Richard Gordon: TE/FB? Showing Us Something

ALAMEDA – Little was known about tight end Richard  Gordon when the Raiders selected him in the sixth round of April's NFL  draft.

Gordon had just six catches as a senior at Miami and 10 for his career.

But the Raiders saw enough in Gordon to draft him and have found various ways  to use his skills on offense and special teams.   

The latest position is fullback. Gordon is filling in for injured starter  Marcel Reece, who injured his ankle during Sunday's win over the New  York Jets.

"(Gordon is) a very smart, bright young man," said Raiders coach Hue Jackson.  "I feel very comfortable with him. He does a lot of things well. He'll go back  there if that's what we need to do, and he'll go back there and do well. I  really believe that."

Gordon said blocking from the fullback position is a slight adjustment from  blocking as an extra tight end.

Gordon was the lead blocker on Michael Bush's one-yard touchdown run in the  fourth quarter Sunday against the Jets.

"You've got to just hit them before they get to you," Gordon said. "That's  the biggest thing, beating them to the punch."

The Raiders use Reece in the passing game to create mismatches. Gordon isn't  sure if he'll be used in that scenario this weekend.
And if he has any questions about his assignments, Gordon trusts his  teammates to help him.

"I've got a lot of vets back there helping me out, so it's not as hard as it  seems," Gordon said. "Mike (Bush) tells me, you got this one or this one. I just  listen to the vets."


(cbssports.com)