The Raiders whiffed three times within a seven-year span in an attempt to find a top-notch left offensive tackle via the NFL draft. Twelve years since the first of those swings, they appear to have found what they were looking for in Jared Veldheer. Veldheer cracked the starting lineup six games into his rookie season and has developed into the kind of player the Raiders think can be a linchpin of their offensive line for years to come. "He is starting to do all the little things right over and over and over," Raiders coach Tom Cable said. "That's really the sign of a good lineman. He is smart, very tough and very competitive. He comes with that ingredient. He is a very detail-oriented guy, and he hates to fail. He has that great drive about him. He wants to do it right, he wants to do it exactly the way you asked him to do it." Veldheer has held up well in his eight starts since replacing four-year veteran Mario Henderson. Indianapolis Colts All-Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney figures to give Veldheer a stern test Sunday. "You have to take your hat off to the guy, it's not easy to play in the NFL at left tackle as a rookie," Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell said. "That means, every week you're going to face probably the best defensive player on that side of the ball, week in, week out. "... I have a lot of trust in him." Source: Contra Costa Times
