Angry Pope
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Schweigert expecting the best in Oakland
By Anthony Carroll on August 30, 2006 12:28 AM
Since joining the Oakland Raiders two years ago, free safety Stuart Schweigert has won just nine games.
This season, Schweigert wants to win nearly 90 percent of his games.
"I think we're looking for 13, 14 wins this season as a feasible goal, and I think we can meet that goal," said the 25-year-old.
Over the past two seasons, the former Purdue standout has started in 16 games with the Raiders, 13 of which came in 2005. In all, Schweigert has tallied 139 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions. Last season, despite just a pair of interceptions, the 6-foot-1 safety led Oakland in the category, accounting for two-fifths of the entire team's production. As a result, at year's end, Oakland sat atop the NFL history book, shattering the record-low interception mark for a full 16-game season.
Just weeks before the team's season opener, Schweigert is confident that won't happen again.
"One of the biggest things we've done from the last couple of years is we're creating turnovers. We've had two or three or four turnovers every game so far, and that's also been a reason why we've been winning these preseason games. So we got to continue doing that," he said.
Four preseason games into the '06 campaign, the Raiders have forced 12 turnovers - a year after forcing just 19 all of last season. The team has come out on top in each of its first four contests, holding opponents to a total of just 33 points along the way.
For No. 30, that's enough to use the "S" word.
"I honestly believe that we have a shot this year," Schweigert said. "A lot of teams are scared to talk about 'Super Bowl'...but Art Shell, as soon as he walked in the front door, said 'We want to go and win the Super Bowl this season.' That's kind of our mindset this whole offseason, with all the OTAs and minicamps and workouts and running programs and everything that we've done."
"We go into every game wanting to win, even in the preseason," he added. "We wanted to go out and win and play as if it were a regular-season game, and, so far, its showing and we're 4-0 and looking forward to this game against Seattle."
For Schweigert, it was in February when everything began to click.
Under the guidance of Art Shell, this was a new team, and he quickly came to realize that.
"He's a no-nonsense guy," the young safety said on Monday. "When he says something, everyone listens. That's different from what we've had the past couple of years. There's no more coming into meetings late, [there's no more] guys not doing what they don't want to do."
If Art Shell says the Super Bowl is within reach, Stuart Schweigert certainly won't argue.
By Anthony Carroll on August 30, 2006 12:28 AM
Since joining the Oakland Raiders two years ago, free safety Stuart Schweigert has won just nine games.
This season, Schweigert wants to win nearly 90 percent of his games.
"I think we're looking for 13, 14 wins this season as a feasible goal, and I think we can meet that goal," said the 25-year-old.
Over the past two seasons, the former Purdue standout has started in 16 games with the Raiders, 13 of which came in 2005. In all, Schweigert has tallied 139 tackles, 10 pass deflections and two interceptions. Last season, despite just a pair of interceptions, the 6-foot-1 safety led Oakland in the category, accounting for two-fifths of the entire team's production. As a result, at year's end, Oakland sat atop the NFL history book, shattering the record-low interception mark for a full 16-game season.
Just weeks before the team's season opener, Schweigert is confident that won't happen again.
"One of the biggest things we've done from the last couple of years is we're creating turnovers. We've had two or three or four turnovers every game so far, and that's also been a reason why we've been winning these preseason games. So we got to continue doing that," he said.
Four preseason games into the '06 campaign, the Raiders have forced 12 turnovers - a year after forcing just 19 all of last season. The team has come out on top in each of its first four contests, holding opponents to a total of just 33 points along the way.
For No. 30, that's enough to use the "S" word.
"I honestly believe that we have a shot this year," Schweigert said. "A lot of teams are scared to talk about 'Super Bowl'...but Art Shell, as soon as he walked in the front door, said 'We want to go and win the Super Bowl this season.' That's kind of our mindset this whole offseason, with all the OTAs and minicamps and workouts and running programs and everything that we've done."
"We go into every game wanting to win, even in the preseason," he added. "We wanted to go out and win and play as if it were a regular-season game, and, so far, its showing and we're 4-0 and looking forward to this game against Seattle."
For Schweigert, it was in February when everything began to click.
Under the guidance of Art Shell, this was a new team, and he quickly came to realize that.
"He's a no-nonsense guy," the young safety said on Monday. "When he says something, everyone listens. That's different from what we've had the past couple of years. There's no more coming into meetings late, [there's no more] guys not doing what they don't want to do."
If Art Shell says the Super Bowl is within reach, Stuart Schweigert certainly won't argue.
