Al Davis has officially Lost it (Raiders 2009 Offseason)
- Thread starter Marlo
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- ccccccc cdont have a chance in hell of winning a dhb=offensive roy killa cries at the raiders draft picks mike mitchell=defensive roy optimism among raider fans is a joke put al davis in a mental institution raida nation ! throwbacks not a homer tom cable drives a beer delivery truck tru is really al davis
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
Winning attitude important in building Oakland Raiders
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DHB will block as well as catch. <!-- **** This is the end of the default image box **** --><!-- **** This is the start of the default image box **** -->
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<!-- **** DO NOT EDIT ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE **** -->The common thread among all of the players selected by the Oakland Raiders is that all of the draft picks are high work ethic players who are leaders and winners. This is a far cry from the Raiders of the recent past who were about themselves first, and a sign that the culture of losing that has infected the Raiders for years is finally lifting.
The first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland, whose selection at number seven was mocked by most draft followers, could not talk enough about following the lead of Jerry Rice's legendary work ethic. He has also made it a point that one of his strengths is his ability to block down-field. This is a stark contrast to the favored pick Michael Crabtree making a gesture of relief when his name wasn't called to join the Oakland Raiders.
Second round pick, Mike Mitchell from Ohio University managed to work his way up draft boards for different teams, despite not getting invited to the combine or receiving any of the predraft hype. He had to work harder than anybody else taken on the first day to receive that honor. He has also handled himself with nothing but class since hearing his selection bashed mercilessly.
Fourth round pick Louis Murphy was a team captain his senior year at Florida. He toiled in the shadow of first round pick and now Minnesota Viking Philadelphia Eagle Percy Harvin. This did not bother him as his goal is not personal numbers, but wins. When Cable called him to tell him that he was now a Raider, Murphy's first response was to ask for the strength and conditioning coach's number, and his second thing was asking to play special teams. Special teams is the all guts no glory type work, that makes the difference between wins and losses.
The Raiders added another worker as an undrafted free agent in Florida Atlantic's Frantz Joseph. These guys are representative of what Coach Cable wants to bring to the Oakland Raiders. It has to be about having that winning attitude and playing as a team. Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas shared the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" award this past offseason, because they have that attitude.Gibril Wilson, on the other hand, was cut because he didn't.
Coach Cable is bringing the team together, which is something that has not happened for the Raiders. Fullback Luke Lawton said it best, "I love Coach Cable. I would take a bullet for that man. He cares for us as individuals, and he understands that we have to stay together in the system."
There have been numerous questions about the draft after a very solid free agent signing period. However, the draft guides only go so far in analyzing the prospect. There is no measurement for heart. The Raiders are populating the team with players who will leave everything on the field, and that is a recipe for success.
:cheers:
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DHB will block as well as catch. <!-- **** This is the end of the default image box **** --><!-- **** This is the start of the default image box **** -->
<!--beginning of list--><!--link--><!--end of list-->
<!-- **** This is the end of the default image box **** -->
<!-- **** DO NOT EDIT ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE **** -->The common thread among all of the players selected by the Oakland Raiders is that all of the draft picks are high work ethic players who are leaders and winners. This is a far cry from the Raiders of the recent past who were about themselves first, and a sign that the culture of losing that has infected the Raiders for years is finally lifting.
The first round pick Darrius Heyward-Bey of Maryland, whose selection at number seven was mocked by most draft followers, could not talk enough about following the lead of Jerry Rice's legendary work ethic. He has also made it a point that one of his strengths is his ability to block down-field. This is a stark contrast to the favored pick Michael Crabtree making a gesture of relief when his name wasn't called to join the Oakland Raiders.
Second round pick, Mike Mitchell from Ohio University managed to work his way up draft boards for different teams, despite not getting invited to the combine or receiving any of the predraft hype. He had to work harder than anybody else taken on the first day to receive that honor. He has also handled himself with nothing but class since hearing his selection bashed mercilessly.
Fourth round pick Louis Murphy was a team captain his senior year at Florida. He toiled in the shadow of first round pick and now Minnesota Viking Philadelphia Eagle Percy Harvin. This did not bother him as his goal is not personal numbers, but wins. When Cable called him to tell him that he was now a Raider, Murphy's first response was to ask for the strength and conditioning coach's number, and his second thing was asking to play special teams. Special teams is the all guts no glory type work, that makes the difference between wins and losses.
