DHB unfazed by inconsistent start
By Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer
Monday, August 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm in Oakland Raiders.
It was well after 7 p.m. by the time Darrius Heyward-Bey made his way out of the field house and headed toward the Napa Marriott and his dinner.
Most, if not all of his teammates were already eating, relaxing, playing ping pong and taking break before the evening meetings. Feeling sorry for himself, perhaps? Heyward-Bey had endured another practice where the ball ended up on the ground on as many as four occasions where it probably should have been in his hands.
“He is just pressing,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said. “He wants to impress you. That’s what it is.”
But there were also at least two catches in the deep middle where he got to show off the “Raider speed’ which made him the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. It’s worth noting that the reason Heyward-Bey was late is that the training staff was making sure he maintained that speed.
Far more important than the early drops is the fact that Heyward-Bey’s legs appear fine. He’s taking a lot of reps with the first team and exploding off the ball. A hamstring pull derailed his progress during the mandatory minicamp and OTAs.
“I feel I have that burst I always had and I’m just staying on top of it,” Heyward-Bey said. “That’s why I’m the last person walking out of here, they’re still making sure they’re working on it, stretching it out so it’s not a problem throughout the season.”
As for the dropped passes, Heyward-Bey shrugged them off, as did his teammates.
“He’s very anxious to succeed. I don’t know anyone who’s not going to be anxious to succeed, but I told him make it easy for yourself,” quarterback JaMarcus Russell said. “Sometimes you jump for passes you don’t have to. The ball’s going to be in places where you expect it to be so just run through your routes and do what got you here.”
Heyward-Bey resists the notion that he’s trying to do too much or affected by the pressure.
“I wouldn’t say I’m pressing,” Heyward-Bey said. “I’m just trying to work through the kinks. That’s football, it happens.”
After Saturday’s second session, Al Davis came over to offer a pep talk.
“He just told me, `We know how you play. We know you play in practice. Just keep doing what you do,’ ” Heyward-Bey said. “I know what I’ve been doing for the last three years in college, and when I was in high school. I know how to prepare for games and I know what to expect out of myself when it comes to the preseason games and regular season games.”
Philosophically, the Raiders figure they can work on his hands. What they can’t teach is the speed.
“Anytime he comes off the ball if you’re pressing him — first of all, he’s not a guy you want to press all the time because of his speed — but when you’re pressing him, anytime he comes off the ball, he comes off confident, like, “I know that I can run by you.” You can tell that from him so that can put fear in a corner,” cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. “I think that’s going to help him in the long run…in the short run, actually. It’s going to help him soon.”
Said Heyward-Bey: “I’m confident. I mean, like I said before, it’s football. You’re going to catch some, you’re going to drop some. I’m still going to come off 110 miles per hour. I’m still going to run past you, I don’t care who you are.”
More practice news, notes and quotes to come . . .
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August 3rd, 2009 at 8:19 pm
uno!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Dos mofo’s
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Brien – Not that Warren is great at eating up space…in my mind…hes just been better than Sands.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Been better at passs rushing thats it. He doesnt play the NT position naturally. He is a UT plain and simple. We need Sands on the field. Sands in shape is a much better option at NT than Warren. Just wait and see.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
It is hypocritical to hype up the new Javon and yet dog the new Sands
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 pm
All time most frustrating raiders:
1. Ricky Dudley
2. Langston Walker
3. Michael Huff
If DHB cant catch he’ll be on this list soon.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Courtney Anderson was awful too.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I’m not dogging the new Sands. I’m dogging the old Sands. If hes ready to show up this year, I’d be happy to see him do it.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
And if you want to go there…we shouldn’t be dogging anybody, including Huff, Fargas and JR if you want to be politically correct.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Said Heyward-Bey: “I’m confident. I mean, like I said before, it’s football. You’re going to catch some, you’re going to drop some. I’m still going to come off 110 miles per hour. I’m still going to run past you, I don’t care who you are.”
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Whoa! DHB talkin like that? You gotta back that up bruh. Otherwise you gonna be like that receiver Shane Falco was throwing to in “The Replacements.”
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Why isn’t the 1st post about the hitting that went on?come on Jerry!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:35 pm
The ball’s going to be in places where you expect it to be so just run through your routes and do what got you here.”
JaMarcus.
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Whoa! Part 2.
JaMarcus sounds like he’s the man out there. Somewhere, Al Davis is flashing the pearly (off)whites.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:37 pm
At least DHB is hard at work wanting to get better I like that,staying late.Commitment To Excellence!He’s going to be just fine.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
From an article on PFT…
Despite a rumor that emerged briefly on Monday that a deal had been done, there has been no progress between the 49ers and receiver Michael Crabtree, the tenth overall pick in the 2009 draft.
