On Monday, we took a look at cornerback Josh Victorian, who will be battling to make the Pittsburgh Steelers 53 man roster out of training camp this year and today we will look at cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, who figures to be competing against Victorian for that same roster spot.

Van Dyke, who was drafted in the third round of the 2011 draft by the Oakland Raiders, did not arrive in Pittsburgh until right before the 2012 season started as he was waived by the team that drafted him during their final roster cut down. Right after the Steelers signed him, head coach Mike Tomlin was asked about his newest player prior to the season opener against the Denver Broncos.

"We were interested in this young man when he came out in the draft in 2011," said Tomlin about Van Dyke. "Obviously, we ended up with Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen, but he was within that group and in that range from a grading standpoint. I was at his pro day. He’s got big-time upside, he’s an extremely fast guy. It was an opportunity for us to put a young cornerback in the mix and continue to work with him and develop his skill and see if maybe he can help us at some point."

Despite being new to the team, Van Dyke dressed for the Steelers season opener against the Broncos and played on special teams. He managed to get himself noticed on the Steelers second punt of that game, however, when he downed a Drew Butler punt at the Broncos one yard-line.

The following week against the New York Jets, Van Dyke again made his presence felt on special teams when he used his speed in the third quarter to race downfield on a punt that resulted in Jets return man Jeremy Kerley muffing the catch with him in his face and Steelers safety Ryan Mundy recovering the loose football. Little did we know it that time, that that would be pretty much it for Van Dyke's positive contributions for the remainder of the season.

Over the course of the next four games, Van Dyke became a liability on special teams as he racked up five penalties during that span. On four occasions he was flagged for holding and one other time he was flagged for running out of bounds while covering a punt. As a result of the penalties, Tomlin made an example out of Van Dyke as he chose to dress him only once over the course of the next six games.

If not for the late season injuries in the Steelers secondary, Van Dyke more than likely wouldn't have dressed for the remainder of the season. However, when starting cornerback Ike Taylor fractured his ankle in the Week 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens, Van Dyke found himself back in uniform playing on special teams the following week against the San Diego Chargers.

With both Taylor and Cortez Allen out injured the following week against the Dallas Cowboys, it looked as if Van Dyke might actually be in line for his first defensive snaps of the season, but a separated shoulder suffered covering the game's first punt resulted in him being out of the game and the remainder of the season as a result.

Van Dyke has long since had his injured shoulder surgically repaired and he will presumably will be ready for the upcoming OTA sessions. However, the incompetence that he showed last season on special teams combined with the Steelers bringing back William Gay during the offseason, and the drafting Illinois cornerback Terry Hawthorne just last month, will severely hamper his chances at making the 53 man roster this year out of training camp.

Should Van Dyke fail to make the final cut, his time in Pittsburgh will be up as he no longer has practice squad eligibly.


(steelersdepot.com)

In a not-so-surprising move, Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke has signed his one-year exclusive tender of $555,000.

Exclusive rights free agents have no choice but to sign their tenders as they can't negotiate with other teams.

Van Dyke was signed last year by the Steelers after clearing waivers just prior to the start of the regular season after being waived by the Oakland Raiders.
The fastest man at the 2011 NFL combine was originally drafted by the Raiders in the 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Van Dyke only saw time on special teams last year for the Steelers and became a liability in that area as he was penalized five times in total. Those penalties led to him being benched temporarily by head coach Mike Tomlin as a result.

Van Dyke ended the season on injured reserve after he suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery in the Week 15 game against the Dallas Cowboys.He figures to compete for a spot on the 53 man roster during training camp.


(steelersdepot.com)

Thank you to Harry Rothwell @mrallcanes for sending us this photo of proCanes: Lamar Miller Dolphins, DeMarcus Van Dyke Steelers, Allen Bailey Chiefs, Sean Spence Steelers, Travis Benjamin Browns, Brandon Harris Texans.

Steelers CB Demarcus Van Dyke required reconstructive surgery on his shoulder after his Week 14 injury.
Signed just after the start of the season after being waived by Oakland, Van Dyke appeared in nine games with Pittsburgh as primarily a special teamer and deep-reserve corner. He's scheduled for exclusive rights free agency and will compete for a roster spot in 2013 training camp if tendered by the club.


(rotoworld.com)

The Pittsburgh Steelers dropped their seventh game of the season Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys and are now in a must-win situation as they head into their final two games of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Cleveland Browns.

The loss included more injuries to the Steelers secondary in addition as head coach Mike Tomlin said in his post game press conference that starting cornerback Keenan Lewis (groin) suffered a groin injury in the second half and reserve cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke (shoulder) suffered a separated shoulder early in the game while attempting to make a tackle on special teams.

The Steelers came into the game already thin in the secondary as cornerback Ike Taylor (ankle) sat out his second consecutive game Sunday with a fractured ankle as did his replacement Cortez Allen (groin), who missed the game due to a groin injury suffered last Sunday in the loss to the San Diego Chargers.


(steelersdepot.com)

Ike Taylor will miss his second consecutive game due to a broken right ankle, and Tomlin revealed Tuesday that Keenan Lewis and Cortez Allen have hip flexor ailments. Although both will be limited in practice, Tomlin indicated he was more optimistic about Lewis' potential availability to play Sunday.

Lewis started in Taylor's place against San Diego, with Curtis Brown filling in as the slot. The result was 12 third-down conversions from San Diego—the majority targeted at Allen or Brown.

Brown was benched in the second half in favor of the undrafted Josh Victorian. The first-year pro was on the practice squad just last week—but he could be in line for a significant role in Dallas if either Allen or Lewis can't play. Victorian was beat for a touchdown by Danario Alexander in the fourth quarter Sunday.

Another cornerback who had yet to see many reps on defense but who might be pressed into action is DeMarcus Van Dyke. Van Dyke was cut by Oakland at the end of training camp a year after being drafted in the third round by the Raiders.

"Obviously, we are running short at cornerback," Tomlin said. "Those guys that had the opportunity to step up and log a bunch of snaps over the last week and a half, it looks like that is going to continue."

Van Dyke started four of the 14 games he played for Oakland as a rookie last season. He was active for Pittsburgh's first six games this season. After being flagged five times for fouls on special teams over a three-game span, though, he was benched. He was a Sunday inactive five times in a six-game span before playing vs. the Chargers.

"We will continue to work with those guys and build a plan around what they are capable of executing and executing at a high level," Tomlin said. "More than anything, it's not about what we call; it's about what those guys are capable of executing."


(ydr.com)

It was reported late Sunday that Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor may have suffered fibula injury in the Sunday win over the Baltimore Ravens that could keep him out for 2-6 weeks. Should that indeed be the case the Steelers cornerback situation will obviously change.

Second-year cornerback Cortez Allen replaced Taylor in the base defense and that will be the plan moving forward. Allen had three passes defensed in relief of Taylor, but his pass interference penalty and failed coverage on Anquan Boldin that resulted in a touchdown made his play uneven on the night.

When the Steelers went to their nickel package second-year cornerback Curtis Brown entered the game and played outside on most of his snaps with Allen continuing to play his nickel slot role that he has played all season long. This too is expected to be the plan moving forward.

With Taylor likely to be sidelined indefinitely we will likely see cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke now dress in his place as the fourth cornerback on gamedays. Van Dyke is regarded generally as an outside corner, so we have likely seen the last of the seldom used dime package at least initially. In the event that they do play dime, Brown very well might be the one to move inside with Van Dyke playing the outside spot in those situations.


(steelersdepot.com)

Tyler Horn @Tyler63Horn
I understand the decision and not for one second blame the coaches or the Admin. I just think the process needs to be expedited by the NCAA.

Tyler Horn @Tyler63Horn
The NCAA needs to change. Making 2 classes w/ an overwhelming majority of innocent players miss out on what they earned is just plain wrong

DeMarcus Van Dyke @D_VanDyke8
Let the seniors enjoy what they worked for! We don't know what the NCAA is going to do so don't tell me that BS

DeMarcus Van Dyke @D_VanDyke8
This is like we are punishing them kids for a bad report card their big brother receive

Ottis OJ Anderson @OJAnderson24
Say what?! “@hurricanesports: Miami Hurricanes Make Unprecedented Decision to Forego Bowl Opportunity in 2012http://bit.ly/T6AnYR ”

Alonzo Highsmith @alonzohighsmith
I am done with Miami!!! God bless them and wish them well? Will worry about Packers? Run right from the top!!!

