Van Dyke article

[TDraiders]

Is Van Dyke ready to step up?

He had his baptism by fire the first time he stepped on an NFL field.

"At the start of the preseason," DeMarcus Van Dyke mused during last month's OTA's, "I played against Larry Fitzgerald and I had a bad experience. But after that, I tried to make more plays, and it helped my confidence a lot."

And as such, Van Dyke is the most intriguing defensive back on the Raiders roster as the team prepares to report to Napa for training camp on July 28. The second-year cornerback was the quintessential Al Davis draft pick -- speed to burn, somewhat overvalued as a third-round draft pick.

But the new regime sees something in the lithe Van Dyke, and Van Dyke, who is starting to fill out physically, sees something in himself. Yes, the guy who blazed to a 4.25-second 40-time at the Combine will push veteran signees Shawntae Spencer and Ronald Bartell for playing time and maybe even for a starting job.

Intrigued yet?

"Next year, I just need to make more plays on the ball," Van Dyke said. "I had a bunch of chances to make interceptions that I dropped. And sometimes I kept my head on the receiver and didn’t look for the ball. That’s why at these OTAs I am trying to find the ball and make plays and hopefully help out next year."

Rookie coach Dennis Allen, who cut his teeth coaching up defensive backs, agreed.

"You've got to practice to get better," Allen said.

As a rookie last season, Van Dyke had a Raiders cornerback-best burn rate of 43.8, per Stats Inc., giving up 14 receptions on 32 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown while being credited with four passes defensed. By comparison, the departed Stanford Routt had a burn rate of 47.4 while Matt Giordano's was 42.5 and Mike Mitchell's was 34.6.

Both Spencer and Bartell had injury-shorted seasons in 2011 and their burn rates were 44.4 (four of nine) and 66.7 (two of three), respectively.

Van Dyke, now listed at 180 pounds, has found guidance from the two thus far.

"It’s the small things, like looking at the splits of the receivers and watching a lot of tendencies on film," he said. "I really appreciate those two guys helping me out as leaders this year.

Especially with a new regime and a new scheme.

"I am loving it," Van Dyke said. "It’s vision defense -- you see a lot of stuff and we’re going to make a lot of plays next year."

A year ago, the lockout wiped out any offseason activities, putting Van Dyke and his fellow rookies further behind an eight ball that the likes of Fitzgerald enjoyed shooting at the newbies.

"Without the OTAs and the minicamps, it really set a lot of the guys back," Van Dyke said. "But this year, it’s helped and I can’t wait to see how I play."

[Raiders Baby!]

It would be awesome if Van Dyke could step up this year. Having a solid nickel back would help enormously against the likes of Manning and Rivers.

[nor_cal_raider7]

Hopefully Van Dyke and Chekwa (sp) can become quality starters. You need 4 good cb's in todays NFL.

[Boostjunkie]

I hope that he continues to improve.

[signal]

Van Dyke (in the playing time he did get) seemed to be able to stick with receivers. I never saw his receiver ever get separation on him. His problem was his back was turned to the ball and as a result he was never able to make a play for the ball - allowing the receiver to catch it - even though Van Dyke was right there. To me sticking with a receiver is the most difficult thing about being a corner. Proper positioning and allowing for ball awareness can be taught. He definitely is an intriguing prospect. He merely needs to be taught proper technique. He has the gift - unreal speed with loose hips that allows a corner to shadow a receiver. Now he needs to work on his ball skills and of course playing with his back to the sidelines and not to the field. Aso had the same problem when he started in the league. In fact I recall saying the exact same thing in that thread about Aso in response to criticism he was getting early on in his career. For whatever reason - rookie corners like to stare down receivers throughout the entire route - but the good ones learn to turn and watch the quarterback and feel the receiver running beside them. I guess some of it comes with confidence.

Physically he does need to fill out so that he will not be overmatched when fighting for the ball - that is when he learns to locate it. But it would not surprise me one bit if he turns into a solid corner.

[HC Raider Fan]

I'd like to see him put on a few ounces at least.

But yes, I think he has the ability to stay with receivers. Just needs to play the ball better.

[BVJ]

Dvd has put 10lbs of muscle on, but I am not sure if he is now 180 or 190.

