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Charles Woodson |
NAPA, Calif. — WR James Jett charged hard off the line of
scrimmage, pushed off the defender and bolted for the sideline. CB Charles Woodson was
there waiting.
Jett turned upfield, sprinted for the endzone and signaled for the
ball. QB Jeff George obliged and threw in Jett’s direction. Woodson was there to make
the interception.
"Nice play, ‘Wood,’ " said Jett, who tied for
second in the league in touchdown receptions last season and is one of the fastest
receivers in the game. "Damn nice play, man."
Woodson has yet to play an NFL regular-season game, but his brilliant
talent already has receivers shaking their heads and people from within the Oakland
organization labeling him as the next great Raider.
"We’ve had some great cornerbacks here," said Hall of
Famer Willie Brown, who played the position for the Oakland Raiders from 1967 to ’78.
"That’s why we got (Woodson), because we think he’s going to turn out to be
the next great corner. I believe he is the guy.
"If there’s anyone in this organization with the ability,
Charles will be the next great cornerback, not to mention the next great player,
here."
Woodson was selected No. 4 overall in April’s NFL draft. Before
the Raiders pulled the trigger, they reportedly turned down several offers for the rights
to their pick. Acquiring additional draft picks is easy. Finding a player of
Woodson’s caliber is difficult — kind of like trying to complete a pass against
him.
Thus, the Raiders were perfectly content to use their selection on the
Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan.
"We knew we’d get a great player if we stayed in the fourth
spot," Oakland head coach Jon Gruden said. "Charles Woodson is one of the truly
great play makers coming out of college I’ve ever seen. He’s one of those guys
who could drive the bus. He can do a number of things."
Initially, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound Woodson will be counted on only to
carry on the proud Raider CB tradition started by Brown and continued by Lester Hayes
(1977-86), Hall of Famer Mike Haynes (’83-89) and Terry McDaniel (’88-97).
Ultimately, Gruden foresees Woodson doing much more — returning
kicks, catching passes and running the ball on offense.
"There’s possibilities galore with a guy with this
talent," Gruden said. "We want him to play flanker, split end, fullback, get him
the ball any way we can.
"But that’s down the road. We drafted him to cover
people."
That road may not be too long, however. When asked how long it might be
before Woodson is incorporated into the offense, Gruden said, "Maybe the second
preseason game."
It didn’t even take that long for veteran CB Eric Allen to
proclaim Woodson as the best cornerback to enter the NFL since Deion Sanders’ arrival
nine years ago.
"Oh, yeah, he has that potential," said Allen, a six-time Pro
Bowl selection with 39 interceptions in his 10 seasons. "Charles has the potential to
change the way people look at the position. That’s how you judge a great corner.
"There’s always some guy who comes in and changes the
(complexion) of the position. Charles is that guy. He has the size, speed, attitude and
confidence that resembles a Willie Brown type of corner."
Woodson and confidence are inextricably linked. Hardly an instance
passes without the words being used in the same sentence. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
thinks that’s the key ingredient the Raiders have lacked in recent years
"Charles Woodson is as close as anyone to Deion, without that
tremendous recovery speed," Kiper said. "Oakland taking him creates a perfect
match. He has that Raider mentality. You have the swagger that Al Davis wants to put back
in the Raiders, and Woodson can provide that. He can step right in and play."
Oakland defensive coordinator Willie Shaw said comparisons to Sanders
or Chief standout Dale Carter, to whom veteran Raider DB Albert Lewis compares Woodson,
are fair, but Shaw cautions: "You look at the six corners drafted in the first round
last year. All of them struggled. He’s got a lot of work to do to learn the pro
game."
But even Shaw gets lost in the possibilities, saying a short time
later: "He’ll be one of two or three defensive players playing on Sundays who
can turn a defensive play into an offensive play."
Woodson admits he has a lot to learn, but he expects nothing less than
excellence. He might say, "The position is up for grabs," but his actions are
less diplomatic —they point to Woodson winning a starting spot over James Trapp in a
landslide.
The thought of watching from the sideline is about as repulsive to
Woodson as wearing an Ohio State sweatshirt. When Sept. 6 rolls around, Woodson envisions
himself covering Chief WR Andre Rison.
"I’ve never sat on the bench, and I don’t plan on (that)
changing now," Woodson said. "Whenever I’ve been involved in anything,
I’ve always been the best at it. I’ve carried that throughout my life. It
hasn’t stopped, and it won’t stop. That’s what I hope to bring to the
Raiders."
It’s difficult to overestimate Woodson’s worth when he was at
Michigan. On his way to becoming the first primarily defensive player ever to win the
Heisman, Woodson was a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection. He recorded 176
tackles (125 unassisted) and intercepted 18 passes in three seasons. In addition, he
caught 25 passes for 402 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 173 yards and
two touchdowns. As a kick returner, Woodson returned 47 punts for 407 yards and one
touchdown and four kickoffs for 82 yards.
It might take all those abilities to help right the Raiders after last
year’s 4-12 showing, the worst in 35 years. But whatever it takes, Woodson is
prepared.
"I just love the competitiveness of the sport," Woodson said.
"You know what feeling you get when you win. You know what feeling you get when you
lose. You learn that early on. You either get used to the feeling of losing, or you do
something to win."
Regardless of the matchup, his teammates believe Woodson will be able
to find a way to come out on top.
"Only once every nine or 10 years does a guy like that come
out," Allen said. "He’s going to be a great one, no doubt." |