Alonzo Highsmith @alonzohighsmith
Will not commit anymore on the Miami situation anymore? What's done is done? Did Donna give up her pay check?

Sean Goldstein @Sgoldie_daU53
As a UM fan and former player today couldn't be much worse. We self-impose another bowl ban and nd is ranked 1 #yikes

Sean Goldstein @Sgoldie_daU53
I couldn't feel any worse for those guys on the team who have to deal with another bowl ban. Too much work gets put in for this to happen

Jacory Harris @12JHarris12
Wow, those guys worked to hard to get where they are this year!

Kyle Bellamy @KyleBellamy_U
I wonder if the NCAA will care that UM has self imposed bowl ban passed 2 years. They never really liked us in first place

BonecrusherDan Sileo @DanSileoShow
What are the Canes waiting for...Ohio State REGRETS not giving last years bowl up..so does USC...HUGE mistake if we DONT

Brian Monroe @TrainerRoe
Smh! #staystrong #ufamily

Brandon Harris @HarrisNOFLYZONE
"I'm pissed why punish yourself twice the NCAA could care less about self imposed they still bringing the hammer,” he posted.

Olivier Vernon told the sun-sentinel: "Sometimes I guess you feel like the school doesn’t have your back," said Miami Dolphin Olivier Vernon, a member of the 2011 Hurricane team that also sat out a bowl ban. "You work so hard in the season to get to a bowl game, get to ACC championship, and to know that your school gave up a bowl bid kinda hurts a little bit but I’m not there so I ain’t worrying about it right now." Vernon also recalled how the 2011 team responded a week after being told a bowl was out.

"A lot of guys were down," he said. "It’s not a good feeling. But you’ve got to wish the best for things to come next year and the following (years)."

The special teams co-coach has seen enough. He can't take it anymore.

As soon as he has some healthy bodies, Steelerscoach Mike Tomlin plans to remove the "repeat, egregious offenders" on special teams who erased 85 yards in returns Sunday. It was another in a continuing parade of holding and block-in-the-back penalties.

So, beware DeMarcus Van Dyke and others. Your time is coming ... sometime.

"With all the injuries, we have minimal options," Tomlin said at his Tuesday news conference, categorizing the penchant for special-teams penalties as "disturbing."

When more players return to health, Tomlin said "the repeat, egregious offenders will be watching. You can take a helmet off and make them watch. We feel like we can be explosive in that area, provided we don't shoot ourselves in the foot."

The limping Steelers (3-3) were called for five penalties on special teams Sunday in a 24-17 victory over Cincinnati, where they nearly lost more yards (85 negated and 40 in penalties) than they officially gained (132) in the return game. They were flagged for one penalty on offense and defense, allowing the third-most penalized NFL team to drop to sixth-most this week.

Tomlin fired special teams coach Al Everest before the final preseason game and split his coaching duties between himself and assistant Amos Jones.


(cbssports.com)

Since the Pittsburgh Steelers signed free agent cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke a few weeks ago, several have asked me how long his contract was for and the total amount of the deal. A source has informed me today that it was one-year deal worth $465,000 and that it did not include a signing bonus.

Assuming that Van Dyke last the entire season on the 53 man roster, he should be an exclusive free agent after the end of the year and thus easily retained with an exclusive rights free agent tender offer of $555,000 that he must accept if he wants to play in the NFL next season.

The Oakland Raiders former third round pick has a been a big contributor on special teams through the first two games of the season and is considered a project cornerback moving forward by the coaching staff. With Keenan Lewis scheduled to an unrestricted free agent after the 2012 season, the Steelers would still have three young cornerbacks under contract next season, along with veteran Ike Taylor, should Lewis wind up signing elsewhere.


(steelersdepot.com)

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said former Raiders cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke “has been an awesome surprise for us.”

“He has done a nice job for us, man,” Tomlin said. “He’s added some quality plays for us, just in two ballgames. He downed a punt in Denver on the 1-yard line. He prevented a ball from getting downed at the 1-yard line for us last week. He blew up a punt return and that created a turnover. He’s really just beginning the process of acclimating himself to the defense and hopefully he can be an asset there as well.”

Tomlin said “we don’t care what happened with (Van Dyke)” in Oakland. “He has done a nice job working, and is diligent and detailed.”


(sfgate.com)

DeMarcus Van Dyke (30) pressures Jets punt returner Jeremy Kerley into a fumble in the third quarter Sunday at Heinz Field.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Oakland Raiders cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke last week and head coach Mike Tomlin was asked to talk about the newest Steelers Sunday prior to the Sunday night opener against the Denver Broncos.

"We were interested in this young man when he came out in the draft in 2011, said Tomlin. " Obviously, we ended up with Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen, but he was within that group and in that range from a grading standpoint. I was at his pro day. He’s got big-time upside, he’s an extremely fast guy. It was an opportunity for us to put a young cornerback in the mix and continue to work with him and develop his skill and see if maybe he can help us at some point."

So now the mystery is solved as it appears that Van Dyke will indeed likely be around for at least a little while. While the coaching staff starts the task of developing the University of Miami product, he figures to dress every week going forward as a fifth cornerback, with his primary role being a gunner on special teams.

While Van Dyke did not record a specials team tackle in the Sunday night game, he was able to down a punt of Drew Butler in the game that Curtis Brown was able to prevent going into the endzone for touchback.


(steelersdepot.com)

The fastest man at the 2011 combine is going to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.

PFT has learned that the Steelers will sign cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke. Van Dyke was waived by the Raiders on Monday when they signed veteran corner Joselio Hanson.

Van Dyke, who passed through waivers unclaimed, ran a 4.28 40 at last year’s Scouting Combine. That helped him become a third-round pick of the Raiders, who were never shy about picking up players who could run like the wind.

As they say, you can’t teach speed. Van Dyke’s problem is that he sometimes made it look like he couldn’t be taught cornerback either. He was part of a Raiders cornerback corps that allowed opponents 251 yards per game through the air. None of the five cornerbacks who saw extensive time for the Raiders last season are still with the team, with Van Dyke helping to author his own pink slip with a rough night in a preseason game against Arizona.

Still, he’s got that speed and he’s 6’1″, which is a combination that makes football people try to make it all work out. Ike Taylor and Keenan Lewis are set as the starters in Pittsburgh, with Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown in reserve. Van Dyke will try to work his way into the rotation while working with defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and other Steelers coaches try to put his impressive physical tools to better use on the field.


(profootballtalk.com)

The Oakland Raiders’ change at cornerback was a strong message from their new brass: No one is on scholarship and none of Al Davis’ decisions will be given special consideration moving forward.

The Raiders drastically changed the look of the cornerback position when they signed veteran Joselio Hanson. The 31-year-old was cut by the Eagles on Friday. To make room for Hanson, the Raiders surprisingly cut second-year cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke. He was a third-round pick in 2011.

Van Dyke was a classic Davis draft pick. He was the fastest runner at the combine in 2011 and the Raiders used a high pick on him because of his speed despite the fact that he wasn’t overly productive in college. Van Dyke struggled last year. He came back and had a nice training camp this season, but he wasn’t overly impressive in preseason games.

Still, because of the team’s investment in him, his youth and speed, he wasn’t considered to be in danger of being cut. No one expected Oakland to keep newly signed Coye Francies over a third-round pick like Van Dyke. This decision has to show the rest of the roster that few players are safe.

The Van Dyke cut comes on the heels of the team cutting 2011 fourth-round pick Chimdi Chekwa. He was put on the practice squad.

Both Van Dyke and Chekwa were expected to push free-agent signing Ronald Bartell and Shawntae Spencer. Yet, the youngsters couldn’t push either player.

Hanson is a fairly respected nickel cornerback and he will give Oakland solid experience. Still, the Raiders are still in flux at the position for the long run. Bartell, Spencer and Hanson are not high-level players. They are all over 30 and all are signed to one-year deals.

So, while Oakland’s cornerback position -- which was very solid in 2010 with Nnamdi Asomugha and Stanford Routt as the starters -- is drastically different for the short term and it will likely look much different next year. It’s early, but you’d have to think a cornerback will be very high on Oakland’s draft wish list next year. The picks of Van Dyke and Chekwa were designed to fill the cornerback needs for years to come.


(espn.com)

ALAMEDA -- It's no mystery the Raiders' punt return game has struggled mightily in the preseason, with the trio of Jacoby Ford, Bryan McCann and DeAundre Muhammad combining to average a mere 4.4 yards per return.

