Struggling QB looks to meet McNabb, and end the boos

OAKLAND, Calif. - Oakland quarterback JaMarcus Russell's third season has not gone smoothly. The first overall pick in 2007, Russell has struggled badly for a bad team (1-4), and the debate is whether he is a draft bust.

Russell was already the target of boos almost from the start of his last home game, a 23-3 loss to Denver on Sept. 27. After struggling some more in two straight blowout losses on the road, Russell can probably expect more of the same today when the Eagles visit.

"A lot of people are fed up over the course of a year," said Russell. "But the only thing we can do this week is make some plays, and hopefully it will go the other way."

Russell said he was looking forward to speaking with Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb before the game. Russell said he still gets a little awestruck when he meets quarterbacks he grew up watching.

Raiders fans hoped that Russell's big arm would revive the vertical passing game in Oakland that owner Al Davis loves so much. Russell barely played as a rookie and wasn't allowed to throw deep much last season.

That has all changed this year as the Raiders are tied with Green Bay for the most passes thrown at least 21 yards downfield, according to Stats LLC. But Russell has completed just two of those 25 attempts.

But despite all the struggles, the 42.1 completion percentage, the 47.1 passer rating, and the four straight games with less than 200 yards of offense, the Raiders are sticking with Russell for the foreseeable future.

"To junk what we're doing would be ridiculous," passing game coordinator Ted Tollner said. "We know it's sound; we have to keep working at it so we can be more productive."