Versatile Gooden Seeks Playing Time

While the University of Miami football program has fallen on hard times, failing to reach a Bowl game last year for the first time since 1999, it continues to develop top NFL prospects. Since 2001, 25 Miami players have been drafted in the first round and 49 former Hurricanes are currently on NFL rosters.

The Ravens have had success with players from "The U" -- Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have both been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year while Willis McGahee earned a trip to the Pro Bowl in his first year with the team last season. With Lewis, Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs all potentially testing the free agent market after the coming season, the Ravens decided to bring in another former Hurricane, drafting linebacker Tavares Gooden in the third round of this year's draft.

Gooden battled injuries at Miami but showed the capability to play all three linebacker positions, starting at the weak side in 2004 before switching to strong side in 2005 and then to the middle as a senior in 2007. Although Miami had its worst season of the decade in 2007, Gooden had the best year of his career, registering a team-high 100 tackles.

Gooden has also been in constant contact with fellow Miami alums Lewis and Reed and shares a similar hunger to succeed.

"I speak with those guys often because we're like brothers, coming from Miami," Gooden said. "When I talk to those guys, they talk with so much passion that it makes you want to play the game. That's how I was taught to play the game at Miami. That's the whole thing about the Baltimore Ravens, they called my name for a reason. They picked me as their third-round pick so it's basically about going out there and fulfilling their expectations and my expectations for myself."

Throughout the minicamp process, Gooden impressed Ravens coaches with his athleticism and versatility.Gooden knows it's important to absorb as much information as possible to ease his transition to the NFL.

"One of the biggest adjustments is just being attentive and picking things up really fast and I really believe I've learned to do that," he said. "I got a lot of conditioning out of [the mini-camps], learned the plays as far zone coverages and how to play them. Without the veterans, I got a lot of one-on-one time with the coaches and learned a lot more about how to relate to different people in zone coverages."

Gooden was regarded as one of the top athletes at the linebacker position in this year's draft,  and he recognizes that his athleticism will give the Ravens options to get him on the field as a rookie.

"I can run with receivers and things like that," he said. "It helps the team out tremendously, especially during rookie camp because we were short on corners. But I was able to adjust and play a lot of the receivers and tight ends in man to man. I think my man to man coverage is pretty good and I think I'm going to improve in zone coverage."

"I want to contribute as best I can.I feel like I was one of the top defensive players in this year's draft so I'm thinking defensive rookie of the year, that's the goal for me. I just want to get on the field.  [Whether it be] special teams, third downs, however I can get on the field and help this team out and try to accomplish my goals."

(pressboxonline.com)