The impasse likely has influenced negotiations between players picked in the same vicinity as Crabtree; from selections six through twelve, only one player — Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey — has been signed.
……………………….
LOL. Anyone knocking DHB should consider this. HE IS IN PRACTICE AND WORKING. That is what practice is for, to get better.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
All time most frustrating raiders:
1. Ricky Dudley
2. Langston Walker
3. Michael Huff
What about Derrick Gibson, that corner brown from the cowboys, and Kwame Harris?
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Post 6. How can huff be “all time frustrating raider” he don’t make that list no way
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:44 pm
“He’s very anxious to succeed. I don’t know anyone who’s not going to be anxious to succeed, but I told him make it easy for yourself,” quarterback JaMarcus Russell said. “Sometimes you jump for passes you don’t have to. The ball’s going to be in places where you expect it to be so just run through your routes and do what got you here.”
=======================================================
Russell sounds like a QB who is intent on succeeding this year. Yet another example of real leadership
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Gibson, .Dorsett, Lionel Washington Darrell Russell,James Jett here are some more names
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
As many here had predicted, the Patriots have signed Andrew Walter. The Boston Globe confirmed the signing. According to one blog, Randy Moss pushed for the signing. At least it was not Denver.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The same moss that was yelling about Walter in Denver while running half ass routes?
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
24 forget political correctness. we aren’t saying a new day has come for Farglass and Huff when we got better younger talent that need to learn. Warren and Sands case is much different. Sands sadly got fat after getting breaded out and lost his spot to Warren. The run defense was still sorry and you had a guy start at NT that wasnt an NT
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:49 pm
And 24 i wasnt calling you a hypocrite. That was directed at AZ
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I would put an asterick next to any player that played under Rob Ryan including Huff. Sometimes coaching can ruin good players.
Consider Rob Ryan more frustrating than the actual players who played for him.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Raider guy Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
The same moss that was yelling about Walter in Denver while running half ass routes?
The ending of Super Bowl 42 was fitting for Moss………….a loss. Punks like that dont deserve to win. Him and Walter can go ahead again and not win a title. That 2007 Patriot year was for naught. They were no better than the Raiders come season’s end.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Ryan was a knucklehead for sure but Huff was soft out there man. Sands was just fat and slothful.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Rob Ryan’s Defense was soft. Huff was just the 11th soft man at the end of the tunnel after players would get through our jello line and our huggable linebackers.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:54 pm
You know what is funny? David White has a better blog than Jerry but the people who posts are inferior compared to us. It is mind boggling
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Our offense learned their 1,2,3’s. 1,2,3 and OUT!!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
I hear ya. It helps the Raiders all the better if he plays like a first rounder instead of a fringe player like Javon Walker! I’m mad at the Huffster. I want more plays made. I want more tackles that aren’t way up the field. I need picks and fumble recoveries. NOW! Not in the future but now. Sadly the Raiders are probably gonna go with Mitchell and Branch before year’s end.
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Brien is right about his assessment of Gerard Warren / Terdell Sands. Warren is a 3-tech guy. Hopefully Coach Marshall and Board are teaching him the finer points of run stopping on the D-Line.
Its not just about getting to the QB…its about occupying O-Lineman and clogging running lanes…
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Go Raidahssssss!!!!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
The offense I bet is league’s ahead of the offense during the 2008 summer. I’m glad to hear to Chaz is looking like a player. That cant do anything but make life hell for DCs.
Hurts my feeling to see Farglass as the speculated starter. This doesn’t help the team by having the best players onthe field. I appreciate BHP and Oakglenn’s insight but I disagree with them on the value of Farglasss. He only pass blocks well. Is he a FB or RB? The best talent needs to be on the field period. I hear all this Art Shell bashing from 2006. It is true he screwed the Jerry Porter thing up because Alvis Dim-Whitted was terrible for the offense. Farglass starting hurts us. The best guys need to be on the field.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
SNB Defense Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:58 pm
Brien is right about his assessment of Gerard Warren / Terdell Sands. Warren is a 3-tech guy. Hopefully Coach Marshall and Board are teaching him the finer points of run stopping on the D-Line.
Its not just about getting to the QB…its about occupying O-Lineman and clogging running lanes…
*********************
Yes. I felt the Raiders needed to draft a NT but they didn’t so we have who we have but dammit Sands in shape must start and pray he is his 2006 self if we want to win
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Some clown on a blog says Rob Ryan cant coach and uses it as an excuse for all the Raider Ds issues yet an NFL head coach thought enough of him to hire the guy as his DC. Hmmm…..Wonder who has more credibility??
