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Originally Posted by Orion9185
On the Rise: Tyler Brayton
June 16, 2004
By Kevin Kimball
Household names? Not yet. The Oakland Raiders have infused the roster with a bevy of talented young players who are taking advantage of the team's heralded veteran leadership and are starting to or are preparing to make names for themselves. Log on each week as we take a look at these players, where they came from, how they got here and where they're going. These are the players to watch and get to know because they are definitely On the Rise. We continue the series with a look at DE Tyler Brayton.
The Raiders drafted DE Tyler Brayton in the 1st round of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Lisa Coelho
In the game of football many attributes can be measured empirically - speed, strength, stamina, and intelligence. Tyler Brayton is one of the few that have all of these characteristics, plus one that could not be measured on draft day: heart.
Drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, Brayton is already stepping up to the Raider tradition of playing with heart. In 2003 as a rookie he played in all 16 games with a total of 61 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one fumble recovery, but said he expects to improve on those numbers in his sophomore season. "I want to get to the passer more often, wreak havoc, collapse the pocket and just try to be disruptive in the passing game," Brayton said. His sophomore campaign will include playing with some seasoned veterans. Along with John Parrella, newcomers Warren Sapp and Ted Washington join the mix in the trenches.
Brayton said he could learn something from his teammates. "Hopefully I can learn a lot. Hopefully we can work together," he said. "They can show me some things, like what it's going to take to get to the passer. They know every little detail. They know how to get to the quarterback. They know how to play every blocking scheme, and they have done it a hundred times before. They have pretty much mastered the game, and I'm trying to master one thing at time."
"I want to get to
the passer more
often, wreak havoc,
collapse the pocket
and be disruptive."
- DE Tyler Brayton
Tyler Brayton has already mastered at least one thing - leaving everything on the field. The 6'6", 280-pound defensive lineman played in 47 games at the University of Colorado, recording 152 tackles (99 solos) with 12.5 sacks for minus-94 yards, 25 stops for losses of 119 yards, 34 quarterback pressures, 17 third-down hits, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and six pass deflections. His play earned him the Buffalo Heart Award, which exemplifies team spirit, and the Dave Jones Award, which is given to the team's most outstanding defensive player. During his stay, one of Brayton's greatest strengths was his leadership ability. As a junior, he asserted himself as the heart and soul of Colorado's team with a dramatic pre-game speech that turned Colorado's season around and spurred the Buffaloes on a run to the Big XII Championship Game.
DE Tyler Brayton had an impressive rookie season for the Silver and Black in 2003.
Lisa Coelho
With his team sitting at 1-2 and coming off an embarrassing loss to Southern Cal, Brayton laid it on the line - literally. As the team was preparing to take the field to play UCLA, Brayton laid a strip of tape across the door to the locker room and challenged his teammates to only cross the threshold if they were willing to put forth maximum effort or they would have to answer to him. Brayton has a history of performing in a manner that earns him the respect and admiration of his teammates, and coaches. Before joining the Buffaloes, Brayton grew up in Pasco, Wash., where he received his team's Most Inspirational Award as a team captain at Pasco High School as well as earning first-team All-Area honors at defensive end and first-team All-State mention at tight end.
With a new staff and a new defensive system there is a sense of renewed optimism in Oakland, and for good reason. The defense has talent busting at the seams and is ready to take on any challenge thrown at them. Brayton plays a big role in helping the Raiders get to where they want to be in the upcoming season. "What makes me excited about it more than anything is the attitude of the whole defense and the attitude of the whole team," Brayton said. "I think everyone is a lot hungrier than they were last year. I think we are just antsy to get started, and it shows in the way we practice."
As the 2004 season approaches we know that when Tyler Brayton is on the field he is going to give nothing less than 100 percent of his athleticism, his intelligence, and most of all, his heart to the Commitment to Excellence that is The Oakland Raiders.
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