[trur8r]

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

His name is Nnamdi Asomugha (pronounced Nam-Dee Aso-MU-Wah).

He is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Yes, his name is difficult to pronounce. But it is more difficult to hear on a football field. That's because opponents rarely call his number.

They are too afraid.

Amid the circus atmosphere in Oakland that often keeps attention off the field, Asomugha's play is forcing attention back onto the field. He is having another remarkable year, following up a stellar 2007.

Boring, at times, but remarkable all the same. What is happening is that teams are avoiding Asomugha. They are avoiding him like they avoid drafting a cornerback with a 5.2 40-time. No one challenges Asomugha.

They figure it is just not worth it. Through Oakland's first seven games, Asomugha has been thrown at a dozen times. The ball has never been thrown in his direction more than twice a game.

"Why would teams throw at him?" asked Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, who is now an assistant defensive backs coach with Oakland. "Something bad is likely going to happen if you throw it at Nnamdi. It's an ultimate compliment for a cornerback not to throw at him."

Teams are throwing on Oakland's defense, just not at Asomugha. Newly acquired cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been victimized at times for Oakland, which has the 19th-ranked pass defense in the NFL. But don't blame Asomugha. He just isn't getting any action.

Listening to opposing coaches, it doesn't sound like the Asomugha boycott will end anytime soon. It's doubtful that Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan will take on Asomugha on Sunday when the Falcons visit Oakland. Saints quarterback Drew Brees had his way against Oakland in a 34-3 New Orleans win on Oct. 12. But Asomugha was left alone. Read New Orleans coach Sean Payton's comment about Asomugha prior to that game and it's no surprise Asomugha was ignored by Brees.

"He's the best we have seen on film," Payton said. "He's long-armed, he's real good at bump-and-run coverage, he has good recoverability; he's tall, he has great ball skills and he's very intelligent. He would have been the most sought-after corner had he hit free agency."

Asomugha, 27, admits that he gets frustrated by the lack of action. He said he noticed last season that the word was out on him. Asomugha, Oakland's 2003 first-round pick out of nearby Cal, had eight interceptions in 2006. He had one last season, and he doesn't have any interceptions this season.

That's what happens when no one throws at you.

"It gets a little boring, a little lonely out there," said Asomugha, who presents himself more like a young professor than a shut-down corner. "You keep hoping that someone is going to challenge you."

Asomugha was particularly disappointed about his lack of action after the Raiders' 16-13 overtime win over the New York Jets. Surely, Asomugha reasoned, the great Brett Favre would come after him. Favre, after all, fears nothing. He's never met a cornerback he hasn't gunned on. Interceptions don't worry Favre, the NFL's all-time interception leader.

So what happened? Favre threw in Asomugha's direction twice.

"I really thought this was going to be the day," Asomugha said after the game. "I thought Brett was going to come after me like six or seven times."

Asomugha has taken the lack of passes coming his way as an opportunity to work on other parts of his game. He gets involved in the run support as much as possible. And he knows that his lack of action helps his team because it essentially shuts down half of the field.

"I talk to Willie [Brown] and Charles [Woodson, a former teammate now in Green Bay] about staying involved all the time," Asomugha said. "I'm still on the field. I can still have an impact even if they aren't going to throw at me."

Asomugha might get frustrated by his lack of passes thrown his way, but his coaches love his contributions on defense.

"It's the ultimate respect," Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan recently told reporters in Oakland.

Asomugha attempted to put a happy spin on it. He even tried to say he thinks opposing coaches and quarterbacks will challenge him soon, but he quickly reconsidered it.

"No," he smiled. "Probably not. It probably won't change."

ESPN - Asomugha lives on a lonely island in Oakland - AFC West

He always mentions Woodson on his interviews. I guess they're great friends.

[Noobstur]

Can he make the probowl without any INT's? because it doesn't seem fair.

[ErMonnezza]

put him at FS and put huff nickel corner starting hall & routt...

with his talent and lecture will be the next rod woodson!!!

