Offensive guard Will Arnold said he notices something different about quarterback JaMarcus Russell this season. “I just feel like when he comes into the huddle, he’s not nervous,” Arnold said. “I think last year sometimes he’d be stuttering or confused about what the play call was. Even if he is confused any this time, he doesn’t show it, which is good for us.” Arnold is not the only player who sees a marked change in Russell’s game. The junior quarterback has impressed his teammates and coaches around the country with his improved decision making and overall game play this season. “Obviously, anybody can see he’s gotten a lot better, especially with throwing the ball away, breaking tackles and making the right decisions and reads,” said junior wide receiver Craig Davis. “He has come along and gotten a lot better.” Russell echoed Davis’ evaluation and said he has also improved his accuracy. “I say on the field I make better decisions now than I have a year ago,” Russell said. Russell has raised his completion percentage to 63.9 percent from 60.5 percent in 2005. He has also only been sacked once this season, compared to eight times in the 2005 season, which shows improved decision making. In the most recent game at Auburn University, Russell completed 20 of 35 passes for 267 yards. Though his teammates said he made some mistakes in the game, they say it is Russell’s poise and confidence that makes him a better player. “He comes out there with confidence,” Arnold said. “It makes everything easier for us. As far as practicing and meetings, he talks, and he does a good job being the best leader he can be.” Senior defensive end Chase Pittman said Russell’s improved strength has allowed him to become a physical force to be reckoned with behind center. “He’s hard to tackle,” Pittman said. “Anytime somebody does get into the backfield, the first guy isn’t going to take him. I trust the ball in his hands.” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville complimented Russell’s quarterback play this season and said he would not mind having a “JaMarcus Russell” on his team. “He’s a good athlete,” Tuberville said. “Last year he made some terrific throws in the last drive to put us in overtime to beat us. He’s a specimen. He plays hard, and he’s obviously one of the better players in our league.” In Russell’s first three games this season, he had a higher completion percentage, thrown for more yards and more touchdowns than in 2005. So far in 2006, he has thrown for 716 yards and five touchdowns, and his longest pass completion from scrimmage is 58 yards. As for Russell’s own coach, Les Miles said his quarterback’s biggest strength is the responsibility he takes for making a play when the game is on the line. “He looks forward to those positions where you have to make a play – he enjoys it,” Miles said. “The greatest strength JaMarcus Russell has is that he looks forward to being in a position where people are counting on him to make a play.” Russell said he thrives in the position when he knows that the final play of the game could mean a win for the team. “No matter what, if it comes down to it or not, I’d rather have the ball in my hands,” Russell said. “I’d rather make plays and help everyone get in position to make plays.”
—–Contact Kyler Whifield at kwhitfield.com