Nnamdi Asomugha is on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, but not in silver and black. The Oakland Raiders have turned the page on the elite cornerback.
Asomugha played eight seasons with Oakland, the last four as a Pro Bowler. His name (NAM-dee AWE-sum-WAH) topped the post-lockout free agency list. The Philadelphia Eagles added him to their "Dream Team."
When the Raiders lost tight end Zach Miller to the Seattle Seahawks via free agency, they signed ex-New York Giant Kevin Boss. Minus Asomugha, the Raiders are counting on their own depth, potentially bolstered by rookie additions.
"I feel very comfortable with that because I truly believe in our organization and what our owner (Al Davis) builds here," new coach Hue Jackson says. "No one is Nnamdi, but we have very good talent, and I expect those guys to raise their level of play."
The Raiders have a cornerback legacy. Their past stars include Willie Brown, Lester Hayes, Mike Haynes, Charles Woodson and now Asomugha.
Raiders key additions/losses
The Oakland Raiders suffered arguably the biggest loss of the free agent frenzy when star CB Nnamdi Asomugha signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps overlooked was the loss of productive TE Zach Miller to the Seattle Seahawks. Former New York Giants Kevin Boss was signed to replace him.
Additions: TE Kevin Boss, OT Stephon Heyer, QB Trent Edwards
Subtractions: CB Nnamdi Asomugha, G Robert Gallery, QB Bruce Gradkowski, TE Zach Miller
Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson are their here-and-now at cornerback. Both have starting experience. Routt says he has no doubt the Raiders can get it done.
"No, not at all, not one bit," says Routt, a seventh-year Raider.
Routt, a 2007 starter, earned back a starting role last season opposite Asomugha. Before the lockout, the Raiders signed Routt to a three-year, $31.5 million contract. He recently restructured the deal to provide salary-cap room.
"Man, anything for the team. We've got to go ahead and take care of it this year. Playoff bound," says Routt, who had two interceptions in 2010, one for a touchdown.
Johnson, an eighth-year pro and a starter in 2009, moves into Asomugha's spot on the right.
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The Raiders went 8-8 last season, missing the playoffs for the eighth year in a row. But they ranked No. 2 overall in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed.
STATS ranks individual cornerbacks by "burn percentage": percent of passes targeted at them that are completed. The 2010 Raiders registered highly.
Asomugha was third in the NFL with a burn percentage of 39.4 (13 completions on 33 passes thrown his way, none for a TD). But Routt, with three times as many targeted passes, tied Asomugha for third with a 39.4 (39 completions, 99 targeted, 635 yards and five TDs).
Johnson was No. 6 at 40.5 (17-42, 288 yards and three TDs). Said Jackson about Johnson, "He knows how to play."
Oakland re-signed free safety Michael Huff, coming off his best year. Strong safety Tyvon Branch, their leading 2010 tackler, returns.
"Obviously, no man can replace (Asomugha). He's probably the best corner in the league," Huff says. "But I think collectively if everybody else gets a little better in their game, that will kind of make up and help make the defense better. So I definitely think we'll bounce back."
The Raiders also have second-year cornerbacks Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware. They drafted two corners this year: DeMarcus Van Dyke from Miami (Fla.) in the third round and Chimdi Chekwa of Ohio State in the fourth.
Van Dyke, known as "DVD," ran the fastest 40-yard dash at this year's combine (4.28 seconds).
The Raiders have a thing about fast guys at the combine. Under Al Davis, they also have a longtime commitment to man-to-man defense on the corners.
Chuck Bresnahan returns for another stint as defensive coordinator. Kevin Ross, former Pro Bowl safety with the Kansas City Chiefs, coaches the safeties. Rod Woodson, who concluded his Hall of Fame career with two seasons with the Raiders, coaches the cornerbacks. He left the NFL Network to make his coaching debut.
How much man-to-man will the Raiders play this season?
"They were playing man 10, 15, 20, 30 years before Nnam got here. We'll be playing man 10 to 15 years after he leaves and after I leave," Huff says.
"This is the Raider way. We don't care who's back in the secondary. We're going to line up and play man and play ball."
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