Post by TheShadow on Dec 11, 2003 18:59:13 GMT -5
www.sfgate.com
Journeyman gets opportunity to start
By David Bush
It took 10 weeks and more than a few injuries, but the Raiders have found a defensive end and Lorenzo Bromell has found a job.
Not even a member of the Raiders until Nov. 19, he will start his third straight game Sunday when Oakland hosts the Baltimore Ravens.
"I look at it like a place I could play for a while,'' Bromell said. "You always want a foundation and stability. I don't want to be floating around the league.''
The Raiders aren't in any position to make promises beyond these next three games that finish the season, but they certainly are thankful that Bromell was available.
In a sequence of events that actually began last season, the Raiders have been going through defensive ends at an alarming clip. The first to fall was Tony Bryant, whose career ended with a neck injury in November 2002.
They tried to bolster the position in the draft, and were partially successful with first-round choice Tyler Brayton, who has started every game. However, third-round choice Sam Williams, expected to be a complement, was able to play in only one game before going onto the injured reserve list. Trace Armstrong joined him on IR three weeks ago.
More injuries in the interior forced part-time defensive ends such as Rod Coleman, Chris Cooper and rookie Akbar Gbaja-Biamila into full-time duty inside.
Bromell arrived and has moved ahead of second-year player DeLawrence Grant as the starter opposite Brayton. "He's consistent at the point of attack, '' said coach Bill Callahan of the 6-foot-6, 260-pounder from Clemson. "He is consistent getting off blocks and engaging. And he's given us some pass rush.''
Bromell's start Sunday will give him as many in his month with the Raiders as he had in his first five NFL years. A fourth-round choice by Miami, Bromell found himself behind the likes of Armstrong, Kenny Mixon and Jason Taylor.
"I played my years in Miami. And went to Minnesota because of free agency, '' he said. "Then that didn't work out. Now I'm here. I don't want to be a guy to just play here and play there. I just want to play. ... I just try to go out (as) hard as I can every day and let that speak for itself. Hopefully somebody might look at me and say we can see Lorenzo around here for a couple of years.''
He joined the Vikings in 2002 as a free agent in hopes of landing a starting job. But when he missed an offseason orientation camp to get married, he found himself down the depth chart. He did play in all 16 games with one start last year, but after training camp this summer, the Vikings cut him loose.
"I just tried to keep myself in shape, lift weights, ride the bike,'' he said of his 10-week hiatus. "You can't get in football shape until you put the pads on and you have to run.''
Bromell said he heard from about five teams, but received nothing concrete in terms of an offer. But when Armstrong went down, against the Vikings coincidentally, he answered the Raiders' call.
"I hate to be here because his shoulder's gone,'' Bromell said. "He took me under his wing in Miami for three years. He said, 'You've got a little something with your pass rush.' I always have been a listener and I listen to people with experience and try to gain something."
The Raiders pressed Bromell into duty immediately, and by his second game he was starting. Now he will be tested by Baltimore and running back Jamal Lewis.
"They just stick to the run, that's the backbone of their offense,'' said Bromell. "And it is going to be up to our defense to play sound, play disciplined and rally to the ball. And if we do that, it shouldn't be a problem.''
Journeyman gets opportunity to start
By David Bush
It took 10 weeks and more than a few injuries, but the Raiders have found a defensive end and Lorenzo Bromell has found a job.
Not even a member of the Raiders until Nov. 19, he will start his third straight game Sunday when Oakland hosts the Baltimore Ravens.
"I look at it like a place I could play for a while,'' Bromell said. "You always want a foundation and stability. I don't want to be floating around the league.''
The Raiders aren't in any position to make promises beyond these next three games that finish the season, but they certainly are thankful that Bromell was available.
In a sequence of events that actually began last season, the Raiders have been going through defensive ends at an alarming clip. The first to fall was Tony Bryant, whose career ended with a neck injury in November 2002.
They tried to bolster the position in the draft, and were partially successful with first-round choice Tyler Brayton, who has started every game. However, third-round choice Sam Williams, expected to be a complement, was able to play in only one game before going onto the injured reserve list. Trace Armstrong joined him on IR three weeks ago.
More injuries in the interior forced part-time defensive ends such as Rod Coleman, Chris Cooper and rookie Akbar Gbaja-Biamila into full-time duty inside.
Bromell arrived and has moved ahead of second-year player DeLawrence Grant as the starter opposite Brayton. "He's consistent at the point of attack, '' said coach Bill Callahan of the 6-foot-6, 260-pounder from Clemson. "He is consistent getting off blocks and engaging. And he's given us some pass rush.''
Bromell's start Sunday will give him as many in his month with the Raiders as he had in his first five NFL years. A fourth-round choice by Miami, Bromell found himself behind the likes of Armstrong, Kenny Mixon and Jason Taylor.
"I played my years in Miami. And went to Minnesota because of free agency, '' he said. "Then that didn't work out. Now I'm here. I don't want to be a guy to just play here and play there. I just want to play. ... I just try to go out (as) hard as I can every day and let that speak for itself. Hopefully somebody might look at me and say we can see Lorenzo around here for a couple of years.''
He joined the Vikings in 2002 as a free agent in hopes of landing a starting job. But when he missed an offseason orientation camp to get married, he found himself down the depth chart. He did play in all 16 games with one start last year, but after training camp this summer, the Vikings cut him loose.
"I just tried to keep myself in shape, lift weights, ride the bike,'' he said of his 10-week hiatus. "You can't get in football shape until you put the pads on and you have to run.''
Bromell said he heard from about five teams, but received nothing concrete in terms of an offer. But when Armstrong went down, against the Vikings coincidentally, he answered the Raiders' call.
"I hate to be here because his shoulder's gone,'' Bromell said. "He took me under his wing in Miami for three years. He said, 'You've got a little something with your pass rush.' I always have been a listener and I listen to people with experience and try to gain something."
The Raiders pressed Bromell into duty immediately, and by his second game he was starting. Now he will be tested by Baltimore and running back Jamal Lewis.
"They just stick to the run, that's the backbone of their offense,'' said Bromell. "And it is going to be up to our defense to play sound, play disciplined and rally to the ball. And if we do that, it shouldn't be a problem.''