[HC Raider Fan]

Dvd has put 10lbs of muscle on, but I am not sure if he is now 180 or 190.

Bring back Jamarcus for weight gain training.

[16 to 88]

"I am loving it," Van Dyke said. "It’s vision defense -- you see a lot of stuff and we’re going to make a lot of plays next year."

A year ago, the lockout wiped out any offseason activities, putting Van Dyke and his fellow rookies further behind an eight ball that the likes of Fitzgerald enjoyed shooting at the newbies.

"Without the OTAs and the minicamps, it really set a lot of the guys back," Van Dyke said. "But this year, it’s helped and I can’t wait to see how I play."

I've pointed this very thing out a few times now.

A LOT was made about how the lockout didn't seem to affect the players or the game last year and the mainstream media pointed towards how well the offenses where producing.

As I understand it, defense is harder to teach. Could it be that what the lockout really affected was the defensive side of the ball and that's why we saw teams lighting it up like never before?

Kinda under the impression this is what happened last year. That defenses never had the chance to catch up to the offenses. It will be interesting to see if it evens out a little more this year.

[16 to 88]

Van Dyke (in the playing time he did get) seemed to be able to stick with receivers. I never saw his receiver ever get separation on him. His problem was his back was turned to the ball and as a result he was never able to make a play for the ball - allowing the receiver to catch it - even though Van Dyke was right there. To me sticking with a receiver is the most difficult thing about being a corner. Proper positioning and allowing for ball awareness can be taught. He definitely is an intriguing prospect. He merely needs to be taught proper technique. He has the gift - unreal speed with loose hips that allows a corner to shadow a receiver. Now he needs to work on his ball skills and of course playing with his back to the sidelines and not to the field. Aso had the same problem when he started in the league.

You took the words off of my keyboard. That one catch Fitz made against DVD was nothing short of spectacular. He was covered like a blanket.

Physically he does need to fill out so that he will not be overmatched when fighting for the ball - that is when he learns to locate it. But it would not surprise me one bit if he turns into a solid corner.

Always nice to be bigger and I doubt that adding 10 pounds is going to slow down an already BLAZING fast CB. On the other hand CB's like Deion Sanders are more the norm then the exception to the rule. Unless you have the guts to stick your nose in there for run support guys like DVD/Deion/Darrell Green are first and foremost supposed to cover the WR.

Not saying he's Deion just sayin.

[HC Raider Fan]

You took the words off of my keyboard. That one catch Fitz made against DVD was nothing short of spectacular. He was covered like a blanket.

Always nice to be bigger and I doubt that adding 10 pounds is going to slow down an already BLAZING fast CB. On the other hand CB's like Deion Sanders are more the norm then the exception to the rule. Unless you have the guts to stick your nose in there for run support guys like DVD/Deion/Darrell Green are first and foremost supposed to cover the WR.

Not saying he's Deion just sayin.

Have to be able to tackle if the WR makes the catch. 180lb CB trying to tackle a 230lb Brandon Marshall or a 260lb Antonio Gates could be trouble.

[mmbt]

Have to be able to tackle if the WR makes the catch. 180lb CB trying to tackle a 230lb Brandon Marshall or a 260lb Antonio Gates could be trouble.

Tackling ability isn't just about size. And it certainly isn't the #1 thing to look for in a CB. Worrying too much about bringing down a big receiver is probably the kind of thinking that leads to using Ro to cover Megatron.

[mike taylor]

Least he knows what he's messing up on, and now he has to go out and fix it. I don't think he'll be a star, but hopefully he'll become a serviceable starter.

[Pseudoscot]

Typical raider db pick. Seemed a reach at the time and the rest of the room heard our table again salivating over the stopwatch. Since then I've been happily surprised. He has looked very raw but can stick with his receiver and has shown glimpses of the potential that lies underneath. His ceiling is very high and I've been impressed with his attitude, his work ethic and his dealings with the media. Whether he reaches his full potential is down to how we coach him and making sure we utilise him effectively but the base skillset is there. Are we in line for an amazing break out year? I don't think so. My expectations are that he will give maximum effort on every play and improve on attacking the ball when the opportunity presents itself. He could potentially become something special in the future but I think that progression will be gradual as he needs time to learn his craft.