The Raiders added another worker as an undrafted free agent in Florida Atlantic's Frantz Joseph. These guys are representative of what Coach Cable wants to bring to the Oakland Raiders. It has to be about having that winning attitude and playing as a team. Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas shared the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" award this past offseason, because they have that attitude.Gibril Wilson, on the other hand, was cut because he didn't.
Coach Cable is bringing the team together, which is something that has not happened for the Raiders. Fullback Luke Lawton said it best, "I love Coach Cable. I would take a bullet for that man. He cares for us as individuals, and he understands that we have to stay together in the system."
There have been numerous questions about the draft after a very solid free agent signing period. However, the draft guides only go so far in analyzing the prospect. There is no measurement for heart. The Raiders are populating the team with players who will leave everything on the field, and that is a recipe for success.
:cheers:
broadwayjoe
May 5Dimes MLB 2nd place
that is the one thing DHB will bring that he has an advantage over crab...blocking. wr blocking is very underrated and is often the difference between a 12 yard gain and a 70 yard gain...
still don't like the pick, but trying to keep an open mind. i do like dhb, but can't get the picture i had of jmarc, crab, and dmac on the field at the same time on the same team...gives me goosebumps
still don't like the pick, but trying to keep an open mind. i do like dhb, but can't get the picture i had of jmarc, crab, and dmac on the field at the same time on the same team...gives me goosebumps
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
WR blocking is going to be a big part of the raider offense. Getting McFadden to run outside the tackles for running and with quick screens. DHB blocking could be key
Capt. Slap
1st year apprentice of Sammy
LMFAO +6 please give me over +200 on that ML
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
:shake:
MrMulligan
Pretty much a regular
Nice find bro...my fav line:
These guys are representative of what Coach Cable wants to bring to the Oakland Raiders. It has to be about having that winning attitude and playing as a team. Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas shared the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" award this past offseason, because they have that attitude.
We are going to smoke some MFers who take us lightly...
These guys are representative of what Coach Cable wants to bring to the Oakland Raiders. It has to be about having that winning attitude and playing as a team. Nnamdi Asomugha and Justin Fargas shared the Oakland Raiders "Commitment to Excellence" award this past offseason, because they have that attitude.
We are going to smoke some MFers who take us lightly...
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
Raiders gonna sign fullback Lorenzo Neal.
I always liked this dude and always thought he should be a Raiders.
what I dont like is that this must mean Oren O'Neal is not gonna be healthy, I had High hopes for this kid but Lorenzo is no fuckin joke at FB
I always liked this dude and always thought he should be a Raiders.
what I dont like is that this must mean Oren O'Neal is not gonna be healthy, I had High hopes for this kid but Lorenzo is no fuckin joke at FB
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
also UDFA LB Frantz Joseph, Florida Atlantic
is a hell of a pickup the dude is a beast and a great story behind the kid. Word is he turned down better money just to be a raider. Also told Josh McDaniels that he will be seeing him twice on sundays, he was pissed that they wanted him but didnt use one of there 20 picks on him. He's happy to be a raider. Raiders coaches said if he is the real deal they will put him inside and move Morrison outside.
he's the MLB, the only thing the kid is lacking is speed but I love the way he sheds blocks, something Kirk Morrison isnt great at.
http://<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/qR2UtcxjpbQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1 width=340 height=285 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>
is a hell of a pickup the dude is a beast and a great story behind the kid. Word is he turned down better money just to be a raider. Also told Josh McDaniels that he will be seeing him twice on sundays, he was pissed that they wanted him but didnt use one of there 20 picks on him. He's happy to be a raider. Raiders coaches said if he is the real deal they will put him inside and move Morrison outside.
he's the MLB, the only thing the kid is lacking is speed but I love the way he sheds blocks, something Kirk Morrison isnt great at.
http://<EMBED src=http://www.youtube.com/v/qR2UtcxjpbQ&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1 width=340 height=285 type=application/x-shockwave-flash allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always"></EMBED>
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
Cable playing it smart in terms of personnel
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 8:50 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Every time it seems Al Davis is about to relinquish some control in the Raiders personnel department, the evidence suggests his grip gets tighter.
When Jon Gruden took over in 1998, conventional wisdom was he had a lot to do with changing the makeup of the team. Which he did, but only to a point.
There was the time Gruden thought he had cut David Dunn, only to discover he hadn’t. When Dunn fumbled a punt which helped cost the Raiders a game against Arizona, he and Bruce Allen didn’t speak for a month.
