Friday, March 16, 2007

The Will To Win

Each Super Bowl quarterback for the Raiders had his own special quality.

Lamonica had a rifle for an arm. Powerful and accurate. He earned the name, "The Mad Bomber." Opposing defenses weren't safe no matter where the Raiders began a drive on the field. If the Raiders were down by a touchdown or less, and the Raiders had the ball at midfield with only a couple of ticks on the clock, one always expected that Lamonica was about to make the game winning play by throwing a strike into the end zone.

Stabler, who earned the name "Snake" from his scrambling high school years, was a crafty leader and a born winner. He was deadly accurate on short to intermediate passes, often completing over 70% of his throws. While not accurate deep, he still had the mental acuity to throw the deep ball in such a way as to position the ball so that the receiver was always between the ball and the defender. Ultimately, with Stabler, the game always hinged on his will to win. Even on his worst days, he would intelligently probe the defense for the key to success.

Plunkett, known affectionately as "Plunk," was a supreme field leader. He was soft spoken with a deep ball arm. He had surprising escapability. But the most amazing thing about Plunkett was his ability to know, at all times, where every player was on the field. No Raider quarterback was better at finding the open man and hitting him in stride.

Gannon was the consummate perfectionist. He insisted that receivers run their routs to perfection, and was always aware of the percentage play. Lacking a deep ball arm he was the perfect quarterback for the Gruden philosophy that "three things can happen when you throw the ball deep, and two of them are bad." The best description of Gannon is "demanding leader."

Of this quartet, I used to waiver between Stabler and Plunkett as my favorites. Plunkett, because he was the classic underdog. So many times he had been counted out and left for dead, only to come back and win two Super Bowls. Stabler, for his ability to find a way to win. I loved them both, but I think Stabler stands slightly above.

I remember a Monday night game in New Orleans. The Raiders were down by four touchdowns late in the 2nd quarter. Stabler dropped back to pass and was brutally swarmed over and sacked. He got up slowly, and the camera focused on his face. "Dandy Don" Meredith, in the MNF booth said something along the lines of, "Oh, oh. I've seen that look in Stabler's eyes before. He's going to make some trouble for the Saints before this game is over." Stabler led the team back to a 35-28 victory. At the time, it was the biggest comeback victory in MNF history.

In San Diego, needing a touchdown to win with only time and downs for one more play and Stabler half way to the ground on a sack, Stabler fumbled the ball forward. His teammates directed the fumble to the end zone where it was covered by Dave Casper. (The Holy Roller Play) In Oakland during the '73 playoffs against the world champion Miami Dolphins - The Sea of Hands play! In Oakland, against the NE Patriots in 1976, same situation again, but this time Stabler ran on shaky knees and dove head first into the end zone.

"Down two touchdowns or up two touchdowns, he's the same quarterback.... he is convinced that his next play will be his best play. Soaking up a record-setting day or suffering through a forgettable day, he still wants the ball at the end.

"I've always believed that you measure a quarterback on his bad days, not his good days. When you're not having your best day, how do you respond? Can you stay into it and manage the game? ...if something went wrong or if he messed something up...he would usually get another chance. If he got that ball at the end of the game, he was going to beat your tail -- and he knew it."

The above would be an excellent comment in regards to Stabler, if it were, in fact, about him. But it is about someone else who was not, and is not a Raider. At least not yet. The quote is from Jimbo Fisher, the former offensive coordinator from LSU. He is talking, of course, about JaMarcus Russell.

From all I have seen on film clips and television, from all that I've heard from his coaches, his teammates, and his fans, JaMarcus Russell is Ken Stabler with Lamonica's arm and the blossoming bud of Plunkett leadership. He has successfully undertaken every instruction from every coach he's had. He listens and he learns, so Gannon's perfectionism may well be on the horizon.

Al Davis... Lane Kiffin... Do you want more Super Bowls? We need to draft this quarterback.