Silver and Black Report

By Victor Cotto, S&B Report Staff Columnist

As a collegiate in Texas, Michael Huff was an All-America because of his versatility, nose for the football and playmaking ability as a free-safety.

Whether around the line of scrimmage in run support or dropping back in coverage, Huff was able to use his tremendous athleticism to impact the teams he played for.

But since arriving in Oakland as the seventh overall draft pick in 2006, the Raiders have restrained him, limiting his potential and not maximizing his skill set by playing him at strong safety.

During that time, the Silver & Black inexcusably started at free-safety Stuart Schweigert, a third round choice in 2004 that did not posses the talent or upside that Huff has. Instead of bringing along their multi-talented first rounder at a position where he can flourish, they wasted time playing him at a position that bound his potential.

As time passed, Huff was being projected as the next bust on the Raiders roster because of the absence of big plays he demonstrated as a Longhorn. And the glaring need for a new free-safety became clearer as Schweigert endured problems occupying a position that belonged to Huff.

This season, the Raiders are ready to put Huff where he belongs in a revamped secondary that has the makings of one of the better groups in the NFL.

Michael Huff speaking to the media on Thursday

“Free safety will be natural,” said Huff this past week during Oakland’s practice session.

With Gibril Wilson now on board, a natural strong safety that is accustomed to playing around the line of scrimmage, Huff believes that moving away from the box will increase his effectiveness.

“(There’s) an awful lot of difference,” Huff stated. “I got 300-pound men kind of throwing me around, picking me up and flinging me. Back deep; hopefully, all I have to do is tackle the backs when they try to break free. It’s a lot different as far as wear and tear.”

One of the critiques of the former free-safety that is no longer employed by the Raiders was his poor angles in pursuit and tackling. Huff realizes that and has targeted a key aspect of his new role and an integral part of what he needs to improve upon to upgrade the free-safety spot.

“The main thing is working on my open field tackling, which you can’t do (during practices) but I think that will be the toughest part of the position,” Huff commented.

As for his new cohort, Huff said, “[Gibril’s] an animal out there. We always knew he could tackle, that he was big, but I didn’t know he could cover as well as he can.”

The Raiders now have the right mix of talent in the secondary.

Both safeties should compliment each other and place them in the roles that fit them best.

Huff now will have his chance to show what he did best in Texas – not just covering tight ends…

But hopefully making positive plays where he belongs – at free safety.