Big arm." "Good size." "Raw skill." "Limited dominance." "Has a tendency to force things with his arm."
Sound familiar?
It should because those are five of the significant bullet points on Russell this year: Otherworldly arm strength; huge body; a ceiling that stretches beyond that of Brady Quinn and every other quarterback in this draft; and some lingering questions about how he only truly surfaced during the final seven games of his career and sometimes used his arm to compensate for impatience. Between Smith and Russell, the tool set is more similar than not.
Next issue: environment. Like Cincinnati in the '90s, Oakland has become a place that marquee free agents avoid. There has been massive turnover in the coaching staff. And for one reason or another, promising first-round picks don't fulfill their potential... In Oakland it's been Marques Tuiasosopo, Andrew Walter and veterans like Kerry Collins and Aaron Brooks.
Kudos to Robinson for making the comparison apt... this is what I'm afraid of. Akili Smith II. A guy with all the talent in the world, coming to a place that's just a wreck. And my favorite part of Robinson's article:
In Johnson, you have one of the most infallible prospects to go through the draft's sifting process in years. And that's not my own opinion. That's the opinion of a lions-den of decision-makers and scouts, guys who live to find a flaw. We're talking about the same guys who looked at Reggie Bush last year and suggested he might not be an every-down back. The guys who looked at Vince Young and said it might take two years before he would be ready to consistently start. Who looked at Matt Leinart and said he was "too Hollywood" and "might be a product of all the talent surrounding him."
Yet, these same guys on Calvin Johnson? Largely silent.
Taking CJ makes too much sense, especially with the *wink wink* deal we have with the Packers going into the draft... bye Randy!