[SF Mikey]

Originally Posted by trur8r

Asomugha Lives on a Lonely Island in Oakland

Too bad RR and/or Al Davis don't force the issue by locking ASO up on the opposing teams top WR (like Roddy White this week).
That would force teams to throw his way and effectively take their #1 WR out of the game if they choose not to. In theory at least this strategy should work reasonably well with team like the Ravens / Falcons who don't have great depth at WR. Instead opposing teams keep running their scrub decoys out there against ASO and send their top WR against D Hall. While D Hall is playing better the last few weeks, he still isn't anywhere close to the shutdown / great CB status that RR continuously spews and Al Davis paid $70M for!

[D.O.A.]

Originally Posted by ErMonnezza

put him at FS and put huff nickel corner starting hall & routt...

with his talent and lecture will be the next rod woodson!!!

no offense, but why in the hell would you want to move him anywhere? He is the best corner in the game. he literally shuts down the portion of the field that he is covering. If we had a true MLB and a pass rush, this defense would be unbelievable.

[Moriarty]

Originally Posted by SF Mikey

Too bad RR and/or Al Davis don't force the issue by locking ASO up on the opposing teams top WR (like Roddy White this week).
That would force teams to throw his way and effectively take their #1 WR out of the game if they choose not to. In theory at least this strategy should work reasonably well with team like the Ravens / Falcons who don't have great depth at WR. Instead opposing teams keep running their scrub decoys out there against ASO and send their top WR against D Hall. While D Hall is playing better the last few weeks, he still isn't anywhere close to the shutdown / great CB status that RR continuously spews and Al Davis paid $70M for!

Exactly. This article misses half of the equation, which is our defensive scheme. There have been other shutdown corners in the NFL, and they have gotten action. Look at Champ Bailey...I think he's never had a year with fewer than 3 INTs in his career. Deion never had a year with no INTs. But with our scheme Aso is locked into a side. Opposing offenses never have to try and account for Aso at the line of scrimmage, they already know where he'll be.

There's never any need to throw at Aso, because you can take him out of the game by lining up your #2 or #3 receiver on his side.

That's really how I look at it. Because of the way we use Aso we don't really take a receiver out of the game, we allow opposing offenses to take Aso out of the game. The proof is in the numbers, we're not very good against the pass.

[Strangebrew]

I love the guy and he's a class act but he'd be an idiot to stay after this year. He can get a long-term deal elsewhere on a good team, make some pro-bowls and maybe even get in the HoF. None of that will happen if he stays.

He won't get any hate from me if he goes.

[hector234]

Originally Posted by Noobstur

Can he make the probowl without any INT's? because it doesn't seem fair.

Yes, but remember fans vote for the starters. Most people vote based on what they see on sportscenter, and highlight reels. If it was based purely on skill and how well a player played their position (which it should be!) he would've made it last year, and should be a lock for this year.

[raiderdude06]

It's disappointing that his talent is underrated because of the fact he's on the Raiders.

[DCRaiderfan]

Originally Posted by hector234

Yes, but remember fans vote for the starters. Most people vote based on what they see on sportscenter, and highlight reels. If it was based purely on skill and how well a player played their position (which it should be!) he would've made it last year, and should be a lock for this year.

And this is why fans shouldn't account for more than 20% of the vote. Fans are generally stupid and vote for names. Last year even the scrubs on NE got voted in (see Mike Vrabel).

I think it's even worse for offensive line, D-line because most fans don't know know what criteria to vote with.

[s1337m]

fan votes are worth 33%... players and coaches have 67% of the vote

[or24]

33% is BS. I dont believe that ****. Every year there are some of the dumbest selections. Unless every coach is voting for his own players making the fans the deciding votes there is no way I believe that.

[GusGus]

Judging by most people I read/meet, fans should be worth about 8% of the vote. On a related note I would support this for Presidential Elections as well. About 8% of the people I have met in my life I would feel comfortable with voting for who leads our country.


That's right, I said it. 92% of the world's population is dumb.

I know, I'm a bad person

[R8ERMAC]

i just hope he stays a raider!

[dakid92]

Nnamdi is the truth. He is the best CB in the NFL.