While much attention of the Oakland Raiders safety position
is centered on the battle between Anthony Dorsett and Derrick Gibson,
second-year man Keyon Nash continues to make an impression.
Granted, the Dorsett-Gibson battle has a lot of intrigue because the
latter was a first round draft choice in 2001 but his performance has not
warranted such to this point, largely attributable to injuries. Nash will have
to keep making a strong impression and faces a tough battle to make the team.
Nash, however, has enjoyed enough flashes of brilliance in training camp that
suggests earning a roster spot, with someone, is not a total pipe dream.
The Raiders drafted Nash in the
sixth round of last year’s draft. Nash did not make the final cut but Oakland
thought enough of his ability to bring him back to the practice squad. Oakland
signed Nash to the active roster on January 15 but he did not play in the AFC
Championship game or the Super Bowl.
“I had all of last year on the practice squad to learn from (free safety)
Rod Woodson,” Nash said. “I want to be in a position where if my number is
called, I want to make plays.”
Nash hopes to make a stronger case for a roster spot when the Raiders
open their exhibition season Friday night at home against the St. Louis
Rams.
“I’m really pleased with how Nash has come along,” Oakland head coach
Bill Callahan said. “Gibson is starting to make strides. He’s getting a little
healthier. We’ve got good depth.”
Last season, Nash faced the uphill climb that rookies normally encounter
with adjusting from college to the NFL. In addition, the competition Nash faced
while playing at Albany State (Ga.) is light years from what he currently
meets.
“This camp has been a lot easier,” Nash said. “I learned my plays with
the veterans and I’m more instinctive.”
The veteran Nash continues to mention is Woodson, who is a 17-year
veteran that will assuredly be in Canton, Ohio someday. The 6-foot-3 Nash has
the ability to be a hard hitter but Woodson helps him with the intricacies of
the game.
“That’s a big factor,” Nash said. “He’s always saying, ‘What you can do
is this or that.’ I was kind of scared and he’s a 17-year vet. I can remember in
minicamp, he told me to jump the slant. Being a young guy, I didn’t want to get
beat deep but I jumped the slant and I was right there.”
Vince D’Adamo can be reached via e-mail at
vdad7@yahoo.com