great read
Thursday, August 02 2007 @ 07:13 EDT
Contributed by: Dennis Wyatt
Dennis Wyatt
TVSPORTSDAILY.COM
Napa Valley, California
The Oakland Raiders had the third best rated defense in the NFL last year. They probably would have fared better had the offense been able to stay on the field a bit longer. Even though the offense was amongst the leaders of three and outs, the defense kept most games close at hand. An unfortunate effect of having a big number in the losing column is some players who deserve to go to the pro bowl are left out when they shouldn’t be. Warren Sapp led the league in sacks from the tackle position and wasn’t invited. Nnamdi Asomugha tied for second in the league in interceptions, yet did not make it.
Another Raider who should have made it but didn’t is one of the best linebackers in all of football, Kirk Morrison. When talking to Morrison about his greatness, the first thing he mentions of all things is his camp roommate and fellow linebacker Thomas Howard. The Raiders are very fortunate to have two young linebackers in only their second and third years who are pro bowl worthy. Most teams would love to have one player of the caliber of Morrison and Howard. The importance of both to the Raiders is unquestionable. Morrison was first on the team in tackles last year from the middle linebacker spot and Howard was right behind him in second from the right outside linebacker position. The firm of Morrison and Howard takes care of business in and out of the backfield.
Their quickness from the linebacker spot is unrivaled, they helped the Raiders lead the league in pass defense. When looking at the two together you could possibly mistake them for basketball players, they are greyhound lean. The way they play off of their defensive linemen and each other seems to be way beyond their years, youth and speed allows them to recover if they ever are out of position.
I don’t know if it is youthful exuberance or the fact they are just two exceptional individuals, when questioned about the lack of offense last year the best I could get out of the two was the defense needs to play even better to get the offense more opportunities. When speaking about the current offense Howard reflected upon it this way, “The new offensive coaches have a certain energy to them, up-beat energy, and the offensive players are feeding off of it. If they are not giving it their all, the coaches take steps to make sure they do and it is spreading like a virus throughout the whole team.”
The Raiders lost a lot of close games last year. With the addition of a veteran quarterback like Daunte Culpepper, Howard tends to think that the Raiders won’t lose those close games this year. “You play this game to win. It hurts when you lose, especially when you play with all of the emotion and compassion that our defense plays with and as a team. Playing at home is all about that feeling you get in the black hole, coming out in that silver and black the fans have your back there like no other stadium in America. It’s the energy they make you feel and you have to love them for that.”Listening to Kirk Morrison you would think he’s ready for the season opener, “We are seriously looking forward to the new year, Thomas has a year under his belt, I have two years now under my belt and I just know that we will continue to hold each other accountable. If I don’t make the tackle he will, if he doesn’t make the tackle I will, and half of the time we will end up making the tackle together, that is just how it should be.”
Kirk and Thomas are tight off the field and even tighter on the field. Look forward to pro bowl type play again from both of them and don’t be surprised if you see them in Hawaii in February. Opposing backs and receivers should beware, if they come towards the firm of Morrison and Howard, they will be taxed heavily.
[email protected]
http://tvsportsdaily.com/index.php
Thursday, August 02 2007 @ 07:13 EDT
Contributed by: Dennis Wyatt
Dennis Wyatt
TVSPORTSDAILY.COM
Napa Valley, California
The Oakland Raiders had the third best rated defense in the NFL last year. They probably would have fared better had the offense been able to stay on the field a bit longer. Even though the offense was amongst the leaders of three and outs, the defense kept most games close at hand. An unfortunate effect of having a big number in the losing column is some players who deserve to go to the pro bowl are left out when they shouldn’t be. Warren Sapp led the league in sacks from the tackle position and wasn’t invited. Nnamdi Asomugha tied for second in the league in interceptions, yet did not make it.
Another Raider who should have made it but didn’t is one of the best linebackers in all of football, Kirk Morrison. When talking to Morrison about his greatness, the first thing he mentions of all things is his camp roommate and fellow linebacker Thomas Howard. The Raiders are very fortunate to have two young linebackers in only their second and third years who are pro bowl worthy. Most teams would love to have one player of the caliber of Morrison and Howard. The importance of both to the Raiders is unquestionable. Morrison was first on the team in tackles last year from the middle linebacker spot and Howard was right behind him in second from the right outside linebacker position. The firm of Morrison and Howard takes care of business in and out of the backfield.
Their quickness from the linebacker spot is unrivaled, they helped the Raiders lead the league in pass defense. When looking at the two together you could possibly mistake them for basketball players, they are greyhound lean. The way they play off of their defensive linemen and each other seems to be way beyond their years, youth and speed allows them to recover if they ever are out of position.
I don’t know if it is youthful exuberance or the fact they are just two exceptional individuals, when questioned about the lack of offense last year the best I could get out of the two was the defense needs to play even better to get the offense more opportunities. When speaking about the current offense Howard reflected upon it this way, “The new offensive coaches have a certain energy to them, up-beat energy, and the offensive players are feeding off of it. If they are not giving it their all, the coaches take steps to make sure they do and it is spreading like a virus throughout the whole team.”
The Raiders lost a lot of close games last year. With the addition of a veteran quarterback like Daunte Culpepper, Howard tends to think that the Raiders won’t lose those close games this year. “You play this game to win. It hurts when you lose, especially when you play with all of the emotion and compassion that our defense plays with and as a team. Playing at home is all about that feeling you get in the black hole, coming out in that silver and black the fans have your back there like no other stadium in America. It’s the energy they make you feel and you have to love them for that.”Listening to Kirk Morrison you would think he’s ready for the season opener, “We are seriously looking forward to the new year, Thomas has a year under his belt, I have two years now under my belt and I just know that we will continue to hold each other accountable. If I don’t make the tackle he will, if he doesn’t make the tackle I will, and half of the time we will end up making the tackle together, that is just how it should be.”
Kirk and Thomas are tight off the field and even tighter on the field. Look forward to pro bowl type play again from both of them and don’t be surprised if you see them in Hawaii in February. Opposing backs and receivers should beware, if they come towards the firm of Morrison and Howard, they will be taxed heavily.
[email protected]
http://tvsportsdaily.com/index.php