Raiders key matchup No. 2: Huff vs. Jackson

Share

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the second part in a series that spotlights three Raiders-Buccaneers matchups to watch Sunday, 1:05 p.m. (Fox), at O.co Coliseum.

Matchup No. 3: Carson Palmer vs. Ronde Barber
Raiders CB Michael Huff vs. Buccaneers WR Vincent JacksonTale of the tape
Huff (24): 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, seventh season, Texas
Jackson (83): 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, eighth season, Northern ColoradoALAMEDA -- Michael Huff, whose transition from free safety to cornerback is looking more and more like the right move for the Raiders with every series, has more than an inkling what to expect Sunday against Tampa Bay -- a heavy dose of first-year Tampa Bay receiver Vincent Jackson."If I was their offensive coordinator Im sure theyll see a safety outside and theyll put (Jackson) out there every snap probably," Huff said with a knowing grin on Friday. "They'll just try to test me and throw (at me) so obviously they see me out there, theyre going to put their best receiver outside."Jackson has long been a pain for the Raiders, having spent the first seven years of his career in San Diego before signing with the Buccaneers this offseason as a free agent."Vincent's been great," said Buccaneers rookie coach Greg Schiano. "Not only on-the-field results, but he gives us veteran leadership in the receivers room. Because other than Vincent, we're a very young crew."Consider: Jackson has a touchdown catch in four of his past five games against Oakland and his 21.6-yards per catch average is the most in the NFL by any player with at least 20 receptions. And since 2008, Jackson's average of 18.5 yards per catch is tops in the league among players with at least 100 catches in that time.So yeah, the Buccaneers might want to test a guy still feeling the effects of jumping from the frying pan (free safety) into the fire (cornerback) in Week 3. Because, as Huff said, even if he's played against him before, it was deeper in the secondary, and not playing him face up."Vincent Jackson is just a different animal," Huff said. "Even when hes covered, like I said, they just throw it up to him and he finds a way to make plays. Hes been doing it his whole career and hes still doing it at Tampa Bay. He finds a way to make plays so even when hes covered, like I said, be ready, because the balls probably still coming."Hes big and he plays the ball in the airthe more times they test me, the more times I have chances to make plays so thats how I look at it. The more balls I get, the more chances for interceptions so I always welcome the challenge."

Contact Us