ALAMEDA – Strong safety Michael Huff is trying.
He wants to make a big play badly. And he almost had one against the Chargers.
Huff tried to intercept pass intended for tight end Antonio Gates, narrowly missed, and Gates ended up with a 28-yard reception.
Those are the breaks.
It was good to see Huff try to make that play. He can’t make the big play if he’s playing so cautiously that all he does is come in and make the tackle after the catch.
What makes the likes of Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed so fun to watch is they play without fear of making mistakes.
They might look out of position, but who knows because they run around the field with reckless abandon and end up in the right spot.
Huff seems to be on the leash of covering tight ends. The Raiders like his improvement in that area and Lane Kiffin noted Huff’s improved run defense today, too.
But I’m still waiting to see the “different” things the Raiders planned to do with Huff this season.
With his speed, he could be great blitzing. He was also supposed to play free safety sometimes to use his athleticism to cover the field.
There needs to more of that done with Huff.
It’s not only up to Huff to get his first career interception, forced fumble or anything to stop the Raiders drafted the wrong guy last year talk.
The coaches need to put Huff in position to do more.
--Jason Jones
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