So it was no surprise, then, to see speedy cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke fielding punts following practice Monday. The Raiders have to mix it up, right? Especially with Ford still out with a sore left foot and Muhammad cut earlier in the day.

"Potentially, (we'll) see how he looks in practice this week," said coach Dennis Allen, when asked if Van Dyke could return punts against Seattle in both teams' exhibition finale Thursday.

"Obviously we're looking to see who's going to fulfill that role for us. We'll explore whatever's out there."

Van Dyke said he last returned punts as a freshman at Miami and, before that, in high school.

Doing it in the NFL, albeit in an exhibition game, represents a quantum leap of a difference. And sitting there, waiting for the ball to drop from the sky while an entire team barrels down on you, is completely different from the loneliness of being a cornerback out on the edge with just one receiver to worry about.

"Imagine 11 angry men, all running down at full speed, trying to take you head off," Van Dyke said with a nervous smile.

That is where Van Dyke's speed -- he was the fastest man at the Combine in 2011 -- would come into play, so long as he fields the ball cleanly. And it might even help with his confidence as a cornerback.

"Having the ball in my hands could help me get going, give me that swagger," he said.

"It's going to interesting, so I"m pretty excited about Thursday."


(csnbayarea.com)

NAPA -- DeMarcus Van Dyke has gone from phenom to flame out in the course of 18 practice sessions.

As the Raiders concluded their training camp Thursday, the realization is that the true worth of the second-year cornerback out of Miami lies somewhere in between.

Van Dyke's recent struggles suggest he isn't yet the playmaker who wowed teammates and coaches by breaking up numerous passes while subbing for injured starter Ron Bartell during the early days of training camp.

"I've just got to go out there and play ball,"Van Dyke said. "I'm doing too much thinking, I think. Coach (Jason) Tarver gave me a lot of advice, telling me to go out and play ball. Don't worry about making mistakes, just play like I was the first two weeks of camp.''

As July turned to August, Van Dyke looked to be pushing for a starting job, perhaps at Shawntae Spencer's spot, once Bartell returned.

Van Dyke had put on weight -- he was up to 187 pounds after playing at a spindly 175 as a rookie -- and was playing with confidence.

But Van Dyke is prone to being too hard on himself, sometimes lacking the short-term memory necessary to the position.

"I'm doing too much thinking about trying to make a play, just pressing too much,"Van Dyke said.

Tarver, the Raiders defensive coordinator, is hoping Van Dyke rises to the occasion against the Detroit Lions Saturday at 4 p.m. The opposition includes wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the freakishly gifted wide receiver.

"I would really like to see him play like he plays out here and just play with what we know he can do," Tarver said. "He's heard that from me this week. Play like he plays at practice. Because he plays pretty good at practice.''

Spencer said he thought the change in Van Dyke came when Bartell returned and Van Dyke rejoined the second team.

"He was playing so well, and then Ron came back and everything changed,"Spencer said. "He wasn't as aggressive. He was like, 'All right, Ron's the starter.' I told him, 'No matter where you are on the depth chart, always look at yourself as a starter. Practice like a starter, prepare like a starter.''


(mercurynews.com)

Santana Moss, Sinorice Moss and DeMarcus Van Dyke all used their speed to make it to the NFL.

Korey Moss is hoping his strength will be the ticket to follow in his family’s footsteps.

Moss, a 5-9, 220-pound senior linebacker at South Miami, is the nephew of the Moss brothers — stars at Carol City and the University of Miami — and a cousin of Van Dyke, a former Miami Monsignor Pace star who plays with the Oakland Raiders.

“I’m one of the biggest ones in the family,” Moss said. “My uncles and my cousin were fast and played wide receiver in high school. But I’m the powerful one. I’m the one that likes to kill the guy running with the ball.”

Moss showed his strength and skill as a linebacker to record more than 100 tackles and 10 sacks last season in a breakout year for him and the Cobras.

Moss led Miami-Dade County in tackles for the first seven weeks of last season before being hobbled by an ankle injury. His efforts were key during a turnaround season in which South Miami won its first playoff game since 1987.

Moss keeps in contact with Santana when his schedule with the Washington Redskins permits, and with Sinorice, who currently plays for Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League.

GOOD EXAMPLES
Although Korey said he doesn’t have a college picked out yet, the University of Miami, where his three famous relatives played, is a school he grew up watching.

“Even though I’m not the same type of player they are, I learned a lot from watching them growing up,” said Moss, who would like to study veterinary medicine in college. “They’ve taught me how to stay focused when I’m on the field and what to do off it so I can make it big in life.”

Moss has yet to attract offers from major colleges but is hoping a big senior season to follow up last year’s performance will draw more attention from college recruiters.

Moss will still be a key cog for South Miami, which changed coaches in the offseason, hiring David Gray following the departure of Lamont Green to Southridge. Gray inherits a defense (led by Moss and senior linebacker Matt Delavega) that returns several starters.

The Cobras will have to account for the loss of some major weapons on offense because quarterback and all-around athlete A.J. Leggett graduated and leading running back Johnny Hankins transferred.

If a new quarterback emerges, he will have a solid receiving core led by junior Keyshaun Taylor.

TOUGH DISTRICT
Moss believes there is still enough talent to keep the Cobras in contention for another playoff run in District 14-8A.

Columbus is the heavy favorite to win the district again, coming off a state semifinal appearance in what was its best season since 1982.

But the Cobras (9-3 in 2011) appear to have as good a chance as last year to vie for the runner-up spot with Coral Gables, Miami High and Coral Park.

“We lost our coach from last year, but we’ve been doing well with Coach Gray, and we pretty much have the same team,” Moss said. “We expect another great season if we keep showing our dedication and heart.”


(mimaiherald.com)

We’re told second-year veteran DeMarcus Van Dyke is having the best training camp of all the Raiders’ cornerbacks thus far. We hear Van Dyke is playing more physical than he did as a rookie and is doing a better job of using his hands in press coverage.




(profootballweekly.com)

Sixteen months ago, the Raiders liked DeMarcus Van Dyke enough that they took him in the third round of the NFL draft. Now the Raiders don’t want Van Dyke at all — and neither do any of the NFL’s other 31 teams.

Van Dyke, who was waived yesterday, has cleared waivers today, a league source told PFT.

It’s surprising how quickly Van Dyke’s stock has fallen: He’s a supremely talented athlete who’s 4.28-second 40-yard dash was the fastest at last year’s Scouting Combine, and he played reasonably well as a rookie, getting into 14 games and making four starts.

But Van Dyke struggled this year in the preseason, and Raiders G.M. Reggie McKenzie decided to cut ties with the former Al Davis pick. Now every team in the league has passed on a chance to acquire him.


(profootballtalk.com)

Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer lofted a tight spiral deep down the right sideline and appeared to have an easy completion to Darrius Heyward-Bey before cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke came in to break up the pass and knock the receiver to the ground.

A day earlier, Van Dyke spent much of the morning jamming receivers at the line of scrimmage.

It's all part of Van Dyke's plan to become a more physical defender with the Raiders after he struggled at times as a part-time starter during his rookie season.
"He still makes some young player mistakes that we've got to get coached out of him, but he continues to make a little bit of progress every day," Oakland coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday. "He's not where he needs to be yet, but he's got to continue to work, continue to keep getting better and learn the little nuances of the game."

One of two third-round draft picks a year ago, Van Dyke has been getting plenty of work with Oakland's first-team defense while projected starter Ron Bartell rests his sore hamstring.

Bartell and veteran Shawntae Spencer were signed in the offseason to replace released starting corners Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson after Allen and general manager Reggie McKenzie targeted the secondary for a makeover.

Both are expected to start when the Raiders open the season at home Sept. 10 against San Diego, but Allen and defensive coordinator Jason Tarver are keeping their options open.

That includes Van Dyke, a 6-foot-1, 183-pound cornerback who played in 14 games with four starts as a rookie. He didn't put up big numbers (13 tackles, one interception) and often allowed himself to get pushed out of plays by bigger receivers.

But Oakland's entire pass defense took a beating in 2011. The Raiders were 29th in total defense a year ago, and 27th against the pass.

This year Van Dyke worked out with receivers such as Antonio Brown of Pittsburgh, Chad Johnson from Miami and Cleveland's Greg Little in an attempt to refine his techniques.

He also got a little scolding from his mother when he went home in the offseason.

