For Oakland, this has to be Huff's year
If there's one thing cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has taught the Oakland Raiders' organization, it's to never give up on a young, physically gifted defensive back.
Still, rumors circulated early this offseason that 25-year-old strong safety Michael Huff was on the trading block. According to the Sacramento Bee, he was one of the "players the Raiders believe haven't tapped their potential."
The seventh overall pick in 2007, Huff certainly hasn't begun his NFL career the way many had expected. The Irving, Texas, native picked of seven passes in 51 games with the Longhorns (four of which were returned for TDs) and registered 318 tackles and six forced fumbles.
Thus far in 32 starts with the Raiders, Huff has recorded just one interception, 163 tackles and two fumbles forced. His numbers and play on the field aren't particularly awful, but they certainly aren't what team owner Al Davis was looking for when he used such a high pick to get the 205-pounder
It was also suggested that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan use Huff at cornerback next season, a position he saw time at while at Texas.
That plan has to be out the door by now, though.
Oakland already franchise tagged No. 1 cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for $9.45 million, agreed to pay CB DeAngelo Hall $70 million over the next seven years and picked up ex-New York Giants safety Gibril Wilson for six years and $39 million. Behind those three starters, the Raiders still have capable defensive backs Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt and Stuart Schweigert in reserve.
That means Huff will again be stuck at strong safety for another year. This time around, however, it'll be with a whole new crew around him. And this one's full of playmakers.
Over the past two seasons, the 24-year-old has become familiar playing alongside Asomugha, who has picked off nine passes and recorded 84 tackles and 18 passes defensed since 2006. Now, though, he'll also be working with Hall, who has 228 career tackles and 17 interceptions since 2004.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the secondary for Huff, though, is the player he'll be paired alongside for 16 games, Wilson. To this point, Huff has worked solely with Schweigert, who will now take a back seat to Wilson. Schweigert left Purdue as the school's all-time-leading interception leader with 17 pass thefts, but he has just four in four years with the Raiders.
Last season alone, Wilson picked off four passes. In all, since 2004, the 26-year-old FS has registered 11 interceptions, 360 tackles and 19 passes defensed.
If the underachieving Huff is looking for excuses, he may be running out of them. There's nothing but good players around him now. And if he doesn't step up in 2008, that'll just make him look worse.
If there's one thing cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha has taught the Oakland Raiders' organization, it's to never give up on a young, physically gifted defensive back.
Still, rumors circulated early this offseason that 25-year-old strong safety Michael Huff was on the trading block. According to the Sacramento Bee, he was one of the "players the Raiders believe haven't tapped their potential."
The seventh overall pick in 2007, Huff certainly hasn't begun his NFL career the way many had expected. The Irving, Texas, native picked of seven passes in 51 games with the Longhorns (four of which were returned for TDs) and registered 318 tackles and six forced fumbles.
Thus far in 32 starts with the Raiders, Huff has recorded just one interception, 163 tackles and two fumbles forced. His numbers and play on the field aren't particularly awful, but they certainly aren't what team owner Al Davis was looking for when he used such a high pick to get the 205-pounder
It was also suggested that defensive coordinator Rob Ryan use Huff at cornerback next season, a position he saw time at while at Texas.
That plan has to be out the door by now, though.
Oakland already franchise tagged No. 1 cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha for $9.45 million, agreed to pay CB DeAngelo Hall $70 million over the next seven years and picked up ex-New York Giants safety Gibril Wilson for six years and $39 million. Behind those three starters, the Raiders still have capable defensive backs Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt and Stuart Schweigert in reserve.
That means Huff will again be stuck at strong safety for another year. This time around, however, it'll be with a whole new crew around him. And this one's full of playmakers.
Over the past two seasons, the 24-year-old has become familiar playing alongside Asomugha, who has picked off nine passes and recorded 84 tackles and 18 passes defensed since 2006. Now, though, he'll also be working with Hall, who has 228 career tackles and 17 interceptions since 2004.
Perhaps the biggest addition to the secondary for Huff, though, is the player he'll be paired alongside for 16 games, Wilson. To this point, Huff has worked solely with Schweigert, who will now take a back seat to Wilson. Schweigert left Purdue as the school's all-time-leading interception leader with 17 pass thefts, but he has just four in four years with the Raiders.
Last season alone, Wilson picked off four passes. In all, since 2004, the 26-year-old FS has registered 11 interceptions, 360 tackles and 19 passes defensed.
If the underachieving Huff is looking for excuses, he may be running out of them. There's nothing but good players around him now. And if he doesn't step up in 2008, that'll just make him look worse.
