PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Top Pick Fredrickson Develops Quietly
On the Raiders’ biggest defensive play of last week, cornerback Lionel Washington plucked the football out of the air and ran 31 yards to a touchdown. Hear the crowd cheer.
Everybody saw the end of that fourth-quarter play against the San Diego Chargers, but not many highlight clips zeroed in on linebacker Rob Fredrickson, the man who created the opportunity for the interception by batting the ball loose from Shannon Mitchell, the intended receiver.
That figures. Although he was the Raiders’ top draft choice this season, Fredrickson has developed quietly, away from the spotlight.
But the Raiders are so impressed with the rookie out of Michigan State that they are trying to find new ways to get him on the field. An outside linebacker in college, Fredrickson was moved into the middle when he turned pro. Now, the Raiders are using him at both spots.
“We want the three best guys out there,” linebacker coach Jim Haslett said. “Hopefully, he’ll be one of them.”
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