Texans @ Raiders
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Culpepper out at QB, McCown in
Kiffin tries to rev up offense; former starter returns from broken toe
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 11/02/2007 02:34:33 AM PDT
ALAMEDA — A month after a rousing first start which made him the talk of the NFL, Daunte Culpepper is out as the starting quarterback of the Raiders.
With the Raiders offense breaking down in every area over the past three games, coach Lane Kiffin named Josh McCown to start Sunday's game at McAfee Coliseum against the Houston Texans.
McCown started the first three games of the season before leaving at halftime of Week 3 with a broken right big toe against the Cleveland Browns.
Kiffin said Culpepper would be the backup quarterback Sunday and first overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell would be No.3.
"Coach said he doesn't feel anybody should lose their job to injury," Culpepper said Thursday. "That's his decision. Like I said from the first day I got here — when I'm called, I'll be ready."
McCown, who ran scout team practices last week before rejoining the first team Wednesday, said he feels nearly 100 percent.
"I feel like I can play my game and do what I do," McCown said. "The best thing is I know I don't think about it while I'm out there so it doesn't factor in to anything."from Sports 1
If the Raiders and Culpepper had played as well over the past three games as they did against Miami on Sept. 30, McCown would probably still be on the sidelines — injury or not.
Returning to face the team that dumped him in favor of Trent Green, Culpepper threw just 12 passes, but rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two
more in a 35-17 win. He even pointed to his surgically repaired right knee and flashed an "OK" sign to Miami fans after his first touchdown, telling them through his actions he was fine.
He was named the AFC offensive player of the week and the 2-2 Raiders were ahead by percentage points in the AFC West.
When the Raiders returned from the bye, opponents began crowding the line of scrimmage to choke off the NFL's top-ranked rushing attack, essentially forcing Culpepper to carry the Raiders with his passing.
In those three games, the Raiders had 35 possessions, scoring two touchdowns and kicking four field goals for 26 points. They punted 19 times and had six turnovers, with Culpepper throwing four interceptions and losing two fumbles.
In the three games, Culpepper completed 58.1 percent of his passes (57-for-98) for 625 yards, had a quarterback rating of 66.9 and was sacked 13 times.
McCown, before breaking his toe, completed 64.9 percent of his throws (44-for-68) for 494 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Both quarterbacks had trouble holding on to the ball, fumbling seven times. Culpepper lost two, McCown one.
"I felt Daunte played really well for us, but with Josh coming back and looking healthy again, we're going to go back to Josh," Kiffin said.
McCown said he was hoping for the best but had no assurances while he was hurt that the job would be returned.
"I wanted to get it back, but I wasn't going to be down if I didn't," McCown said. "There are only a few quarterbacks in this league who I think are secure with an injury to be able to come back. There are several situations all the time where a guy steps in and becomes the starter. I understood our situation was not that firm, so I'm excited about getting the opportunity again."
Ronald Curry, the Raiders' leading receiver, said the change will not be a big adjustment.
"It's not like McCown and Culpepper have a different playbook," Curry said.
Within that playbook, however, McCown's return means fewer plays from the shotgun formation. Kiffin said Wednesday Culpepper was more comfortable from the shotgun, and that the Raiders had less of their offense at their disposal than when the quarterback is behind center.
The quarterback switch may not be popular with the fans, who booed McCown in a Week 1 loss to the Lions, a game in which he completed 30 of 40 passes for 313 yards and directed three touchdown drives. He was booed heavily against Cleveland in Week 3.
Kiffin tries to rev up offense; former starter returns from broken toe
By Jerry McDonald, STAFF WRITER
Article Last Updated: 11/02/2007 02:34:33 AM PDT
ALAMEDA — A month after a rousing first start which made him the talk of the NFL, Daunte Culpepper is out as the starting quarterback of the Raiders.
With the Raiders offense breaking down in every area over the past three games, coach Lane Kiffin named Josh McCown to start Sunday's game at McAfee Coliseum against the Houston Texans.
McCown started the first three games of the season before leaving at halftime of Week 3 with a broken right big toe against the Cleveland Browns.
Kiffin said Culpepper would be the backup quarterback Sunday and first overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell would be No.3.
"Coach said he doesn't feel anybody should lose their job to injury," Culpepper said Thursday. "That's his decision. Like I said from the first day I got here — when I'm called, I'll be ready."
McCown, who ran scout team practices last week before rejoining the first team Wednesday, said he feels nearly 100 percent.
"I feel like I can play my game and do what I do," McCown said. "The best thing is I know I don't think about it while I'm out there so it doesn't factor in to anything."from Sports 1
If the Raiders and Culpepper had played as well over the past three games as they did against Miami on Sept. 30, McCown would probably still be on the sidelines — injury or not.
Returning to face the team that dumped him in favor of Trent Green, Culpepper threw just 12 passes, but rushed for three touchdowns and passed for two
more in a 35-17 win. He even pointed to his surgically repaired right knee and flashed an "OK" sign to Miami fans after his first touchdown, telling them through his actions he was fine.
He was named the AFC offensive player of the week and the 2-2 Raiders were ahead by percentage points in the AFC West.
When the Raiders returned from the bye, opponents began crowding the line of scrimmage to choke off the NFL's top-ranked rushing attack, essentially forcing Culpepper to carry the Raiders with his passing.
In those three games, the Raiders had 35 possessions, scoring two touchdowns and kicking four field goals for 26 points. They punted 19 times and had six turnovers, with Culpepper throwing four interceptions and losing two fumbles.
In the three games, Culpepper completed 58.1 percent of his passes (57-for-98) for 625 yards, had a quarterback rating of 66.9 and was sacked 13 times.
McCown, before breaking his toe, completed 64.9 percent of his throws (44-for-68) for 494 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.
Both quarterbacks had trouble holding on to the ball, fumbling seven times. Culpepper lost two, McCown one.
"I felt Daunte played really well for us, but with Josh coming back and looking healthy again, we're going to go back to Josh," Kiffin said.
McCown said he was hoping for the best but had no assurances while he was hurt that the job would be returned.
"I wanted to get it back, but I wasn't going to be down if I didn't," McCown said. "There are only a few quarterbacks in this league who I think are secure with an injury to be able to come back. There are several situations all the time where a guy steps in and becomes the starter. I understood our situation was not that firm, so I'm excited about getting the opportunity again."
Ronald Curry, the Raiders' leading receiver, said the change will not be a big adjustment.
"It's not like McCown and Culpepper have a different playbook," Curry said.
Within that playbook, however, McCown's return means fewer plays from the shotgun formation. Kiffin said Wednesday Culpepper was more comfortable from the shotgun, and that the Raiders had less of their offense at their disposal than when the quarterback is behind center.
The quarterback switch may not be popular with the fans, who booed McCown in a Week 1 loss to the Lions, a game in which he completed 30 of 40 passes for 313 yards and directed three touchdown drives. He was booed heavily against Cleveland in Week 3.
I have stated before and I'll say it again, as good as a patriots vs colts game would be.....two unbeatten teams going head to head with all that rivalry shit and whatnot.......I'd still rather watch the Raiders game. I'll get more emotion over a big hit or first down by the Raiders than I would seeing a touchdown in the other game.
with that being said, GO COLTS!!!!!!!
and GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!
with that being said, GO COLTS!!!!!!!
and GO RAIDERS!!!!!!!