"I went home and my momma told me, `DeMarcus, I'm your No. 1 fan, but you dropped too many interceptions last year,'" Van Dyke said. "I'm trying to work on catching the ball and turning my head when the ball is in the air. I did one-on-one workouts with guys. I tried to go up against big receivers, small receivers and the shifty ones."

Though the Raiders have been in training camp less than a week, Van Dyke has managed to stand out.

In addition to the play he made on Heyward-Bey during Oakland's first practice in full pads, Van Dyke broke up a pair of passes during a team scrimmage drill on Monday and followed it up with another solid workout on Tuesday.

"I'm taking everything (the coaches) tell me and putting it on the field," Van Dyke said. "I'm just going out there and trying to get better at my craft and trying to make plays."

About the only goal Van Dyke failed to reach this offseason was gaining more weight.

"I tried to aim for 190 (pounds) but I came in at 185," he said. "So I’m pretty cool with that."


(csnbayarea.com)

NAPA -- No matter how many passes DeMarcus Van Dyke breaks up during training camp, he realizes that every time the ball hits the ground, there's someone in Florida looking for him to do just a little bit more.

"I went home and my mama told me, 'DeMarcus, I'm your No. 1 fan, but you dropped way too many interceptions last year,' " Van Dyke said.

Following a rookie season where he learned about life as an NFL cornerback the hard way, Van Dyke has been one of the Raiders' most impressive defenders through three days in training camp.

During Wednesday's first padded practice, Van Dyke went stride-for-stride with wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey some 40 yards downfield and broke up a Carson Palmer pass at the top of his leap.

It's one of at least a half-dozen pass breakups Van Dyke has had through three practices during drill work and team sessions. He's slapped away long sideline passes, sideline routes and slants.

Working with the first unit as free agent signee Ron Bartell rests a tender hamstring, Van Dyke looks like a budding football player rather than another combine flash taken by the late Al Davis.

Although he didn't start much of his senior year at Miami, Van Dyke torched the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine with a time of 4.28. The Raiders took him in the third round with the 81st overall pick.

Van Dyke appeared to have little going for him other than all that speed and an affable manner. Reed-thin at 6-foot-1 and 177 pounds, he was thrown into the mix in the exhibition season and promptly gave up a 43-yard pass to Larry Fitzgerald in the 2011 exhibition opener.

He worked his way onto the field because of injuries to Chris Johnson and fellow rookie Chimdi Chekwa, but then struggled. Van Dyke took a shot to the ribs on Nov. 6 against Denver, surrendering his starting spot to veteran Lito Sheppard, who was signed only a week earlier. He rarely saw the field the rest of the season.

Free safety Michael Huff thinks Van Dyke's confidence may have taken an early hit last season. Van Dyke conceded losing playing time the second half of the season was discouraging, but said, "I tried to stay positive, because positive thoughts create positive outcomes."

Cornerback Shawntae Spencer, signed as a free agent and in line to be the other starting cornerback, has been impressed.

"He's made some very, very good plays," Spencer said. "He's a very quick corner, a very fast corner, and a very long corner as well. He has great instincts. I'm very impressed with the young man's game."

Raiders coach Dennis Allen likes what he's seen, but wants more.

"He's been consistent. He still makes some young-player mistakes that we've got to get coached out of him, but he makes a little bit of progress every day," Allen said. "He's not where he needs to be yet, but he's got to continue to work and continue to keep getting better and learn the little nuances of the game."

For Van Dyke, the next step is satisfying his mother.

"Pass breakups are nice, interceptions are better," Van Dyke said.


(insidebayarea.com)

NAPA, Calif. -- A player who has a great chance to ascend in the Oakland Raiders’ training camp is cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke.

He has a chance to show he belongs in the starting mix.

Van Dyke, a third-round pick in 2011, took an important step in establishing himself Monday when he was working with the first-team defense with projected starter Ronald Bartell out with a hamstring injury. Bartell should be back at some point, but this will give Van Dyke time to impress the new coaching staff.

So far, so good.

New Oakland coach Dennis Allen lauded Van Dyke for his effort Monday. If he continues to make strides, I think Van Dyke could push Bartell or, more likely, Shawntae Spencer, in the coming weeks.


(espn.com)

CB -- Shawntae Spencer vs. DeMarcus Van Dyke vs. Chimdi Chekwa: The Raiders added free agents Spencer (49ers) and Ron Bartell (Rams), a pair of experienced corners, and they worked with the first team throughout the offseason. Bartell looks like a lock on the left side, but Spencer could face a challenge at right cornerback after a rough 2011 season. Spencer started every game in 2009 and 2010 for the 49ers but made zero starts last year and appeared in only one game. He was limited by a hamstring injury in camp, which hurt his chances to impress new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. But that doesn't fully explain why he played so few snaps and why the 49ers released him after the season. Last year the Raiders drafted Van Dyke in the third round out of Miami and Chekwa in the fourth out of Ohio State. Both are still raw, but Van Dyke appeared in 14 games and made four starts last year, while Chekwa played in only four games with one start. Of the two, Van Dyke has more speed but Chekwa is more physical. At cornerback in the NFL, speed trumps brawn. Advantage: Van Dyke.


(cbssports.com)

Cornerback
DeMarcus Van Dyke vs. Shawntae Spencer
Tale of the tape:
Spencer: 9th season, 6-1, 190, Pittsburgh
Van Dyke: 2nd season, 6-1, 180, Miami

With seven years experience on Van Dyke, Spencer would seem to have the upper hand here...by a long shot. But no less an authority than general manager Reggie McKenzie said at the end of the Raiders' three-day mandatory minicamp in June that "nobody got it locked down." Spencer endured an injury-filled 2011 in San Francisco and lost his job after having a "burn rate" of 44.4 percent, giving up four receptions on nine targets. "It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done," Spencer said. "They want everyone to embrace the team concept and playing together and playing within each scheme." Van Dyke, meanwhile, is intriguing with his blazing speed -- he ran a 4.25-seconds 40-yard dash at the Combine -- and potential as a cover corner. He had a Raiders CB-best burn rate of 43.8 last season, giving up 14 receptions on 32 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown while being credited with four passes defensed. "It’s vision defense," he said. "You see a lot of stuff and we’re going to make a lot of plays next year." Indeed, we will see.


(csncalifornia.com)

He had his baptism by fire the first time he stepped on an NFL field.

"At the start of the preseason," DeMarcus Van Dyke mused during last month's OTA's, "I played against Larry Fitzgerald and I had a bad experience. But after that, I tried to make more plays, and it helped my confidence a lot."

And as such, Van Dyke is the most intriguing defensive back on the Raiders roster as the team prepares to report to Napa for training camp on July 28. The second-year cornerback was the quintessential Al Davis draft pick -- speed to burn, somewhat overvalued as a third-round draft pick.

But the new regime sees something in the lithe Van Dyke, and Van Dyke, who is starting to fill out physically, sees something in himself. Yes, the guy who blazed to a 4.25-second 40-time at the Combine will push veteran signees Shawntae Spencer and Ronald Bartell for playing time and maybe even for a starting job.

Intrigued yet?

"Next year, I just need to make more plays on the ball," Van Dyke said. "I had a bunch of chances to make interceptions that I dropped. And sometimes I kept my head on the receiver and didn’t look for the ball. That’s why at these OTAs I am trying to find the ball and make plays and hopefully help out next year."

Rookie coach Dennis Allen, who cut his teeth coaching up defensive backs, agreed.

"You've got to practice to get better," Allen said.

As a rookie last season, Van Dyke had a Raiders cornerback-best burn rate of 43.8, per Stats Inc., giving up 14 receptions on 32 targets for 167 yards and a touchdown while being credited with four passes defensed. By comparison, the departed Stanford Routt had a burn rate of 47.4 while Matt Giordano's was 42.5 and Mike Mitchell's was 34.6.

Both Spencer and Bartell had injury-shorted seasons in 2011 and their burn rates were 44.4 (four of nine) and 66.7 (two of three), respectively.
Van Dyke, now listed at 180 pounds, has found guidance from the two thus far.

"It’s the small things, like looking at the splits of the receivers and watching a lot of tendencies on film," he said. "I really appreciate those two guys helping me out as leaders this year.

Especially with a new regime and a new scheme.

"I am loving it," Van Dyke said. "It’s vision defense -- you see a lot of stuff and we’re going to make a lot of plays next year."

