Raider Analysis: A Closer Look at Nnamdi Asomugha

Nnamdi Asomugha name is Nigerian and means "My Father Lives". Nnamdi is the Oakland Raiders 6'2", 210 lb Cornerback. 

Drafted by the Raiders in the 2003 draft he was the 31st player selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.  Many of the analyst on TV questioned the Raiders for taking him so high.  

Since Asomugha had played the safety position in collage that is the position he expected to play for the Raiders.  The Raiders and Al Davis had a little surprise in store for Nnamdi.

The Raiders asked Nnamdi to play cornerback.  When the Raiders had told him of their plans he was not thrilled.  He had played safety in college and that is were he felt most comfortable.

In an article by Sean Jenson of AOL Sports posted 10/7/07 Asoughma stated, "I thought cornerback was the toughest position, next to QB.  I was apprehensive about playing the CB position".

Nnamdi also stated in the above article, "If it was a zone defense then I might have been a little more receptive.  Maybe even if it was cover 2, I might have been a little more comfortable".

Well Nnamdi played his first game at CB in 2004 and earned a starting position at CB in 2005. In 2006 Nnamdi had a break out year and was a Pro Bowl alternate at the position.

2007 was a very lonely year for Asoumgha when even Brett Farve and Payton Manning would not challenge him.  He only had 31 passes thrown at him all year and only allowed 10 completions for the entire year.

When you consider that many college cornerbacks have been converted to safety but only a slight few have come from college a safety and converted to a CB.  And very few have been as successful.

Most shut down CB's are great against the pass but are terrible against the run.  With Nnamdi's size and safety skills he is the complete package and is good against the run

Warren Sapp has stated, "He is a lock down corner in a league where there are not many of those guys still around".

When you consider that the Raiders ask Nnamdi to play corner and do his work in man to man coverage, something that few teams trust their corners to do his transition has been remarkable.

Al Davis has been very successful finding talent through the years and has been known to change a players normal position.

One personnel executive stated "When I first saw him, I saw a tall, lean player and I wondered if he would be able to play the position".

Well wonder no more my friend Nnamdi Asomugha has turned into in my opinion the best cornerback in the NFL.  And once Deangelo Hall puts his name on the dotted line the Raiders will not have one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. 

Per Rod Woodson of NFL Network the Raiders will have the best pair of cornerbacks in the NFL.