RNT 2013 Defensive Rookie of the Year – Miles Burris

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Miles Burris has been voted by a poll of Raider Nation Times writers the Oakland Raiders defensive rookie of the year. Burris arrived on the Oakland Raiders roster with little fanfare. Oakland already had three starting linebackers in Aaron Curry, Rolando McClain, and Philip Wheeler. No one would have thought that when Burris was drafted at the end of the third round that he would end up starting fifteen games.

But that is exactly what he did, finishing second on the team in total tackles (96), and defining himself as a playmaker throughout the year.

Looking at college tape of Burris, it was exciting. He showed real physicality, and under the radar athleticism that caused him to spend a lot of time in opponents backfields for the Aztecs. The question was, could he translate that to the NFL?

In the first two pre-season games, Burris just looked lost. He didn’t seem to know where he was supposed to be, and at least initially, the game simply looked too big for him. But as Head Coach Dennis Allen said, Burris is not a repeat offender when it comes to mistakes. He is a smart kid that learns quickly, and he showed as the team moved into the regular season that he was making real strides in his development.

He struggled at times in pass coverage, but was mainly solid, and showed that he could fight through the press to make plays in the running game.

The moment that I thought he really arrived was in a goal line stand in week six against the Falcons. With Atlanta on the one yard line and a running play called to Burris’s side, left tackle Sam Baker (outweighing Burris by 65lbs) slammed into him to make open the hole for the touchdown. Burris stood him up, shed him, then lowered his pads and stuffed the runner at the line for no gain to save the touchdown. It was high level linebacker play.

Not surprisingly, week six was the game that Burris supplanted middle linebacker (and former overall number eight pick) Rolando McClain in the nickel package, and made himself an every down player.

Burris showed some inconsistencies in his play after the middle of the season, but returned to finish strong at the end. He had thirteen tackles against the Bengals, and a tremendous game against Carolina, where he not only got on the sack sheet, but pulled in an interception as well. Evidence of his improving ability to defend the pass.

If Burris can continue to add consistency to his game, he has a very bright future in the Silver and Black.

Well done Miles Burris for a great rookie year.

LINK: http://raidernationtimes.com/article.php?id=9575