A year ago, the lockout wiped out any offseason activities, putting Van Dyke and his fellow rookies further behind an eight ball that the likes of Fitzgerald enjoyed shooting at the newbies.

"Without the OTAs and the minicamps, it really set a lot of the guys back," Van Dyke said. "But this year, it’s helped and I can’t wait to see how I play."

He's not the only one.


(csnbayarea.com)

Second-year CB DeMarcus Van Dyke, who is participating in his first off-season program in the NFL, is soaking up as much information as possible from the coaches and the veterans. “This has helped me out a lot,” said Van Dyke. “We have the installs every day, getting a feel for the game, and we’ve got two great corners in front of me, Shawntae Spencer and Ron Bartell, who are helping me out a lot.”

Van Dyke feels good about the way the defense is shaping up. “I’m loving it,” said Van Dyke. “It’s a vision defense. We see a lot of stuff so I’m going to make a lot of plays this year coming up.”


(raiders.com)

On Saturday night February 4, 2011 DeMarcus Van Dyke and Allen Bailey are hosting a party at Club SoBe Live and will be celebrating the King of Comedy Larry Dogg’s Birthday. Join them at midnight on Saturday Night!

Raiders declared CBs Demarcus Van Dyke (hamstring) and Chris Johnson (groin, hamstring) out for Week 10.

The Raiders will now be forced to start washed up Lito Sheppard opposite Stanford Routt at cornerback against Philip Rivers, who is coming off a 385-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Packers. Keep the Raiders defense benched this week.

Click here to order DeMarcus Van Dyke’s proCane Rookie Card.


(rotoworld.com)

ALAMEDA, Calif. - DeMarcus Van Dyke has come a long way from his rough introduction to life in the NFL.

Picked apart in the preseason and throughout training camp, the Oakland Raiders' rookie cornerback is coming into his own after getting thrust into a starting role.

Despite being targeted regularly by teams that have tried to avoid throwing at the more-accomplished Stanford Routt, Van Dyke is holding his own. He has allowed just 10 completions on 26 passes thrown toward him so far this season, according to STATS LLC. That's the eighth-best rate of any cornerback who has had at least 20 passes thrown his way.

"Like I told you before, once you know you're a great player your confidence is never shaken," Van Dyke said. "I came in with the confidence and I am just trying to run with it now."

Van Dyke started just three games at Miami as a senior but stood out at the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. Along with the sprinter speed that made him so attractive to the Raiders, coach Hue Jackson has praised his loose hips, 6-foot-1 size and makeup as attributes that should help in man coverage.

But because he weighed only 180 pounds, some people questioned whether he could hold up against more physical receivers.

Van Dyke struggled at times in training camp and was exposed in the preseason. On his first play as a professional, he lined up against five-time Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald and was beaten for a 43-yard gain. He later allowed a TD pass in that game as the Cardinals picked on him repeatedly.

It only got worse in the third preseason game on national TV, when New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees beat Van Dyke four times on the opening drive.

But the Raiders kept believing in Van Dyke and ended up cutting two cornerbacks taken in last year's draft, Jeremy Ware and Walter McFadden. That belief is paying off now for the Raiders.

"It was just how fast he could get used to the speed of the game at this level," Jackson said. "Obviously he took his lumps early in the preseason. People went after him. I think what people are finding out is he's very resilient. He keeps working at it. He's not going to back down now. Now he's starting to make some plays. He's made an interception here or there. I think people are starting to see this guy's got ability and talent, and I think his confidence is growing because of it."

Van Dyke started the season playing behind veteran Chris Johnson and missed the third game of the season with an injury. But with Johnson sidelined with an injury since September, Van Dyke moved into the starting lineup against Houston on Oct. 9 and has been up to the challenge. He allowed one completion on five throws in his direction in that win over the Texans.

He was targeted 12 times the following week by Cleveland's Colt McCoy and held his own, allowing five catches for 63 yards. Kansas City threw at him eight times the following week and he allowed four catches for 33 yards and intercepted a pass.

"The main thing is that he is just settling in," Routt said. "They kind of went after him in the preseason, but he has done just fine the last three games. He is just getting comfortable. It's also helped that you guys aren't on his back anymore, with all the plays that he gave up or whatever early. He is playing the way he played at the U."

Van Dyke's transition has been eased by the teaching he gets on the Raiders, who have two Hall of Fame cornerbacks on their staff in Rod Woodson and Willie Brown. Woodson has pressed his cornerbacks since the start of training camp to be aggressive and "pull the trigger" — something Van Dyke struggled with at first.

But as evidenced by his interception in his last game, Van Dyke is showing signs of improving at playing the ball, which was a major weakness when he arrived a few months ago.

"It's been a process from preseason on to Week 8," Van Dyke said. "Got to just keep grinding. Got a long season. Got to keep doing what Coach Woodson wants me to do. I feel more comfortable out there every rep I take in practice and in games. As the season goes along, I think I should get better every practice."

Click here to order DeMarcus Van Dyke’s proCane Rookie Card.


(ap.com)

DeMarcus Van Dyke – Oakland

Van Dyke starts at right corner for the Raiders. From a speed and athletic point of view he has everything a scout looks for in a corner. He is extremely fast with loose hips, a quick pedal and fluid movement in transition. He can line up and play press or play off and show good mirror ability. He flashes good hitting ability on receivers and wraps when he tackles. What I didn’t like is he is very average in run support. In Sunday’s game versus Kansas City there were more than just a few times when he was more passive than aggressive against the run. He had opportunities to come up quickly and lay a hit on the runner and didn’t do it. Still, he had 4 tackles in the game but could have had more. I like his mirror skills in coverage, but I question his ball skills. He had an interception on an overthrown ball, but there were a couple of plays where he was late to react to the ball in the air and gave up completions on passes he could have broken up. I know I am being hard on him but this is a talented player who has the tools to be a top corner in the league. To be a top player at that position, you have to have strong mental discipline. I question if Van Dyke has that yet.

Based on what I have seen so far, Van Dyke is having a good rookie season and his overall play Sunday was fairly good, he just has to develop down after down consistency and make the plays he is capable of making. He gets a B but was capable of getting an A in this game.

Click here to order DeMarcus Van Dyke’s proCane Rookie Card.


(nationalfootballpost.com)

CB DeMarcus Van Dyke and FB Manase Tonga both started for the second time this season because of injuries at their positions. Van Dyke missed a couple tackles but played fairly well in coverage.




(pressdemocrat.com)

Oakland Raiders CB DeMarcus Van Dyke is expected to make his second straight start in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns in place of the injured CB Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring).




(kffl.com)

Comments

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson said Monday, Sept. 19, that CB DeMarcus Van Dyke (leg) suffered a leg laceration in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, but the injury is not considered serious.


Click here to order DeMarcus Van Dyke’s proCane Rookie Card.


(kffl.com)

Tonight, the Raiders pop the DVD back in. Action movie? Horror flick? We'll see.

Rookie cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke is back in the starting lineup against the Seahawks, a week after giving up four passes for 73 yards in the first four minutes of a loss to quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints.

His confidence is not shaken.

"No, once you have the mind-set that you're a great player, you never lose confidence," the third-round pick out of Miami said. "You just have to stay confident, because in the NFL, guys are going to beat you some days. And you're going to beat them some days. Stay positive and you'll be OK."

Van Dyke, in the lineup for the injured Chris Johnson, said he learned something last week.

"I just have to make plays," he said. "I was in position to make a play the first play (a 37-yard pass), but I just gotta turn my head around. That's about it. Just make plays. Coach (Rod) Woodson told me to make plays on the ball and all that will stop."


(sfgate.com)

Learning to play cornerback in the NFL can be a painful – and very public -- process.

Take Raiders rookie DeMarcus Van Dyke, for instance.

With starting corner Chris Johnson out with an injury, Van Dyke was in the starting lineup for Sunday night’s exhibition matchup with the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees, one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league.

Brees picked on Van Dyke several times in the first quarter as the Saints marched quickly and efficiently down the field en route to a 40-20 victory.

The entire Raiders secondary had its breakdowns throughout the game, but Brees’ early victimization of Van Dyke set the tone. Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle noted Brees completed four passes for 73 yards to receivers matched against Van Dyke in the opening minutes of the game.

“He’s got to learn from it,” Raiders head coach Hue Jackson told Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times. “He’s a rookie and he’s a very talented young man. He’s learning the NFL game. Until he starts making those plays consistently – and he made some and he missed some – until he makes them consistently and he’s out there, he’s going to get targeted. That’s the way this league is. Wherever you’re bleeding, people will keep scratching at the area, so we’ve got some things to fix.”