Gruden was sent packing following the season, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers giving Davis an offer he couldn’t refuse.
When Norv Turner took over, he phased out both Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, only to end up being sent out of town following the 2005 season in favor of Art Shell.
Shell picked a fight with Jerry Porter, Davis never intervened, and the coach also implemented a there-coach disaster with the offensive line. Davis watched all the way up to the point until he dumped Shell.
As for draft picks, Davis blamed Shell for Michael Huff over Matt Leinart (at this point it looks like neither was worth the No. 7 pick).
It’s never been clear exactly who much power Lane Kiffin received, since his main agenda was building a resume and getting out of town.
That’s a long way of saying that at least things are clear in 2009. The Raiders are a height-weight-speed team that wants to look good getting off the bus. Tom Cable, in so many words, said so last weekend when discussing how the Raiders made their selections.
Cable has input. He wants some character to go along with the measurables. But Cable is operating like a Stanford recruiting coordinator, except that the players he crosses off the list are too slow in the 40-yard dash or have another perceived physical liability rather than poor grades.
Michael Crabtree? Rey Maualuga? Too slow.
Even the handful of undrafted free agents the Raiders have signed fit in to one of their cherished categories.
“The Raiders love speed, they don’t care about size as much as speed,” wide receiver/return specialist Nick Miller of Southern Utah told the Daily Spectrum. “They like to throw the ball and stretch the field, which is perfect for me since those are my biggest strengths: my speed and my ability to get down the field.”
It’s a cliche even in St. George, Utah.
When I covered Stanford football, there were stories about how Dennis Green would rail against the admissions department and even take his case to provost Condoleeza Rice _ unsuccessfully. Green bailed out when the Minnesota Vikings called.
Cable, on the other hand, appears to be pushing the players he likes, but doesn’t bother with anyone who doesn’t meet the minimum requirements speed-size requirements. It’s a realistic approach, rather than fighting for player Davis will never consider.
Rather than resist Davis, he has gotten on board. In some quarters, he’s immediately been labeled another puppet, a line coach thankful to have a head coaching job like Joe Bugel.
Only time will tell whether Cable has actually established a working relationship with Davis or if he’ll be the latest coach to be sent out of town because he couldn’t work within the framework of a system which many believe values workout warriors over football players.
Because that’s the trick with the Raiders _ finding the workout warriors who are also football players.
Snead on the way out
Speaking of the scouting operation, I’ve heard Rich Snead is on his way out of the organization.
Snead joined the Raiders after Mike Lombardi was fired, although it’s not clear how much influence he had.
Lombardi was initially trotted out to the media as a “voice” after Allen left, although he was never comfortable with the role and was banished when he recruited Bobby Petrino to be the head coach, only to have Petrino turn down the job.
Snead, a respected personnel man with Tennessee for nine years before joining the Raiders, has been essentially anonymous since he arrived.
Neal rumors
If the as yet unsubstantiated stories regarding free agent fullback Lorenzo Neal and the Raiders are true, it means two things:
1) The Raiders aren’t expecting Oren O’Neal to be ready for the beginning of the 2009 season, because it isn’t their style to lead on a respected vet such as Neal and sign him to a deal, only to dump him of O’Neal is healthy.
2) It’s another example of what Davis meant when he said he wanted more power in the Raiders running game. Kiffin made it clear last year he didn’t believe Neal was a fit for the zone blocking system.
If Davis tells Cable to make it work, Cable will have to make it work.
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Friday, May 1st, 2009 at 8:50 pm in Oakland Raiders.
Every time it seems Al Davis is about to relinquish some control in the Raiders personnel department, the evidence suggests his grip gets tighter.
When Jon Gruden took over in 1998, conventional wisdom was he had a lot to do with changing the makeup of the team. Which he did, but only to a point.
There was the time Gruden thought he had cut David Dunn, only to discover he hadn’t. When Dunn fumbled a punt which helped cost the Raiders a game against Arizona, he and Bruce Allen didn’t speak for a month.
Gruden was sent packing following the season, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers giving Davis an offer he couldn’t refuse.
When Norv Turner took over, he phased out both Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, only to end up being sent out of town following the 2005 season in favor of Art Shell.
Shell picked a fight with Jerry Porter, Davis never intervened, and the coach also implemented a there-coach disaster with the offensive line. Davis watched all the way up to the point until he dumped Shell.
