Michael Huff's Quest For Redemption

Michael Huff is on a quest this season.  Several quests, actually.  One is a winning season.  Another is cementing his spot as a starter.  But the one that probably bothers him the most, whether he admits it or not, is a personal quest.

Michael Huff is on a quest to prove he is not a bust.

In Huff’s first season, 2006, he did relatively well for a rookie and started all 16 games.  2007 was also not a bad season for Huff, but certainly not the type of performance you’d expect from the 7^th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

In 2008, everything seemed to fall apart for Huff.  Playing free safety, he found himself replaced as a starter by Hiram Eugene mid-way into the season.  Huff was looking more and more like a mistake by the Raiders.  Huff seemed determined not to let that happen.

During the 2009 offseason, Huff trained and prepared to enter training camp ready to reclaim his starting position.  Huff battled Eugene for the spot, and Tom Cable took notice.  The Raiders would try utilizing their talents on defense in a rotation.  Huff found himself playing safety in formations more like he was used to in college.

In Week 1, Huff had one interception, brining his career total to…two.  He also had a fumble recovery, and played very well.  In Week 2, Huff had two interceptions, one of which ended a deep, threatening KC drive.  Huff seems comfortable right now, and so far he has been playing some of the best defense in the NFL.

The season is young, but if Huff continues to shut down receivers and make big-time plays, he could finally prove he was worth the high draft pick.  With Richard Seymour and Greg Ellis on the line, Kirk Morrison and Tommy Howard at linebacker, and Nnamdi at corner, all we need is a leader at the safety position.  Huff may be ready to step up and take the job.