Van Dyke, a third-round pick from Miami, certainly wasn’t the only one in the secondary with a target on his helmet. Brees picked apart the defense, completing 15 of 23 passes for 189 yards.

The injuries and youth in the defensive backfield were reasons the Raiders signed veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard late last week. Sheppard did not play Sunday night.

Said cornerback Stanford Routt: “We’ve got to stop it. Plain and simple.”


(nbcbayarea.com)

YOUNTVILLE — DeMarcus Van Dyke is a rookie cornerback who played with the first-team defense for the Oakland Raiders in a preseason game Saturday night. He was matched up against the 49ers’ Braylon Edwards, Ted Ginn Jr., and Josh Morgan at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. 

On Sunday, Van Dyke and 11 of his Raiders’ teammates visited with residents of the Veterans Home of California in Yountville during the dinner hour in the main dining room. It was a chance for Raiders players to leave their Napa training camp, to give their eyes a rest from studying the playbook and sit down with veterans to talk football.

“It meant a lot, just to have the coaches believe in me, to put me with the starting group,” said Van Dyke, who was selected in the third round out of Miami (Fla.) by Oakland in the 2011 NFL Draft. “I think I did pretty good. I played more comfortable, played fast. I’m trying to get better every day in camp by going against guys like Denarius Moore and all the other guys. I try to get better every day.”

Van Dyke and other players filled the hour by signing autographs, having their photos taken and getting to know some of the Home residents on a more personal level. Founded in 1884, the Veterans Home of California in Yountville is the largest veterans’ home in the United States, offering residential accommodations with a wealth of recreational, social, and therapeutic activities for independent living. Some 1,100 veterans (both men and women) of World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Storm, and Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom currently live at the Veterans Home. 

“It’s such a thrill for the vets here to actually meet some of these team members,” said Jaime Arteaga, public information manager for the state of California’s Department of Veterans Affairs. “They just love the idea of being able to see them on a 1 on 1 basis. They can ask them any questions they want. For the Raiders, this is a great opportunity, because I always think that whenever you have two generations come together, there’s a lot of mutual sharing and respect.”

Players went around the large room, introducing themselves and spending time at different tables. Other players who made the trip were Chimdi Chekwa, a rookie cornerback from Ohio State; Bryson Kelly, a rookie fullback out of Central Washington; Darryl Blackstock, a fifth-year linebacker out of Virginia; Stefen Wisniewski, a rookie center-guard from Penn State; Lou Eliades, a rookie tackle from Penn State; Alex Parsons, a first-year offensive lineman out of USC; Roy Schuening, a second-year guard out of Oregon State; Alan Pelc, a rookie guard from North Carolina; Seth Wand, a sixth-year tackle from Northwest Missouri State; Damola Adeniji, a first-year wide receiver from Oregon State; and Mason Brodine, a rookie defensive end from Nebraska-Kearney.

“It’s an honor to sit with these people,” said Eliades. “I’m sitting with these people and they feel privileged to be with me. But in reality, I’m honored to be with them right now on a day off.”

Said Wisniewski: “It was a lot of fun, met a lot of good people here. It was nice to get out of camp and do something for somebody else for a little while. It was a good time. A lot of Raider fans out here, which is cool.”

Van Dyke said he was honored to be at the Veterans Home, “to pay respect to the guys that fought for us to have the freedom that we have.”
Van Dyke played the first quarter, lining up at right cornerback, and was on special teams during the second and third quarter in Saturday’s game. The Raiders are in their final week of camp, which takes place at Redwood Middle School.

“This is a really big week just to keep grinding and get better every day at what I do,” said Van Dyke.

Veterans Home residents have long been big baseball fans, attending American Legion and Joe DiMaggio League games at Cleve Borman Field throughout the summer months for years and years. But they are also into football.

“They are football fans like nobody’s a football fan,” said Marcella McCormack, administrator of the Veterans Home. “Some of them like the Oakland Raiders, some of them like the 49ers.”

McCormack said the interaction between the professional players, who have been in camp since late July, and the Vets Home residents is a good thing.

“Whenever you can get them talking and working together, it’s great,” said McCormack, a retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. “We know the preseason’s on, they’re busy, they’re in training (camp). For them to take the time out to see our vets is great.”

The Raiders return to the Oakland Coliseum on Aug. 28 for a nationally televised Week 3 preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. In the preseason finale, the Raiders travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in Week 4.

The Raiders open the 2011 NFL regular season in prime-time for the fifth time in seven seasons when the Silver and Black travel to Denver to face the AFC West Broncos on Sept. 12 in the second half of the ESPN Monday night doubleheader. The Raiders then travel to Buffalo to face the Bills on Sept. 18.

Wisniewski played center on the Oakland offensive line Saturday, but the Raiders are also taking a look at him at guard.

“Played pretty well, but still a lot to work on,” said Wisniewski. “Just trying to help the team wherever I can, no matter what position it’s at.

“I’ve had a lot to learn, certainly got a lot to work to do. But I’m happy with how it’s going — still trying to fight and get a starting job.”
Blackstock played from second quarter to the end of the game Saturday. He doesn’t grade himself personally on his play.

“I think that I did what I could to help the team, doing my job and playing physical and tough and intelligent,” said Blackstock. “I think as a group, we take this as a lesson and just really learn from it, be critical with the film and critical with our craft. As far as the learning process, you learn something new every day in football. The thing is to grasp the information and let it stick and keep rolling, because football is a craft. It takes time.”



(napavalleyregister.com)

NAPA -- Hue Jackson's training camp-long mantra of "Next Man Up" is about to be put to its latest, if not ultimate test.

Rookie cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, who had his NFL baptism by fire at the hands and feet of All-Pro wideout Larry Fitzgerald last week, has risen to the top of the Raiders' cornerback depth chart. This is what happens when an All-Pro cover corner like Nnamdi Asomugha takes advantage of free agency and bolts for Philadelphia. And when sixth-year Raider Chris Johnson is downgraded from not injured on Sunday to being in the "Over-30 Club" on Monday to having an unspecified surgical "procedure" on Wednesday. All without once being mentioned as "nicked" up.

In Jackson's philosophy, Next Man Up means opportunity lost for one, opportunity gained for another. Enter the speedy rookie already known in the streets of Silver and Blackdom simply as DVD.

"Yeah, it's an opportunity to show out, to show the team that I can play," Van Dyke said Wednesday. "And this is an opportunity to show Coach Hue that I'm ready to play."

Obviously, the Raiders believe he has the skill set, otherwise they would not have used a third-round pick, No. 81 overall, on the lithe former Miami Hurricane.

Listed at 6-feet-1 (in his cleats, maybe) and 180 pounds (soaking wet and with rocks in his pockets), the baby-faced DVD has run the 40 in 4.25 seconds. Of course, that's what caught the Raiders' attention, as he was seen as a sixth- or seventh-rounder pick by many draft pundits after he lost his his starting job as a senior.

"I think so," Jackson said when asked if this weekend's exhibition against the 49ers was an opportunity for Van Dyke. "Whether it's Van Dyke (or)%u2026whoever the next guy is, step up and play. Again, as you guys know, I don't bat an eye at those things when a guy goes down or a guy's out of here. I don't like it for our players, but you can't worry about that. I can't worry about that.

"I've got to coach the guys that are here. The next guy's got to step up and play like a Raider."

Without the benefit of a rookie mini-camp or OTA's, Van Dyke has had all of 16 NFL practices to hone his skills.

"I've improved a lot," he said, "and every day I try to get better at different things, like playing off (the receiver) and ball skills. So I figure I'm much better than when I came in."

Granted, he's been able to do it under the tutelage of Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, the Raiders' new cornerbacks coach.

"He's going to be good," Woodson said recently of Van Dyke. "It's the little things that he has to work on. He has to learn how to finish. He's still learning the little things about playing corner in this league -- playing the different coverages, when to do certain things, when not to do certain things. But if he keeps progressing in the positive manner like he has in the first week or so, he'll be a decent player."

Besides his speed, Van Dyke has been credited with having good hips, a must for cornerbacks, what with their need to immediately switch directions in coverage.

Woodson said Van Dyke reminded him of a former teammate in Baltimore -- Duane Starks.

