jeff, but like last year you'll be cut before the season starts. Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:25:27 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291383 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/291383 Oh, how the mighty have fallen. What was once considered a very proud organization, finding its energy through Raider Nation, now finds itself on a downward spiral in which they still haven't been able to recover. Following the 2007 draft in which they drafted highly touted quarterback, JaMarcus Russell, all hopes were high for the silver and black. That soon changed though as Russell held out until almost mid-September, which turned out to be the longest holdout by the top pick in the draft in over two decades! Things didn't get much better from there for the Oakland Raiders. In fact, they won only 4 games in 2007. Free agent running back, Dominic Rhodes, bombed, and 2006 holdout wide receiver, Jerry Porter, never got back on track, with his best game being a 5 reception 88 yard effort against the Minnesota Vikings in week 11. 2007 ended on a sour note with the team losing it's last 4 match-ups after a brief two game winning streak in weeks 12 and 13, but with a few roster moves having been made during the off-season, Russell ready to take the helm, and the arrival of another offensive stud, Darren McFadden, through the draft, 2008 looks to have the makings of a season that can produce better results. Make sure to read more of what Bruno Boys Fantasy Football staff writer Chris Ziza has to say about the Oakland Raiders heading into the 2008 season by clicking below... Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:20:39 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283988 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/283988 Now that the "From a Raiders Eye View" series looking at the AFC West competition is complete, I will be taking us towards training camp by breaking down the position battles that will be taking place. The top of this battle is pretty much set, as there will be widespread (and rightfully so) panic in the Raider Nation if JaMarcus Russell is not under center come opening night against the Denver Broncos. The question is how will the back-up situation play out. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 05:01:48 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278353 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278353 After an offseason where former Oakland Raiders have taken care to mouth off at the Raiders' organization, a former Raider who had every reason to be bitter has rejoined the team. Marques Tuiasosopo has returned to the Silver and Black for a second stint. Tui will likely be competing with Andrew Walter for the back up position that he once held under Rich Gannon. Thu, 22 May 2008 20:20:38 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269868 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/269868 The coverage of the organized team activities at the Oakland Raiders' facility has centered around JaMarcus Russell's weight, or lack thereof. There are the cursory mentions of the few players who did not take part in these voluntary workouts, which is surprising that no one is claiming that Derrick Burgess or Nnamdi Asomugha is holding out as of yet. There are concerns rearing their head on the wide receiver and backup quarterback fronts, but overall it seemed to be a productive minicamp. Sat, 17 May 2008 06:06:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268030 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/268030 With all of the free agent signings the Raiders have done this year, the one position of need that they haven't been able to address is that of the veteran backup quarterback. As it stands right now, The Raiders have virtual rookie JaMarcus Russell as the starter followed by the once future, Andrew Walter. They've added Erik Meyer and Jeff Otis, but neither have made an impact in the NFL during their short careers Tue, 08 Apr 2008 06:52:06 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/232003 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/232003 Raider X weighs in with his thoughts on the current state of the Oakland Raider offseason. From Chris Carr's desire to move on, Al Davis's financial situation, the acquisitions of Kwame Harris, Javon Walker, and DeAngelo Hall, and more. He also looks at what quarterbacks that the Raiders may take a peek at on draft day, and who may be on the trading block and what the Raiders could acquire from them. Could the Raiders get picks from Stuart Schweigert, LaMont Jordan or Fabian Washington? Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:15:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216093 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216093