As for draft picks, Davis blamed Shell for Michael Huff over Matt Leinart (at this point it looks like neither was worth the No. 7 pick).
It’s never been clear exactly who much power Lane Kiffin received, since his main agenda was building a resume and getting out of town.
That’s a long way of saying that at least things are clear in 2009. The Raiders are a height-weight-speed team that wants to look good getting off the bus. Tom Cable, in so many words, said so last weekend when discussing how the Raiders made their selections.
Cable has input. He wants some character to go along with the measurables. But Cable is operating like a Stanford recruiting coordinator, except that the players he crosses off the list are too slow in the 40-yard dash or have another perceived physical liability rather than poor grades.
Michael Crabtree? Rey Maualuga? Too slow.
Even the handful of undrafted free agents the Raiders have signed fit in to one of their cherished categories.
“The Raiders love speed, they don’t care about size as much as speed,” wide receiver/return specialist Nick Miller of Southern Utah told the Daily Spectrum. “They like to throw the ball and stretch the field, which is perfect for me since those are my biggest strengths: my speed and my ability to get down the field.”
It’s a cliche even in St. George, Utah.
When I covered Stanford football, there were stories about how Dennis Green would rail against the admissions department and even take his case to provost Condoleeza Rice _ unsuccessfully. Green bailed out when the Minnesota Vikings called.
Cable, on the other hand, appears to be pushing the players he likes, but doesn’t bother with anyone who doesn’t meet the minimum requirements speed-size requirements. It’s a realistic approach, rather than fighting for player Davis will never consider.
Rather than resist Davis, he has gotten on board. In some quarters, he’s immediately been labeled another puppet, a line coach thankful to have a head coaching job like Joe Bugel.
Only time will tell whether Cable has actually established a working relationship with Davis or if he’ll be the latest coach to be sent out of town because he couldn’t work within the framework of a system which many believe values workout warriors over football players.
Because that’s the trick with the Raiders _ finding the workout warriors who are also football players.
Snead on the way out
Speaking of the scouting operation, I’ve heard Rich Snead is on his way out of the organization.
Snead joined the Raiders after Mike Lombardi was fired, although it’s not clear how much influence he had.
Lombardi was initially trotted out to the media as a “voice” after Allen left, although he was never comfortable with the role and was banished when he recruited Bobby Petrino to be the head coach, only to have Petrino turn down the job.
Snead, a respected personnel man with Tennessee for nine years before joining the Raiders, has been essentially anonymous since he arrived.
Neal rumors
If the as yet unsubstantiated stories regarding free agent fullback Lorenzo Neal and the Raiders are true, it means two things:
1) The Raiders aren’t expecting Oren O’Neal to be ready for the beginning of the 2009 season, because it isn’t their style to lead on a respected vet such as Neal and sign him to a deal, only to dump him of O’Neal is healthy.
2) It’s another example of what Davis meant when he said he wanted more power in the Raiders running game. Kiffin made it clear last year he didn’t believe Neal was a fit for the zone blocking system.
If Davis tells Cable to make it work, Cable will have to make it work.
guaranteeed
Pretty much a regular
Oren O'Neal was awesome 2 years ago I really hoped he would be healthy this year, but it doesn't sound like it if they are gonna sign Lorenzo. Would be a quality signing.
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
Raiders: Heyward-Bey a good catch ... or bad catch?
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By Steve Corkran, Staff
<!--date-->Posted: 05/03/2009 07:22:19 PM PDT
<!--secondary date-->Updated: 05/04/2009 10:59:21 AM PDT
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/js/article/viewerControls.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Click photo to enlarge
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth < 200){ requestedWidth = 200; } </SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </SCRIPT>It was time, Vivian Heyward-Bey decided. Her son needed to face the world on his own and leave his familiar surroundings.
For Darrius Heyward-Bey, that uneasy time came much sooner than for most. He was 14 years old, burgeoning with talent and in need of a challenge to his vast potential, his mom thought.
As difficult as it was, Vivian Heyward-Bey knew her son — the person she calls her best friend and idol — wouldn't stand a chance if he didn't get into the right environment. So she ejected Darrius from the nest when her instincts told her it was time.
Vivian Heyward-Bey sent Darrius from their home in Silver Spring, Md., to McDonogh School, a boarding school in a
Baltimore suburb, so he could become a man. Eight years later, the wide receiver from the University of Maryland was drafted seventh overall by the Raiders.
