2010年12月1日星期三

yler Brayton "Still Starting, Steadily Declining"

Three weeks remain in the 2006 season -- just enough time for defensive end Tyler Brayton to match his hardest-hitting play of the year.A Week 9 groin shot delivered to Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens cost Brayton $25,000, but has become the trademark of Vikings Brett Favre jersey
his four-year career.For a starter of 46 games, that doesn't say much.The 27-year-old has started in all but one game this season at defensive end for the Raiders, and has registered an unproductive 36 tackles. To date, Brayton is one of only two ends in the NFL who has started more than three games, but is still without a single sack. No. 91 shares the title with Kenechi Udeze of the Minnesota Vikings, who has started in all 13 games this season.However, Udeze is a member of a defensive front that allows an NFL-best 54.1 rush yards per game -- something that he can hold on to.Brayton, though, can't quite say the same.All he can hold on to is the fact that the Raiders not only hold on to him, but consistently start him."It was still on the fence going into the offseason," Brayton said prior to the season. "I just kind of took it upon myself. I got in the weight room...put on a few pounds. I just put it in my mind that's where I was going to be, and it turned out that's where coaches told me to be. Once I found that out, I knew I was going in the right direction."Unfortunately, the only direction Brayton has gone since his rookie year has been backward.A late first-round selection in 2003, the Colorado grad's most productive season came as a rookie, when he registered 61 tackles and 2 ? sacks. In 2004, Brayton saw the bulk of his time at defensive end, but made his first three appearances at outside linebacker. That season, the misplaced 280-pounder recorded 16 fewer tackles, but sustained his lowly 2 ? sack mark. Since then, the 6-foot-6 lineman has posted just 52 tackles and one sack in 29 regular-season outings."Playing outside linebacker has given me a whole new perspective," Brayton recounted in August. "You get to see the whole field. You know what everybody does on the defense. You understand what we're trying to accomplish with every blitz and every movement, in every defense."Despite the experience, Brayton -- individually -- has accomplished very little this season. Backup ends Lance Johnstone and Kevin Huntley have recorded 2 ? sacks from his identical rush spot, despite seeing far less snaps, while Derrick Burgess and Warren Sapp have posted a combined 17. The team has collectively reached 27 sacks this season, despite no contributions from its starting left defensive end.In the offseason, head coach Art Shell recounted the conversation he had with Brayton after he had announced his move back to the 4 Brett Favre White jersey
defensive line. "I said 'Tyler, you're a defensive end.'"He said, 'Thanks a lot, coach. I really appreciate it. I'll show you what I can do from that position.'"Either Shell is still waiting, or somebody has forgotten how to revise a depth chart. (20)

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