ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Art Shell took issue with quarterback
Andrew Walter's criticisms of the Oakland Raiders' struggling
offense and appears ready to make a switch back to Aaron Brooks.
Walter took shots at coordinator Tom Walsh's offense after
Sunday's 17-13 loss to Denver, saying there is not enough "depth"
in the playbook, the offense was too predictable, and that the team
needed to utilize more quick-developing plays than five- and
seven-step drops.
That didn't sit well with Shell, who has fiercely defended Walsh
all season long from criticisms that he is out of touch after being
away from the NFL for more than a decade.
"You have to be accountable for what you do," Shell said
Monday. "To start making statements about what's in and what's not
in, then you need to take a hard look at what's there. Obviously, I
don't want to get into a contest with a young man but for him to
come out and say those things, (that's) totally off-base as far as
I'm concerned."
Walter was unavailable for comment Monday, but had plenty to say
after Oakland's latest loss.
"We need to make it more complex," Walter said, referring to
the Raiders' playbook. "I'd like more swing routes, flat routes,
short stuff. There are certain things I'd like to see."
Shell did not respond to criticisms of the offense and coaching
staff earlier in the season from receiver Randy Moss, saying
everyone can "speak their mind." But the coach wasn't as
accepting of the comments from Walter, who is in his second year in
the NFL.
"When you speak out, you need to know what you're talking about
when you make those statements," Shell said. "You can speak out.
I've said that before. Guys are capable of speaking out but when
you start going out and you start airing your laundry in public,
then you've got to have some accountability for that, too."
Shell said Walter's comments wouldn't play into the decision
about who would start at quarterback Sunday at Kansas City, but he
appears ready to give the job back to Brooks.
Brooks began the season as the starter before straining a
pectoral muscle in the first quarter of the second game. The injury
took longer to heal than the Raiders originally thought, giving
Walter an extensive opportunity to prove he was ready to be an NFL
starter.
Brooks returned to practice two weeks ago and said Monday he's
ready to play in games as soon as the coaches give him the
go-ahead.
"I'm going to take a hard look at it and see where we are with
him," Shell said. "He's been throwing the last couple of weeks. I
thought last week he threw the ball a whole lot better. ... I think
he's very close. We'll see how he goes."
Brooks, who was just 6-for-14 for 68 yards before getting hurt,
said the problems on the NFL's worst offense are more about
execution than play calling. Brooks has made 84 starts in his
career and said he believed he gives the team a better chance to
win than the inexperienced Walter does.
"I think we have a greater chance," Brooks said. "I possess
some skills that with my experience gives us a greater chance."
Walter has shown sporadic signs of success, but needs to do much
more to overcome a poor offensive line. Walter has completed just
48.1 percent of his passes and thrown only three touchdowns and
nine interceptions. He has also lost seven fumbles and been sacked
40 times.
Walter said he has asked for changes in the offense and the
coaches have sometimes listened to his suggestions.
Shell said Walsh's offense runs many of the same plays as other
teams in the NFL and does not call more deep drops than many other
teams. He also said that the players have more say on what plays
get called than he has seen in the past.
Shell also was upset about comments made by Moss, who blamed his
frequent dropped passes this season on a loss of focus because he's
not happy with what's going on around the team.
"My concentration and focus level tends to go down sometimes
when I'm in a bad mood," Moss said. "So all I can say is if you
put me in a good situation and make me happy, man, you get good
results."
Shell said he "hates" to hear comments like that.
"You're paid to play a game that you've played for many years
and that you love and once you hit the field, you compete," Shell
said. "That's the way I see it."