Rookie defensive end Jack Crawford is just trying to find a way to make the 53-man roster and took a huge step toward doing just that Wednesday by spending a great deal of time in the backfield, frustrating offensive linemen and harassing the quarterback. Defensive players are prohibited from touching quarterbacks in practice. However, it’s safe to say that Crawford would have sacked Matt Leinart three times in a game setting. “I’m pleased with Jack,†Raiders coach Dennis Allen said. “Jack, obviously, he’s a young player, so he’s still learning the game, but he’s a big guy that’s got athleticism, and he wants to be good. And if you have athleticism and some football instincts and you’re willing to work to get there, then he’ll, at some point, be a player for us.†Crawford is bright enough to realize that one good practice does not a successful NFL player make. Yet, it’s a nice start to a fledgling career and a great way to stand out among 89 players. “It’s a lot of pressure,†Crawford said. “Coming in as a rookie, nothing’s safe; that’s how I feel. There’s nothing guaranteed in this league, so you really have to go and play every single play like it’s your last. At the end of the day, you don’t know how many plays you’re going to have left.†Source: Oakland Tribune
