SteelersWoman
06-08-2007, 06:25 PM
http://news.steelers.com/article/77215/
Friday, June 8, 2007
By Teresa Varley
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9099/07vmc0422amkr0181davenpix5.jpg
When Najeh Davenport signed with the Steelers last year, following the season-opener against the Miami Dolphins, fellow running back Verron Haynes stepped in and helped him out right away. He gave him tips, helped him with the playbook, and the like.
Now it's Davenport's time to return the favor. Haynes was re-signed this week and is back healthy after suffering a knee injury in an offense that has taken on some changes over the past few months.
"I think it's a role reversal," said Davenport. "Last year he was helping me telling me what to do, who I've got. Now I get to show him some stuff. I am telling him when he takes the field, as far as the knee, let it go."
Haynes provides extra competition for Davenport, along with Kevan Barlow, in a back-field that is now loaded with experience. Davenport doesn't mind the extra competition and thinks it is good for all.
"The roles aren't defined yet," said Davenport. "Everybody is coming together as a team and making plays and that is the most important thing. We are getting the offense in and knowing where we are supposed to be."
Davenport, who backed-up Willie Parker last year, would welcome that role again this year. But he wants to do much more.
"I want to be a 'who can' guy," said Davenport. "You have three kinds of guys, a 'who can' guy, a 'question mark,' and a 'can't' guy. Being a who can guy is a guy who can do anything you ask him to do and do it good – returning kicks, blocking punts, making first downs, scoring touchdowns, short yardage, blocking, picking up blitzes. It's about being a 'who can' guy."
And a 'who can' guy is one that normally stays out of the "news", but it's not the same thing that most people tune into at 12, 6 and 11 to get updates from their local televisions stations.
No, this news is delivered by one person – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. And it's not always good news.
Each day the players are greeted in a meeting with the "news." Often times it's about mistakes that were made in practice the day before and the like. There has been some good news mixed in lately at the urging of the players, but for the most part it's safe to say they like to stay out of the "news".
"He will tell you what's on his mind when it's on his mind," said running back Najeh Davenport. "You have to love that, that he doesn't hold anything back. You always know where you stand with him. You have some guys you don't know where you stand with them. Things might be in his head one way and yours another. With Coach T you know that morning where you stand with him in the 'news.'
"So far I haven't had any mental errors, so I want to keep that going. I haven't made the 'news' so I want to keep that streak going. I want to continue to do what I have been doing since day one."
Friday, June 8, 2007
By Teresa Varley
http://img58.imageshack.us/img58/9099/07vmc0422amkr0181davenpix5.jpg
When Najeh Davenport signed with the Steelers last year, following the season-opener against the Miami Dolphins, fellow running back Verron Haynes stepped in and helped him out right away. He gave him tips, helped him with the playbook, and the like.
Now it's Davenport's time to return the favor. Haynes was re-signed this week and is back healthy after suffering a knee injury in an offense that has taken on some changes over the past few months.
"I think it's a role reversal," said Davenport. "Last year he was helping me telling me what to do, who I've got. Now I get to show him some stuff. I am telling him when he takes the field, as far as the knee, let it go."
Haynes provides extra competition for Davenport, along with Kevan Barlow, in a back-field that is now loaded with experience. Davenport doesn't mind the extra competition and thinks it is good for all.
"The roles aren't defined yet," said Davenport. "Everybody is coming together as a team and making plays and that is the most important thing. We are getting the offense in and knowing where we are supposed to be."
Davenport, who backed-up Willie Parker last year, would welcome that role again this year. But he wants to do much more.
"I want to be a 'who can' guy," said Davenport. "You have three kinds of guys, a 'who can' guy, a 'question mark,' and a 'can't' guy. Being a who can guy is a guy who can do anything you ask him to do and do it good – returning kicks, blocking punts, making first downs, scoring touchdowns, short yardage, blocking, picking up blitzes. It's about being a 'who can' guy."
And a 'who can' guy is one that normally stays out of the "news", but it's not the same thing that most people tune into at 12, 6 and 11 to get updates from their local televisions stations.
No, this news is delivered by one person – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. And it's not always good news.
Each day the players are greeted in a meeting with the "news." Often times it's about mistakes that were made in practice the day before and the like. There has been some good news mixed in lately at the urging of the players, but for the most part it's safe to say they like to stay out of the "news".
"He will tell you what's on his mind when it's on his mind," said running back Najeh Davenport. "You have to love that, that he doesn't hold anything back. You always know where you stand with him. You have some guys you don't know where you stand with them. Things might be in his head one way and yours another. With Coach T you know that morning where you stand with him in the 'news.'
"So far I haven't had any mental errors, so I want to keep that going. I haven't made the 'news' so I want to keep that streak going. I want to continue to do what I have been doing since day one."