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
I guess the best way to look at it is…Huff’s poor play could be the reason we have our next Tatum/Atkinson duo. Maybe thats the biggest play Huff ever made?
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
McFadden will be on the field more than Bush or Fargas. The question is which back will be on the field when McFadden goes into the slot.
The battle is Fargas vs. Bush, and if Bush can’t beat out Fargas, then so be it. Fargas is not the problem.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Yeah…having Fargas starting is a slap in the face to the talent on our roster and to the fans who know better.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Chronicle live is showing video of training camp. David White is doing the reporting. I have to say Jamarcus looks to be in great shape. Nothing like that club photo we saw a couple months ago!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Who knows more who the better player is, Tom Cable or Brien the douche bag? Hmmm……
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:06 pm
DHB=T – Yeah…a fired and failed Head Coach with the Jets hired Rob Ryan with the Browns and we know the Browns are a winning organization right?
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm
Post 37….. LOL!!!!!!!!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Mistabrown – Thanks for the heads up.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Hes a coach in the NFL. I think he MIIIIIIIGHT know a bit more than ummmm….. LOL….YOU!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Schillins, Walker, Bey, Miller and DMac all out in the pattern – That’s got to be scary for any defensive team. As long as we have a decent effort by the O-line and Neal & perhaps OO back in the line-up, we definitely could be an serious offensive threat. I hope this is more than just hopeful wishing.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
New Post!
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Fargas on the field now is one less chance for DMacs toes to get jammed during tough practices. When the season begins, DMac will be in there 20-25 carries a game.
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Besides, you wrote #37 maybe the stupidest post EVER written on any blog, EVER
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Is there hope in Oakland?
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
“Anytime he comes off the ball if you’re pressing him — first of all, he’s not a guy you want to press all the time because of his speed — but when you’re pressing him, anytime he comes off the ball, he comes off confident, like, “I k now that I can run by you.” You can tell that from him so that can put fear in a corner. I think that’s going to help him in the long run…in the short run, actually. It’s going to help him soon.”
Who said that, Jerry?
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:12 pm
i remember a kid from u.v.a who was drafted by the lions with high hopes at w.r but when he got into camp he could not catch a cold.after a couple of weeks someone on the coaching staff figured why.who was the player? what was his problem and how does it relate to the raiders
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:18 pm
MR nice try. Cable isnt the smartest guy but he is agutsy I give him that. Starting Farglass means we just love the buddy program and the issues continue in Oakland. MR stop with the DHB=TW gimmick. We know its you
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm
[...] Read more. [...]
August 3rd, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Over the last few months, I’ve noticed many comments finally stating the obvious … that Rob Ryan was a total bust as a DC. Evidence = yes. (6) six years of losing and many (numerous) games blown in the fourth quarter when we had the lead. Ya, Ryan was a total waste in all areas, and
the statistical record proves it!
I’m not defending Kiffin, he had his good and bad points for a new head coach in a difficult situation for a very
demanding and meddling owner .. not an easy task for anyone, let along a youngster to the NFL ranks.
Yet, when Kiffin tried to fire the slob and ended up on Davis’s hit list, where were the defenders. Many of us were critical of Davis, and we were attacked as not being true Raider fans. Attacking Davis is a good thing when he’s wrong, and he’s been wrong about many things. Giving him credit for good things done is a good thing as well.
Putting the subject to rest…Rob Ryan will always rank as one of the worst hires in Raider history.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:18 pm
53. Common misconception and you ARE defending Kiffin.
Ryan’s greatest fault wa not forcing his players to be disciplined and in doing so didn’t get his younger players fundmentals down.
Remember, any DC in Oakland has to run an Al Davis “built backward” defense, that is a pass rush coverage D.
That type of defense is built on speed and power.
It requires an offense that can sustain drives to keep them fresh and put up points so the other team has to abandon the run at some point and fall into the Raiders strength.
If you hadn’t noticed, our offenses have been horrible since the slide started.
Oaklands DTs are good at what they do, they need the O to make them look good and keep them fresh in the 4th.
August 3rd, 2009 at 11:21 pm
24 Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Yeah…having Fargas starting is a slap in the face to the talent on our roster and to the fans who know better.
===================================
Fargas would be best used to give breaks when DMC and Bush are tired.
He’s a pretty integral part of the O because he is a much better pass blocker than his fellow RB’s, but a detriment because of his inability to catch consistently on those same passing downs.