"DVD%u2026he's a little bit taller," Woodson said. "His range, I don't think too many receivers are outrunning him. So, he has a lot to learn to break down, move his body weight and transition when he's playing in space. If he does that, he can be a pretty good player."

He was put to the test immediately by Arizona, Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb throwing deep to Fitzgerald down the left sideline. And while Van Dyke was with Fitzgerald step-for-step and actually had good coverage on him, the receiver's cunning won the short-lived battle as he went over the shorter DVD and made the catch.

He finished the game with two tackles.

Van Dyke insists his newfound standing atop the depth chart does not change his thinking.

"It's a mentality you've got to have anyway as a cornerback," he said. "It's you against the receiver; you've got to win the battle."

Still, there was a little extra bounce in his step Wednesday. And maybe not simply because he's slated to start against the 49ers.

Van Dyke's name was absent from the damning Yahoo! Sports report chronicling a booster bankrolling the Hurricanes program over the past decade.

"Hey, that's key right there," he said with a nervous laugh. "I didn't make the list. I'm good."

He may not have made a certain list in South Beach, but be sure of this -- his back will have a target on it come Saturday at Candlestick Point.



(csnbayarea.com)

Raiders LCB Chris Johnson is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery Wednesday for an undisclosed injury.

Johnson was practicing at the beginning of the week, so he must have gone down very recently. The Raiders are being tight-lipped about injuries in camp. With Johnson out, raw rookie Demarcus Van Dyke is running with the starting defense. Coach Hue Jackson says Johnson should be back before Week 1.



(rotoworld.com)

NAPA, Calif. (AP) - DeMarcus Van Dyke got quite the introduction to the NFL.

The rookie cornerback from Miami was lined up against Arizona superstar receiver Larry Fitzgerald on his first series of his exhibition debut and the Cardinals went right at him.

Van Dyke allowed a long completion to Fitzgerald on the first pass his way even though he did have tight coverage. He stayed with the five-time Pro Bowler on the next deep pass, leading to an incompletion.

But the debut got progressively worse after that with Van Dyke allowing an 18-yard touchdown to Stephen Williams late in the first half and several other completions to Arizona's less accomplished receivers.

"As a DB, you've got to have amnesia," Van Dyke said. "You get beat one time, you can't let it keep building, that feeling. They got me. They're not going to beat me again.

The Raiders are hoping for much steadier play this season from Van Dyke, a third-round pick out in April who could get plenty of opportunities to play against multiple receiver packages this season.

Van Dyke started just three games at Miami as a senior but blossomed at the NFL combine, where he ran a 4.25 40-yard dash. Along with the sprinter speed that made him so attractive to the Raiders, coach Hue Jackson has praised his loose hips, 6-foot-1 size and makeup as attributes that should help in man coverage.

"When I talk to the young man, there is no fear in him at all," Jackson said. "Fitzgerald makes those plays on everybody. I've seen him make them on the best in this league. He made one on that young man. But the young man came back and stayed with him the next time and that's what this is all about."

Van Dyke received encouragement after the game from fellow former Miami cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Sam Shields, veterans who have been through the rough transition from college to the pros.

That only got harder when Van Dyke saw himself lined up against Fitzgerald as soon as he got on the field. He stayed with Fitzgerald stride for stride on the first pass but was outmaneuvered for the ball at the end, giving the Cardinals a 43-yard gain.

"It's a pretty good way to go out there and judge yourself on a guy of his caliber and see what I can get better at," he said. "I just have to finish on plays, that's about it."

Van Dyke gets to learn the trade from a pair of Hall of Famers in assistant coaches Willie Brown and Rod Woodson. Woodson, in his first year as a coach, compares Van Dyke to one of his former teammates in Baltimore, Duane Starks, and expects big things from his young player.

"He's going to be good. It's the little things that he has to work on," Woodson said. "He has to learn how to finish. He's still learning the little things about playing corner in this league, playing the different coverages, when to do certain things, when not to do certain things. But if he keeps progressing in the positive manner like he has in the first week or so, he'll be a decent player."

The question for the Raiders is how long that process will take. With All Pro Nnamdi Asomugha gone to Philadelphia in free agency, the Raiders have no experienced cornerback behind starters Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson.

Oakland drafted a pair of cornerbacks a year ago in Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware, who both struggled in limited time as rookies and have been victimized in training camp and in the exhibition opener. The Raiders also drafted Ohio State cornerback Chimdi Chekwa in the fourth round in April, but he has not been able to practice much this summer because of a shoulder injury.

Arizona quarterbacks combined to go 17-for-27 for 297 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions at a 137.4 passer rating once the starting cornerbacks sat after the first series.

"It's so blown out of proportion," Routt said. "They're young. People are going to make mistakes. It's preseason. Everybody wants to act like if you do bad in one preseason game, you should be crucified or whatever. It is what it is, the first preseason game. We got three more. Mistakes happen. Veterans make mistakes."



(cnnsi.com)

DeMarcus Van Dyke received quite the "welcome to the NFL" moment in the Raiders' exhibition opener Thursday.

The Raiders' rookie cornerback found himself lined up against All-Pro wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who promptly did what he does so often — make a spectacular catch against coverage.

Van Dyke was in good position to defend the pass, only to have Fitzgerald make an acrobatic play on the ball for a 43-yard gain.

After the Raiders lost to the Cardinals, 24-18, at O.co Coliseum, Van Dyke was thinking he could have done more. He was one of many Raiders who have things to work on.

For Van Dyke, it was the big play he didn't make.

"I should have come away with an interception," Van Dyke said. "That was my fault. I didn't attack the ball."

On a conference call with reporters Friday, Raiders coach Hue Jackson said Van Dyke had nothing to be ashamed about, a sentiment he said he relayed to the rookie.

"I've seen that man (Fitzgerald) catch that ball on a lot of great cornerbacks," Jackson said. "But the thing that was most impressive was the next opportunity that he had to cover him. They threw another deep ball and he was right with him stride for stride, and there was an opportunity there for him to make a good play on the ball. So I was impressed with this guy. He's not afraid. I think he wants to compete."

Chances are Van Dyke will be needed this season. The Raiders lack experience behind starting cornerbacks Stanford Routt and Chris Johnson.

Van Dyke figures to get picked on more than once this season. But he knows there won't be many matchups tougher than his first.

"It was pretty exciting," Van Dyke said of going against Fitzgerald. "It was kind of shocking, but it's football now. I play football in the NFL and he plays in the NFL."



(csnbayarea.com)

The Oakland Raiders have a young roster that Hue Jackson is banking will not only bring success in the future, but can also handle business in 2011.

Jackson and the Raiders coaching staff have been challenging their younger players during camp, many of whom have responded well.

DeMarcus Van Dyke stands out in Jackson’s mind. The rookie cornerback was the first player mentioned by the coach when asked of other young players who have stood out thus far.

“I’m looking forward to watching him play,” said Jackson. “I truly am looking forward to watching this young man play football.”


(footballnewsnow.com)

Demarcus Van Dyke had the first interception on a quarterback I have seen this camp. Hue Jackson has been stressing turnovers so that no doubt made him very happy. It was a high pass by Campbell that he leapt up and plucked out of the air on the sideline.



(tfdssports.com)

(twitpic.com)

Raiders signed No. 81 overall pick Demarcus Van Dyke to a four-year contract.

Here is Super Winning proCane and Green Bay Packer Same Shield’s new tattoo.



Here is newest proCane and Oakland Raide DeMarcus Van Dyke’s newest tattoo.




(twitter.com)

The Raiders have gone down to Georgia, with the goal not of stealing souls but getting in shape for football, whenever it returns.
According to Jerry McDonald and Ben Beitzel of InsideBayArea.com, 34 players showed up for workouts in Duluth, organized by quarterback

Jason Campbell and defensive lineman Richard Seymour.  Seymour, who signed a lucrative new contract before the lockout, is paying the travel expenses of his teammates.

At least three rookies participated in the workouts:  Center Stefen Wisniewski, cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke, and tight end Richard Gordon.  The session was described as demonstrating “moderate” intensity.



(profootballtalk.com)

DeMarcus Van Dyke had an inclination he may be drafted by the Oakland Raiders. After all, he blazed past the competition at the NFL Scouting Combine with his 40 time.

Knowing that the Raiders and Al Davis have an affinity speed, even Van Dyke’s friends ribbed him before the draft about where he was headed.
“Yeah, I did get a lot of jokes about that,” Van Dyke said, per Silver and Black Pride, “but I knew after I ran that 40 that I was going to open up a bunch of eyes. I wasn’t thinking that me running the fastest was going to give me a shot with the Raiders. You know if your the fastest guy and 6’1″ I figured that would give me a shot to get on a NFL roster.”

