Oakland Raiders Start Of Bruce Gradkowski Hue Jackson's Good Error

(First posted at Zennie62.com)

Bruce Gradkowski is the Oakland Raiders new starting quarterback, and naming him was a good mistake on the part of Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator Hue Jackson. Why Jackson and not Head Coach Tom Cable? Why a "good mistake?" Because it was Jackson who made it known to the Oakland Tribune that it was his decision, then he went to Coach Cable with the demand.

But to watch KPIX Channel Five, you'd think it was Tom Cable's decision:



That revalation, well explained by Cam Inman at the Trib, along with Hue Jackson's summer press conference where he talked about the conversations he had with Oakland Raiders Manager Of The General Partnership Al Davis, shows the real problem with the Raiders.

The Oakland Raiders internal organization is known for one thing: rise by backstabbing. In this blogger's 17 year association with the Raiders, example after example of employee character assassination by another employee leading to firings, ousters, or just plain confusion have come forward in an unending stream.

There's the Raiders Legend to claimed he had an office at the team's Alameda headquarters, but when one called for that person, was told he wasn't there and questions about "his office" were laughed at. When that was told to the Raiders Legend, he said "I have to talk to them." The Raiders Legend thinks he has power because of his access to Al. That's the one constant in all of the examples I know of.

And that was a tame example, but not to digress. Hue Jackson and Bruce Gradkowski are the latest in a broken, arguably non-existent chain of command that has come to define the Oakland Raiders.

It has been said that Bruce Gradkowski lobbied for the starting job, the implication being that not everyone in the Raiders locker room was in favor of his behavior. Now, because of Jackson's intervention, Gradkowski gets the start. Was it a good move? Technically, yes. Politically, no - from that perspective it was a disaster.

Technically Gradkowski operates the play-action passes Hue Jackson installed and calls with the proper single-hitch-step to throw, whereas QB Jason Campbell takes a half-beat longer. The difference between a completion and an interception. It's also an example of Jason Campbell's need for more reps in the system. But the bottom line is, at this stage, Bruce Gradkowski is better at executing that aspect of the Raiders Offense.

But in downfield throws Jason Campbell has the obviously stronger arm. Gradkowski's downfield coverage recognition and reaction can improve here - he has to learn to look-off the defense. There's not much difference between them, which is why when taking political issues into account, changing quarterbacks at this stage was a mistake.

Now, the Oakland Raiders have a divided team. If Gradkowski fails in his first start in the 2010 NFL Season, it will only get worse. And with Hue Jackson not shy about making himself look like the Raiders defacto head coach, it's going to make for a long season.

For Hue Jackson, who's ready to coach a team somewhere, he needs to stick to the role assigned within the job he took: Oakland Raiders Offensive Coordinator. Meanwhile, the real HC, Tom Cable, needs to give credit where credit is due and tell the media it was Hue Jackson's idea.

Meanwhile, the pressure's on Gradkowski to perform well against the Arizona Cardinals. This corner thinks he will.