"It's a relief that it's over, that I have a home," the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Heyward-Bey said of his selection.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 22, still is soaking in the fact that a skinny kid from Silver Spring can make it so far in such a short time. He will don a Raiders uniform for the first time Friday, when the team conducts a three-day minicamp in Alameda.
Some youngsters dream of playing in the NFL. Heyward-Bey set his sights upon playing basketball when he arrived at McDonogh on a scholarship. Then he tapped into his ability to run faster than most and was named a first-team All-American in the indoor 60 meters.
At one point, Heyward-Bey even contemplated a hockey career. Football never entered his mind. McDonogh football coach Dom D'Amico recognized the potential long before Heyward-Bey knew the difference between a post route and a post office.
"He didn't even know how to put the outfit on, the uniform," Vivian Heyward-Bey said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun. "He just didn't know the game."
D'Amico said Heyward-Bey was "as raw as you could get."
Heyward-Bey also was never content. He had watched his mother raise a family by herself and work non-stop. It had taught him to put his head down, get his work done and never complain. He also was blessed with a desire to succeed at whatever he did and uncommon speed.
"Looking at the facts, I probably should've gone to (college) for track," he said. "But I'm one of those guys who is very confident in himself. I knew in any situation I would be in, I was going to work hard to become the best."
Heyward-Bey earned a football scholarship to Maryland and developed into a big-play receiver with the potential to score every time he touched the ball.
He lacked the mind-numbing stats of Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin in college, but few can match Heyward-Bey's speed. He posted a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February and cemented his status as a first-round draft pick.
Heyward-Bey hugged close friend and mentor Devard Darling as soon as Raiders coach Tom Cable called with the news that he was the newest member of the team.
The news might have caught Heyward-Bey and others by surprise. However, Darling, a receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, said he knew Heyward-Bey was destined to be a Raider once he ran the 4.3 at the combine.
"The sky's the limit for this guy," Darling said. "People will say he's going to be a draft bust, but it is what it is. He deserves to be there, and he proved a lot of people wrong."
Maryland receivers coach Lee Hull said Heyward-Bey differs from other fast players drafted into the NFL for their speed and potential to deliver game-altering plays.
"The big thing with Darrius is, he's a football player who ran track in high school," Hull said by phone. "As evidence, he didn't run track at Maryland so that he could concentrate on football. Darrius wants to succeed, and he won't let down the Raiders."
Hakeem Sule, Heyward-Bey's closest friend, said he pictured Heyward-Bey hitting it big from the moment they met before their freshman year at McDonogh.
"I looked at him and said, 'Man, this kid is going to be a 6-foot-9 power forward,'"‰" Sule said by phone. "I never imagined him turning into an NFL player."
Sule and others talked Heyward-Bey into giving football a shot at McDonogh because there wasn't much else going on until basketball started.
Heyward-Bey lined up at running back, took a pitch out, sprinted toward the sideline and "some guy hit the hell out him, knocked him out of bounds," Sule said.
End of experiment. Heyward-Bey moved to receiver on the next play, sprinted downfield, outleaped a defender, made the catch and turned it into a touchdown.
"That's when I knew he had something special, that he had what it takes," Sule said. "We had heard he was fast, but we didn't know that he was that fast."
Darling's wife, Cicely, was the track coach at McDonogh when Heyward-Bey showed up. Time and again, she came home and raved about this kid on the track team.
Darling took Heyward-Bey into his house the summer before his senior season in high school and prepared him for life as a football player.
"He's more talented than 85, 90 percent of the receivers in the league now," Darling said.
The Raiders are convinced, even if others aren't. Numerous draft analysts and columnists derided Oakland's selection of Heyward-Bey at No. 7 as a reach, saying the team known for its unconventional draft picks landed a player who can run fast but is flawed catching the ball.
Hull and others who know Heyward-Bey best say the knock about his pass-catching ability isn't warranted and that he has improved each year.
"I have never seen anybody who deals with adversity like Darrius," Vivian Heyward-Bey told the Baltimore Sun. "They doubted him in high school, and they doubted him in college. But he persevered way beyond anybody's imagination. He doesn't take it as criticism; he takes it as a challenge."
