<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Gibril Wilson, while standing amongst a group of reporters on a sun-drenched Friday in the Napa Valley, speaks softly and doesn't look particularly imposing. The roster says Wilson is 6-foot and 210 pounds. Up close and personal, it seems like a stretch. ``<u>Don't let the size fool you</u>,'' he said with a slight grin. When Wilson is creeping into the box as a strong safety, looking for something or someone to hit, you'd swear he was 6-3, 230. Whatever bad intentions Wilson has while playing defense, he hides it well in casual conversation. It is as if in the process of shedding the uniform, Wilson also rid himself of the malevolence he carried onto the field. ``I think when you put the pads on, depending on how you do it up, you look bigger,'' Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha said. ``That's his deal. He's a small guy, just talking with him, but in pads he plays big.'' In a whirlwind of free spending by Al Davis, Wilson's acquisition during free agency from the New York Giants for six years and a potential $39 million almost got lost in the shuffle. The bigger news was the controversial big money doled out to Tommy Kelly and Javon Walker, the trade-and-sign deal with Atlanta to get DeAngelo Hall and the drafting of running back Darren McFadden. Through two days of training camp practices behind the Napa Marriott, the first impression here is that Wilson will be more significant than any of them. One of the first things he did upon joining -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the Raiders was to seek out linebacker Kirk Morrison, the team's leading tackler the last two years. ``I told him I was coming to get him,'' Wilson said. Wilson knows who he is and knows what he likes in a football player. Some peers he admires include Rodney Harrison, Troy Polamalu, Bob Sanders and Adrian Wilson. Growing up in San Jose, he was a fan of Ronnie Lott. He loves the Raider tradition of Jack Tatum. You get the idea. The Tatum legacy, and the safety position in general, has been a veritable wasteland since the Raiders returned to Oakland in 1995 other than getting one last great year out of veteran Rod Woodson in 2002. The list of names has been forgettable except for the occasional missed play or blown tackle that remains etched in the memory . . . Darren Carrington . . . Marquez Pope . . . Anthony Dorsett . . . Ray Buchanan . . . Marques Anderson. The most recent vintage included Stuart Schweigert and Hiram Eugene, crucified by fans as secondary turnstiles last season while running backs ran for a league-worst 4.8 yards per carry and 10 individual 100-yard games. Wilson plans on changing all that, and the early indications are encouraging. When asked if he considers himself an intimidator or someone who simply plays hard and makes plays, Wilson says both. ``I take a lot of pride in watching myself on film,'' Wilson said. ``I like to be physical. I don't like to have guys get extra yards or anything like that. I'm a very physical guy and the other team knows it.'' His own team knows it. His own coach knows it. ``It borderlines right now on the safety of our other players but our defense needs to see that, so it's something I don't want him to back off on right now,'' coach Lane Kiffin said. ``I want to let them feel him so that it grows around the rest of the defense and we become more physical.'' Fullback Justin Griffith describes Wilson as a ``for sure'' tackler. ``Most of your hitters, if they don't get the kill shot, they won't make the tackle,'' Griffith said. ``This guy is a `for sure' tackler, but if the big hit is there, he'll make the big hit.'' Part of the appeal of signing with the Raiders, other than moving back to the Bay Area, was the chance to move back to strong safety, where Wilson played with the Giants before being shifted to free safety. Publicly, the Raiders are trying to sell the notion that their safeties are interchangeable. While that may happen on occasion as a change-up, the roles of Wilson and Michael Huff, an out-of-position strong safety the past two years, are clearly defined. ``Every time I talk to him he wants to be up in the box,'' Asomugha said. ``When there's a chance that he can be back deep and playing coverage, he still wants to be up in the box. He wants to be tackling, he wants to be physical. That's him. That's his identity. ``It's my first time seeing him play. I didn't see him much with the Giants, but I'm starting to realize he wants to hit people.'' The ancillary benefit is that Huff, with one interception in two seasons as a strong safety, won't have to place his slender 200 pounds amongst the behemoths nearly as often. ``Huff's made a few plays _ at least three come to mind,'' Asomugha said. ``Last year or the year before he hadn't made any this early. He wanted to help the team out (at strong safety) but that wasn't where his heart truly was. His heart was to be back there at free.'' Meanwhile, the man who could become the true beating heart of the Raiders defense smiles as he is asked if he has ever delivered the perfect hit. ``It's just like hitting a home run,'' Wilson said. ``You don't even feel it.''</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>In a whirlwind of free spending by Al Davis, Wilson's acquisition during free agency from the New York Giants for six years and a potential $39 million almost got lost in the shuffle. The bigger news was the controversial big money doled out to Tommy Kelly and Javon Walker, the trade-and-sign deal with Atlanta to get DeAngelo Hall and the drafting of running back Darren McFadden. Through two days of training camp practices behind the Napa Marriott, the first impression here is that Wilson will be more significant than any of them.</div> Will we stop the run this year? We just got better at doing it.
I actually want to try and see a bunch of Raiders games this season. Mostly because I like the LBs and DBs you've assembled.... and because I want to see Russell play. I was pretty high on Russell pre-draft, even though many were split on him. Also, ROTR.....just an idea. Maybe start a thread and keep it updated with Russell stuff? Like how he's performing, etc. I know it would be a big hit with me... Just an idea. I know I'd be constantly checking it out... Edit: Or a Jamarcus and Darren thread? I suppose people would be highly interested in Darren too.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 26 2008, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I actually want to try and see a bunch of Raiders games this season. Mostly because I like the LBs and DBs you've assembled.... and because I want to see Russell play. I was pretty high on Russell pre-draft, even though many were split on him. Also, ROTR.....just an idea. Maybe start a thread and keep it updated with Russell stuff? Like how he's performing, etc. I know it would be a big hit with me... Just an idea. I know I'd be constantly checking it out... Edit: Or a Jamarcus and Darren thread? I suppose people would be highly interested in Darren too.</div> Okay!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Return of the Raider @ Jul 26 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 26 2008, 06:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I actually want to try and see a bunch of Raiders games this season. Mostly because I like the LBs and DBs you've assembled.... and because I want to see Russell play. I was pretty high on Russell pre-draft, even though many were split on him. Also, ROTR.....just an idea. Maybe start a thread and keep it updated with Russell stuff? Like how he's performing, etc. I know it would be a big hit with me... Just an idea. I know I'd be constantly checking it out... Edit: Or a Jamarcus and Darren thread? I suppose people would be highly interested in Darren too.</div> Okay! </div> Sweet! Like I said, I am really high on your young QB/RB tandem. I hope both pan out for you.... its gotta be exciting to have such young, great prospects at both positions. Also: how is Gallery looking? I still cannot believe he didn't pan out at LT...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 26 2008, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Also: how is Gallery looking? I still cannot believe he didn't pan out at LT...</div> Gallery is firmly sitting at LG. He gets a little better each season. The guy is a slow learner. The current staff has been really good for his progress though. He had everything going for him coming out of college except wingspan. You really need a good wingspan when trying to block the bookend rushers. When he plays the guard position though, his weaknesses are not as severe. He really does get after people in the running game. In the passing game, he needs to be more disciplined and not false start. I am ok with him staying at LG from here on out.
