ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable seems to have struck gold with his decision to replace quarterback JaMarcus Russell with Bruce Gradkowski. Cable’s experiment with the defense also seems to be working out fine.
Trevor Scott’s move from defensive end to linebacker has gone so well, in fact, it’s surprising someone didn’t suggest the change much sooner.
In the two games since switching positions, Scott has three sacks, four quarterback hurries and five tackles for loss while giving Oakland’s run defense a much-needed lift as well.
“Originally when they first said it, I was kind of shocked just because I’ve never really played it before,” Scott said. “But I just took it in stride and ran with it. It was one of those things where you’re thrown into the fire, and sometimes that’s the best way to learn.”
The Raiders already knew they stumbled onto something promising when they drafted Scott with their sixth-round pick in 2008.
ing downs opposite Derrick Burgess, Scott tied for the team lead in sacks as a rookie and parlayed that into what seemed to be a sure lock on a starting job this season. Then Oakland traded its 2011 first-round draft pick to New England in exchange for defensive lineman Richard Seymour and Scott’s hold on the starting job was gone just that quickly.
He still played regularly as a part of the Raiders’ defensive line rotation and even spent a handful of plays each game standing up like a linebacker while moving up and down the line of scrimmage.
In the days leading up to Oakland’s Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys, though, word made its way into the Raiders’ locker room that Scott would be shifting to weakside linebacker while the previous starter at the position, Thomas Howard, would slide over to the strongside spot.
Now there may be no going back.
Scott’s three sacks in two games gives him five on the season, matching his total from a year ago and tying veteran defensive end Greg Ellis for the team lead.
Howard, meanwhile, seems to have settled in at his new position, settling an area that has been an issue for Oakland for the past decade.
“It gives us a chance to have what we want in terms of coverage and have what we want versus the run,” Cable said.
Scott is still adjusting to the move after spending his entire high school and college careers at defensive end.
“When you have your hand on the ground, your vision is limited pretty much to the guy in front of you,” Scott said. “Standing up you see the big picture. You really have to know your keys because there’s a lot of stuff going on that you’ll see. It’s a whole different world playing linebacker.”
For Scott, the biggest adjustment has come in playing every down. At defensive end, he usually spent first and second down on the sidelines then came in on obvious passing downs to rush the quarterback.
Now he’s in on every play, blitzing, dropping into coverage and doing whatever else the weakside position calls for.
“If this is the position they want me in, I have no problem with it,” Scott said. “I like it, I have a lot of fun. The big thing is I’m in there every down. That means the world to me.”
NOTE: Left guard Robert Gallery is seeking a second opinion after injuring his lower back in last week’s win over Pittsburgh. “At this point it does not look good,” Cable said. “We’ll know more tomorrow.”
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