<!--subtitle--><!--byline-->By Steve Corkran, Staff
<!--date-->Posted: 05/03/2009 07:22:19 PM PDT
<!--secondary date-->Updated: 05/04/2009 10:59:21 AM PDT
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> var requestedWidth = 0; </SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/js/article/viewerControls.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Click photo to enlarge
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth < 200){ requestedWidth = 200; } </SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> if(requestedWidth > 0){ document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.width = requestedWidth + "px"; document.getElementById('articleViewerGroup').style.margin = "0px 0px 10px 10px"; } </SCRIPT>It was time, Vivian Heyward-Bey decided. Her son needed to face the world on his own and leave his familiar surroundings.
For Darrius Heyward-Bey, that uneasy time came much sooner than for most. He was 14 years old, burgeoning with talent and in need of a challenge to his vast potential, his mom thought.
As difficult as it was, Vivian Heyward-Bey knew her son — the person she calls her best friend and idol — wouldn't stand a chance if he didn't get into the right environment. So she ejected Darrius from the nest when her instincts told her it was time.
Vivian Heyward-Bey sent Darrius from their home in Silver Spring, Md., to McDonogh School, a boarding school in a
Baltimore suburb, so he could become a man. Eight years later, the wide receiver from the University of Maryland was drafted seventh overall by the Raiders.
"It's a relief that it's over, that I have a home," the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Heyward-Bey said of his selection.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, 22, still is soaking in the fact that a skinny kid from Silver Spring can make it so far in such a short time. He will don a Raiders uniform for the first time Friday, when the team conducts a three-day minicamp in Alameda.
Some youngsters dream of playing in the NFL. Heyward-Bey set his sights upon playing basketball when he arrived at McDonogh on a scholarship. Then he tapped into his ability to run faster than most and was named a first-team All-American in the indoor 60 meters.
At one point, Heyward-Bey even contemplated a hockey career. Football never entered his mind. McDonogh football coach Dom D'Amico recognized the potential long before Heyward-Bey knew the difference between a post route and a post office.
"He didn't even know how to put the outfit on, the uniform," Vivian Heyward-Bey said in an interview with the Baltimore Sun. "He just didn't know the game."
D'Amico said Heyward-Bey was "as raw as you could get."
Heyward-Bey also was never content. He had watched his mother raise a family by herself and work non-stop. It had taught him to put his head down, get his work done and never complain. He also was blessed with a desire to succeed at whatever he did and uncommon speed.
"Looking at the facts, I probably should've gone to (college) for track," he said. "But I'm one of those guys who is very confident in himself. I knew in any situation I would be in, I was going to work hard to become the best."
Heyward-Bey earned a football scholarship to Maryland and developed into a big-play receiver with the potential to score every time he touched the ball.
He lacked the mind-numbing stats of Texas Tech's Michael Crabtree and Missouri's Jeremy Maclin in college, but few can match Heyward-Bey's speed. He posted a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in February and cemented his status as a first-round draft pick.
Heyward-Bey hugged close friend and mentor Devard Darling as soon as Raiders coach Tom Cable called with the news that he was the newest member of the team.
The news might have caught Heyward-Bey and others by surprise. However, Darling, a receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, said he knew Heyward-Bey was destined to be a Raider once he ran the 4.3 at the combine.
"The sky's the limit for this guy," Darling said. "People will say he's going to be a draft bust, but it is what it is. He deserves to be there, and he proved a lot of people wrong."
Maryland receivers coach Lee Hull said Heyward-Bey differs from other fast players drafted into the NFL for their speed and potential to deliver game-altering plays.
"The big thing with Darrius is, he's a football player who ran track in high school," Hull said by phone. "As evidence, he didn't run track at Maryland so that he could concentrate on football. Darrius wants to succeed, and he won't let down the Raiders."
Hakeem Sule, Heyward-Bey's closest friend, said he pictured Heyward-Bey hitting it big from the moment they met before their freshman year at McDonogh.
"I looked at him and said, 'Man, this kid is going to be a 6-foot-9 power forward,'"‰" Sule said by phone. "I never imagined him turning into an NFL player."
Sule and others talked Heyward-Bey into giving football a shot at McDonogh because there wasn't much else going on until basketball started.
Heyward-Bey lined up at running back, took a pitch out, sprinted toward the sideline and "some guy hit the hell out him, knocked him out of bounds," Sule said.
End of experiment. Heyward-Bey moved to receiver on the next play, sprinted downfield, outleaped a defender, made the catch and turned it into a touchdown.
"That's when I knew he had something special, that he had what it takes," Sule said. "We had heard he was fast, but we didn't know that he was that fast."
