Asomugha picks victories over stats

[jatfly]

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2007/07/31/sports/local/doc46aedbcebb498816764965.txt

Despite his eight interceptions last year, he missed ‘high’ of winning


By MARTY JAMES
Executive Sports Editor
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Individual accomplishments such as tackles, interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles and pass breakups are big with Nnamdi Asomugha, a fifth-year cornerback with the Oakland Raiders.​

But something that’s a lot bigger for the former UC Berkeley player is wins.​

Asomugha was proud of the way he played for the Raiders last year. It was a turning point, a breakout season for the talented defensive back, as he intercepted eight passes and helped a Raiders defense rank third in the NFL.​

But as he checked his gear in at the end of a 2-14 season, he was thinking about the team rather than personal achievements.
“Everybody wants to win,” Asomugha said after a morning practice at the team’s Napa Valley training camp complex Monday. “Individual success is always great. You love it because you can look back on it when you’re done, but as a team you want to win games. That’s your No. 1 goal for getting to the NFL — the excitement and the happiness from winning.​

“You can have all the individual success you want, but there’s a piece of you that’s still not feeling that high when you’re not winning games. We’ve got to put it all together this year so we can all experience that joy.”​

The road to turning things around after a disappointing 2006 season starts in Napa, with the Raiders learning a new system that head coach Lane Kiffin is putting in during July and August. The Raiders have one of the league‚s top defenses in place, but getting the offense to perform and produce on the ground and in the air is a major focal point in camp.​

“It feels good to start back up,” said Asomugha, selected in the first round (31st overall) in the 2003 Draft.​

“Everybody’s been waiting to put the pads on. It’s been great just getting out there. It’s still early. There’s a lot that we’re trying to work on and a lot that we’re trying to get better at.”​

Last March’ Asomugha was honored by the steering committee for Raiders Booster Clubs during the fifth annual Commitment to Excellence Award Presentation Dinner at the Hilton-Oakland Airport. Since 1966, the award, previously known as the Gorman Award, has been given to the player recognized by his teammates as “The player who best exemplifies the pride, poise and spirit of the Oakland Raiders.”​

Last year Asomugha led the Raiders with eight interceptions. He also recorded his first career touchdown and his second career sack. His eight picks mark the first interceptions of his career.​

A big, physical and versatile young DB who has emerged as a key member of the defense since 2005, Asomugha has played in 60 league games with 35 starts at both corner and safety in four pro seasons.​

Kiffin has issued a challenge to Asomugha this summer: take your game to another level.​

“He had eight interceptions last year and he could sit back and be happy about that,” Kiffin said Monday. “We said ‘That’s not enough.’​

“He’s come out and has been really good. He’s extremely confident right now. He’s going to another level of understanding the game. We expect a really, really big year from him.”​

Asomugha has his own goals that he takes into the season. No. 1 on that list is to try and help the Raiders get better and win games.​

“I just stay focused, I don’t worry about numbers,” he said. “My goals in camp are always to get better for the next season, just build off where I was last year and try to get better this year. Things have been going well so far. We‚ve got a long way to go but so far it’s been pretty good.”​

He had 50 tackles last year. Among the highlights:​

• Recorded three tackles and two interceptions against Cleveland.​

• Recorded two tackles and two passes defensed against Arizona.​

• Had nine tackles, a pass defensed and a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown, the first score of his pro career, against Pittsburgh.​

• Recorded three tackles, one interception and two passes defensed against Denver.​

• Had two tackles, two interceptions and three passes defensed vs. Cincinnati.​

• Asomugha finished his college career at Cal with 187 tackles (133 solos), three sacks, 19 stops behind the line of scrimmage, seven interceptions for 96 yards in returns, 15 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble in 41 games. As a senior, he was fourth on the team with 53 tackles (42), including five stops for losses of 21 yards.​

He was one of the nation‚s most highly recruited DBs in 1999 as a senior at Narbonne High School in Los Angeles. He was First-Team All-State by Student Sports and recognized as one of the Top-20 DBs in the country by Super Prep as a member of its All-American team.​