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09-17-2009, 05:14 PM
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#RIPAce
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: So Cal
Casino cash: $10545899
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Heyward-Bey Played Well On Monday...
According to him, and the coaches that "pay him."
------------------------------------------ http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...SPF019NU6N.DTL Sure, he dropped the first two throws his way and caught nothing Monday night against the Chargers. Yes, his coach said afterward he looked like a "real nervous uptight young man, a lot of big eyes." As far as Heyward-Bey is concerned, he wasn't nervous one bit, and he didn't play half bad. "Did some good things, did some bad things," Heyward-Bey said. "Pretty good grade but could be better. For the first game, it was solid." How so? He's glad you asked. Heyward-Bey is the "X" receiver, so he's got the "backside of things." His elite speed is supposed to pull a safety over in double coverage to make the field easier to see for quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Just by being out there, Heyward-Bey said, it makes a difference for others. That's what he said people outside the building aren't seeing. "I'm just sitting back doing my job," Heyward-Bey said. "That's my job in this offense. That's what I do." Perhaps, but that doesn't keep Raiders coach Tom Cable from wanting even more out of the No. 7 overall draft pick. After all, teams don't pay $23.5 million in guaranteed money for a decoy. The Raiders need him to be a scoring threat who runs precise routes and catches every ball within reach. In short, do what fourth-round rookie Louis Murphy did in his first NFL start. "He's already pulling coverage toward him because of his speed, and that definitely showed up," Cable said. "And, that is a part of his responsibility, and a big part. "But at the same time he's got to grow in all facets, whether it's blocking, catching, running the route, pulling the coverage, whatever that is. You just want to get him as close to a complete player as quickly as we can." How fast can that be? With wide receivers, it often takes time. Three receivers have been named NFL Rookie of the Year the past 20 years. Just ask Chiefs coach Todd Haley, who coached the position from 1996 to 2006. He thinks rookie receivers struggle because NFL coverage is as fast as it is complex. "The receiver position is a tough position to play and adjust to," said Haley, whose Chiefs host the Raiders on Sunday. "Even high picks ... it's rare that young guys can come in and make a huge impact. When they do, I'm really impressed." According to Heyward-Bey, his coaches had no complaints. "When we watch film, that's what I'm doing, my job," Heyward-Bey said. "I don't really care what anybody else thinks. As long as coaches see I'm doing the job they want me to do - they're the ones paying me." Besides, Heyward-Bey said, he's not the only one out there. Murphy caught four passes for 87 yards with one touchdown scored and one score overruled. Tight end Zach Miller caught nine passes for 96 yards. Heyward-Bey will get his, and says it won't be a big deal when he finally does. "I'm not even thinking about the first catch," Heyward-Bey said. "People want to see the stats. Everyone wants to see the big numbers. But reality is, if you come in, put in the work and help the team win ... "If you look at it that way, it's great. If you look at it the other way, you're like 'When is it going to happen?' " Needless to say, Heyward-Bey is going with the first. Briefly: Rookie kick returner Nick Miller, who missed the opener with what was thought to be shin splints, learned he actually has a fractured ankle. He will miss four to six weeks. ... Receiver/punt returner Johnnie Lee Higgins (shoulder) is questionable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BTW, here's his stat line from Sunday: 0 |
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09-17-2009, 05:16 PM
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#RIPAce
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: So Cal
Casino cash: $10545899
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Posts: 17,461
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Heyward-Bey Played Well On Monday...
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