Darling's wife, Cicely, was the track coach at McDonogh when Heyward-Bey showed up. Time and again, she came home and raved about this kid on the track team.
Darling took Heyward-Bey into his house the summer before his senior season in high school and prepared him for life as a football player.
"He's more talented than 85, 90 percent of the receivers in the league now," Darling said.
The Raiders are convinced, even if others aren't. Numerous draft analysts and columnists derided Oakland's selection of Heyward-Bey at No. 7 as a reach, saying the team known for its unconventional draft picks landed a player who can run fast but is flawed catching the ball.
Hull and others who know Heyward-Bey best say the knock about his pass-catching ability isn't warranted and that he has improved each year.
"I have never seen anybody who deals with adversity like Darrius," Vivian Heyward-Bey told the Baltimore Sun. "They doubted him in high school, and they doubted him in college. But he persevered way beyond anybody's imagination. He doesn't take it as criticism; he takes it as a challenge."
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great article
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Over the last few days I’ve been conducting interviews for a closer look at Raiders safety Mike Mitchell, the controversial second-round pick who elicited scorn from Mel Kiper Jr., an apology from Mike Mayock and was mocked by Cris Carter.
While checking in with people who saw Mitchell extensively and also prepared to play against him came this gem from Central Michigan coach assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni regarding a hit against star wide reciever Bryan Anderson.
“We had a three-time All-MAC wideout, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds,” Azzanni said. “Mitchell just knocked the absolute piss out of him. I thought he killed him on the sideline. That’s how hard he hit.”
While checking in with people who saw Mitchell extensively and also prepared to play against him came this gem from Central Michigan coach assistant head coach and wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni regarding a hit against star wide reciever Bryan Anderson.
“We had a three-time All-MAC wideout, 6-foot-5, 210 pounds,” Azzanni said. “Mitchell just knocked the absolute piss out of him. I thought he killed him on the sideline. That’s how hard he hit.”
Throwback420
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aplous
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<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 width="98%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#363636><TD width="100%"><SMALL>9:15 pm (ESPN) </SMALL></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 width="98%" bgColor=#000000 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle width=35>481</TD><TD width=185>San Diego Chargers</TD><TD align=right width=85>-7 -105</TD><TD align=middle width=85>43½</TD><TD width=45> </TD><TD width=85> </TD><TD width=85> </TD></TR><TR><TD align=middle width=35>482</TD><TD width=185>Oakland Raiders</TD><TD align=right width=85> -115</TD><TD align=middle width=85> </TD><TD width=45> </TD><TD width=85> </TD><TD width=85> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 width="98%" bgColor=#003366 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Line Changes Made Within Last 15 Minutes Are </TD><TD width="1%" bgColor=#666666>Highlighted.</TD><TD width="98%"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Line is on the climb.........
Line is on the climb.........
Throwback420
Diehard L.A. fan
<TABLE class=show_design_border width=300 align=right><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR><TR><TD>Rookie WR Darrius Heyward-Bey makes a leaping catch during his first practice as a professional football player.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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– Solid first practice from first-round draft pick Darrius Heyward-Bey, although he was taken to school on one route by cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Asomugha said later Heyward-Bey had telegraphed the play with his eyes. Heyward-Bey said he looked forward to more chances to compete against the best.
Heyward-Bey looked smooth and natural catching the ball in drills against no defense (thankfully). His best play in a team session came on a deep sideline route in which he adjusted under an underthrown pass from Bruce Gradkowski and hauled it in some 40 yards downfield over Darrick Brown.
It was the kind of play a football player makes, but a sprinter doesn’t.
–Heyward-Bey got a thumbs up from Russell for his first day’s work.
“He had good, sure hands today. I saw him catch a lot of balls with his hands . . . some new guys, young guys use their chest. But all of their guys used their hands pretty good today.”
Heyward-Bey looked smooth and natural catching the ball in drills against no defense (thankfully). His best play in a team session came on a deep sideline route in which he adjusted under an underthrown pass from Bruce Gradkowski and hauled it in some 40 yards downfield over Darrick Brown.
It was the kind of play a football player makes, but a sprinter doesn’t.
–Heyward-Bey got a thumbs up from Russell for his first day’s work.
“He had good, sure hands today. I saw him catch a lot of balls with his hands . . . some new guys, young guys use their chest. But all of their guys used their hands pretty good today.”