August 4th, 2009 at 5:17 am
What have I been saying all along. DHB cannot catch, he does not have good hands. You can coach up all you want, but football players have a natural ability. That is why you get guys that play in the NFL that are not always the fastest or biggest guys. DHB has had trouble his entire football life catching the football, and his practices are only making my point for me. I am happy to see the other wideouts having good camps. We are going to need them. You need to have production out of the no. 7 pick of the draft. DHB will be a total bust!!!
Go Raiders!!!
August 4th, 2009 at 8:33 am
chuck… you are a bust… not dhb.
August 4th, 2009 at 9:01 am
72Raider, are you referring to Herman Moore?
August 4th, 2009 at 11:44 am
chuck Says:
August 4th, 2009 at 5:17 am
What have I been saying all along. DHB cannot catch, he does not have good hands. You can coach up all you want, but football players have a natural ability. That is why you get guys that play in the NFL that are not always the fastest or biggest guys. DHB has had trouble his entire football life catching the football, and his practices are only making my point for me. I am happy to see the other wideouts having good camps. We are going to need them. You need to have production out of the no. 7 pick of the draft. DHB will be a total bust!!!
Go Raiders!!!
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Chuck have you been following DHB from high school through college?
How do you know?
August 4th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Amazes me how many Raider fans selectively ignore a players history, especially when that history says he’s ALWAYS had trouble dropping the ball.
Wide open, no one around, no footsteps…DROPPED THE BALL.
It’s not a training camp issue..or a “just trying to hard” issue.
Stone hands are stone hands.
Can he battle through it? Possibly.
Should a #7 pick have to “battle through a life long problem”?
That answers pretty obvious, isn’t it?
Even to Raider fans?
August 4th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
CJ Legend: Not sure if Chuck has followed them, but when you look at the scouting report on Bey, obviously someone did.
And that person noticed drop after drop after drop.
August 4th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
I have followed DHB…..I live in Maryland and worked in the city where he lived Silver Spring MD. All of this area is 5-10 minutes outside DC. He went to HS he played WR and LB. He didnt do much dropping in HS as when the ball was in his hands he was going to score or make a very big play. He was recruited by Alabama, Boston College, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, and Virginia before Coach Friegden pulled him into UMD. He has has suspect QB play. But was in a pro style offense which will help with route running and proper line up. He was first team freshman all american, caught 45 passes as a freshman. He finished his career at Maryland second in school history in career receiving yards with 2,089, third in receptions with 138 and tied for third in touchdown catches with 13. In just three years, he was second only to Jermaine Lewis in receiving yards.
So folks dont get all up in a hissy fit. All this whining and aint no games played. When the lights come on thats when I will start to judge. But until then some of soft azz need to shut up and wait.
August 4th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Must be selective reading.
Go Google or Bing “Darrius Heyward-Bey drops the ball too often”
I don’t have time to read the 400,000+ threads commenting on it.
I’m sure they’re “wrong”..right?
Must just be a vicious rumor?
Yeah, that’s it. A rumor.
So, must mean that his case of dropsies at Raider camp must just be a fluke, right?..you know..considering he doesn’t really have a “history”..and all?
August 4th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Raider guy Says:
August 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
All time most frustrating raiders:
1. Ricky Dudley
2. Langston Walker
3. Michael Huff
What about Derrick Gibson, that corner brown from the cowboys, and Kwame Harris?
******************************************************
The worst of all time was Marc Wilson….OH HOW COULD ANY QB SUCK LIKE HIM….he was gawd awful..and teribly WAD so WAD was he (worth a damn)
August 4th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
i recall jery rice rookie year dropping all sorts of passes,wide open,touchdown passes,all that. what he do continued to work hard to become one of the best.
dhb is working his a$$ off. he wants to be the best. he’s hungry.
he’s got all the tools,not to mention speed like no other plus he got size unlike when we had the rocket and jett. he might have been dissed for his drops but he also made some spectacular plays that no one seems to want ta talk about. seen the kid catch a two-yard hitch and take it to the house… untouched seen him make grabs with tight coverage .
he knows where he’s at, i believe he will put all together and be a star in this league and all you haters will be sporting his jersey saying ‘ i knew he’d be a star….!
August 6th, 2009 at 9:17 pm
This is awesome. We take DHB because of his character and get laughed at. Now, Bey is under contract and in camp practicing and Crabtree is holding out. And, whiner “writers” are blaming Mr. Davis for screwing up the draft sequence. I guess there is no “tree” in team.Sure looks like the Raiders really screwed this up. Ha Ha. Now if Mitchell can de-cleat Mel Kiper, jr. my world will be perfect.
Go RAIDERS!