Nnamdi Asomugha Not Getting Tested; Michael Huff May Lose Starting Job

Things are bleak for the Oakland Raiders right now. The owner is crazy, the new head coach thinks the second-year quarterback may be in over his head, former players think they suck ... it's mayhem out there. Of course, there are some positives in the bay area, starting with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who may be the closest thing the NFL currently has to a "shutdown corner."

Looking at the numbers, there's nothing that really jumps out and makes you say, "wow, that guy is awesome." He currently has 11 tackles, three passes defended and zero interceptions. You might be asking what the big deal is. Well, it's tough to bat down passes and register interceptions when nobody throws to your side of the field. From Raiders beat writer Jerry McDonald:

Asomugha recounted one pass thrown at him in each game, with the exception of the Chiefs game, when there was two. Every week he talks himself into believing it will be the game where teams will come after him, and every week he's wrong. He writes all of it down in a spiral bound notebook he showed to reporters Wednesday. "Don't get lazy because they're not throwing at you," Asomugha wrote in his book, followed by reminders of what can happen if he happens to let his guard down for even a single play.

McDonald also writes that Asomugha only saw 35 passes come his way during the 2007 season. My amateur math skills tell me 35 passes, divided by 16 games, is 2.1 passes per game. That seems like a ridiculously low number. If he keeps seeing one pass per game, he's not even going to sniff that number in 2008. That's the sign of a great cornerback, when you're so good teams don't even bother looking your way. Also from McDonald:

Jets coach Eric Mangini said the low total of passes headed Asomugha's way is a sign of respect, and that the reasons for leaving him alone are twofold _ one, because Asomugha is that good; and two, when quarterbacks do look his way, the receiver is usually covered and they go somewher else.

Mangini is absolutely correct with both observations, but he left out one that may be just as important. For as intimidating as Asomugha's coverage skills may be, the target lining up across the field from him, DeAngelo Hall, may be equally inviting. Yeah, that's right, I'm still not a fan.

Meanwhile in the Raiders secondary, things aren't going quite as well for third-year safety Michael Huff. Head Coach Tom Cable made it known that Huff can expect some competition from Hiram Eugene, and McDonald throws in the ultimate zinger when he writes, "Huff was as invisible in the locker room Wednesday as he has been on the field of late."

Ouch.