Bruce Gradkowski.
The fourth-year pro replaced an ineffective Jason Campbell last week in Oakland’s 16-14 comeback victory over St. Louis, and now, Gradkowski could be named the starter for the remainder of the season.
Surprising? Yes and no.
As of Wednesday morning, the Oakland depth chart still has Campbell listed as the Raiders No. 1 quarterback for this weekend’s game in Arizona. However, LaConfora—who reports for the NFL Network—tweeted unofficially that a source tells him that Gradkowski will get the nod as the new starter. Officially, Gradkowski ran the first team offense in practice, while Campbell sat on the sidelines and watched.
Logic dictates that Gradkowski's elevation from back-up to starter is the best move for a team that’s still rebounding from the colossal failure of the JaMarcus Russell era. So, solidifying this position as soon as possible seems to be a no-brainer for head coach Tom Cable.
With a win over the suspect Cardinals this Sunday, Oakland can do that, and build some momentum as they prepare for bigger fish in Houston and San Diego.
That’s why it’s a smart move to go with the hot hand. Gradkowski’s has become a fan favorite and mastered the knack of providing instant offense to a stagnant Oakland attack. He also provides that intangible quality of “leadership” something Campbell has lacked in his brief stint as the Raiders’ starter.
Meanwhile, Cardinals’ starter Derek Anderson has a career passer rating of 67.6 against Oakland, as the Cardinals are off to a very shaky 1-1 start with a close win over the Rams and a blowout loss to the Falcons....
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Oakland Raiders