The fact he had a pre-draft workout with Rod Woodson didn’t hurt his chances of landing in the Bay Area either.



(footballnewsnow.com)

Were you watching the draft when you were selected?
DVD: Actually I was with my family members watching the draft at my house. I was on edge for the first few hours until I got that phone. Then it was like that monkey was off my back and I was relieved.

After you felt that relief and it sunk in that you were going to be a Raider what was your initial thought about being a Raider?
DVD: It's blessing to get the opportunity to play in the NFL. That's the first thing that crossed my mind. And to play in a great organization like the Raiders where they've had great corners back in the day and now with big corners like Nnamdi Asomugha, Stanford Routt and safeties like Tyvon Branch and Michael Huff. I am really excited to play in the secondary with those guys.

I saw in another interview that prior to the draft you had actually worked out with Tyvon Branch. Is that true?
DVD: Tyvon had trained out here at Miami Performance. He's a great guy. He works hard all the time. So I just try to mimic everything he do so when I get to the NFL I'll be okay.

Have you been in contact with any of your other new teammates?
DVD: I talked to the fullback, Marcel Reece. He welcomed me to the nation, and I've talked to Michael Huff on Twitter, but that's about it.

Have you talked with Marcell or Tyvon about joining in any of the player workouts?
DVD: Yeah, I talked to Marcel about it yesterday, and they are going to get up to Atlanta and workout. So I gotta sit down with my agent to see if we have enough money to go up there.

Right. It's kind of a strange time to be a rookie. Not only the money, but in the back of your mind you have to also be worried about a possible injury before you have a chance to sign your new contract. 
DVD: Exactly. That's one of the reason we have to sit down and think about it.

Speaking of the lockout, have you been following it closely or do you try to stay away from it and let things happen as they will.
DVD: The lockout is something I can't control. So, I just keep working hard and do my thing and get my work.

Well, not only the work, as I am sure you are anxious to get your career started, but you have to also be a little excited about signing that contract.
DVD: Yeah, that is a dream come true. To sign a contract—a NFL contract—that's probably one of the things I've been dreaming about my whole life, and now I am going to get a chance to actually do it this year with the Oakland Raiders.

I actually looked this up. You were selected 81st overall. Did you know, or have you heard, who went 81st last year?
DVD: Uh, not at all [laughing]

Well, it was Earl Mitchell of the Texans. Have you seen what kind of contract he was able to sign?
DVD: Not really. All I know about Earl Mitchell was came out to the combine, and that's about all I know about him.

Not to get you too excited for something you don't have yet, but he signed a contract worth $1.6 million in guaranteed money. Have you given any thought about what the first thing you are going to buy might be?
DVD: I thought about buying house, and getting a house for my mom and that's about it.

Now, in another interview I saw you mentioned that you had a son.
DVD: Yeah, I have a son, DeMarcus Jr.

How old is he?
DVD: He's six months.

Oh okay; he's just a little guy. Have you bought any Raiders gear yet?
DVD: I was just looking online yesterday at some Raiders onesies. So, we are getting him some.

I actuallly have a year and a half old son, and that was the first thing I got him was a Raider onesies.
DVD: Oh man, we definitely need something like that.

You gotta get 'em going for the right team while they're young.
DVD: Exactly [chuckling].

You ran the fastest 40 at the combine in a blazing time, and us as Raider fans thought there was a good possibly you'd become a Raider as it is almost a tradition. Did that thought ever cross your mind or did any of your family or friends joke with you that you just ran your way onto the Raiders?
DVD: Yeah, I did get a lot of jokes about that, but I knew after I ran that 40 that I was going to open up a bunch of eyes. I wasn't thinking that me running the fastest was going to give me a shot with the Raiders. You know if your the fastest guy and 6'1" I figured that would give me a shot to get on a NFL roster.

It was not only the Combine, but you also had a very impressive Senior Bowl and Shrine Game, and earned strong reviews from there. As I was looking back one of the only knocks I saw on you from there was your ball skills as people were saying that you were in position, but weren't able to get your hand on the ball. Do you think that was a fair criticism?
DVD: I can't complain that that was the only thing, but I am going to say that it wasn't really fair, because I had a couple of interceptions at the practices for the Senior Bowl and one in the Shrine Game. So, I'm not sure what exactly I had to do.

Well, an interception is a pretty decent sign of ball skills.
DVD: Exactly.

So, Rod Woodson had a private workout with you in Miami, right?
DVD: Yes, sir.

What was that workout like?  What kind of stuff did he seem to focus on with you?
DVD: He wanted to see how I was coming out of my breaks. He wanted me to open up my hips and turn to see how fluid my hips were. He wanted to see how I was in my back pedal; see if I was low or high and stuff like that. Just all of the skills it takes to be a cornerback.



(silverandblackpride.com)

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson said he is excited over the potential of CB DeMarcus Van Dyke. "We feel very comfortable in our evaluation and how we go about evaluating our players," Jackson said. "What we see is a young man who's tall. He's over 6-foot. He's 180 pounds. Has long arms. Who's athletic. Who's the fastest guy in the combine, who can cover. He's hard to get away from. You're not going to outrun him, and he's going to be coached by one of the best defensive back coaches in football. In my opinion, we're going to take a player, we're going to polish him up, and he's going to play, and he's going to play well.”



(kffl.com)

On Saturday proCanes.com had the opportunity to atttend the Annual Hurricane Football Reunion Party at Miami Prime Grill in North Miami. The event was attended by over 100 former Hurricane greats including the likes of Ed Reed, Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin and many more.

Gerard Daphnis of Canes4Life organized the event which also honored the 2001 National Championship team. Over 300 former players were in attendance at the 2011 Spring Game where the University of Miami which was held at Lockhart Stadium before the party. Click here to view our full photo gallery of over 500 pictures from the Hurricane Reunion Party and Spring Game. Enjoy!









Click here to view our full photo gallery of over 500 pictures from the Hurricane Reunion Party and Spring Game. Enjoy!

University of Miami cornerbacks Brandon Harris and DeMarcus Van Dyke worked out for the Oakland Raiders secondary coach Rod Woodson today.

Woodson also auditioned Ryan Hill and Jared Campbell at the Miami campus in Coral Gables, Fla. 

Harris and Van Dyke had dinner tonight with a Cleveland Browns secondary coach and are working out for the AFC North club Friday.'

Harris visited the St. Louis Rams on Wednesday and concluded his visit Thursday morning.

He has previously worked out for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins.

Harris is regarded as a late first-round, early second-round draft target.

He struggled in the Hurricanes' bowl game against Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, but otherwise had a strong season.

As a sophomore, he ranked second in the nation and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 15 pass deflections and was named first-team all-conference. He was a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist with 52 tackles, six tackles for losses and two interceptions.

As a freshman, Harris ran track as he competed in the 60 meters, 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay.

He finished with 132 career tackles, nine tackles for losses, four interceptions, five forced fumbles, two sacks and 28 pass deflections.

Van Dyke conducted a private workout for the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago.

And Van Dyke has visited the Philadelphia Eagles.

He previously worked out for the Broncos, Falcons and Dolphins.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He also posted a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-1 broad jump and a 6.97 in the three-cone drill.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track for the Hurricanes.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of ideal size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

University of Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke is scheduled to work out for the Oakland Raiders and the Cleveland Browns this week, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

He conducted a private workout for the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago.

And Van Dyke visited the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday and Tuesday.

He previously worked out for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He also posted a 33 1/2 inch vertical leap, a 10-1 broad jump and a 6.97 in the three-cone drill.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track for the Hurricanes.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt(notes) (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of ideal size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(sports.yahoo.com)

In the 2nd round, Mel Kiper of ESPN has the Seattle Seahawks selecting Miami CB DeMarcus Van Dyke. He's 6'0, 175 lbs and extremely fast - he ran a 4.28 at the Combine, the fastest time for any player this year and the fastest since Chris Johnson ran it a few years back. This speed is good, but by some reports, he's raw in coverage and lacks size for the position. Still, if he can bulk up a bit and develop better coverage skills, his speed is rare. Before the combine he was being projected in the 6th round by some sources, so this sudden 2nd round consideration must be due to his Combine performance.



(fieldgulls.com)

University of Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke conducted a private workout for the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation.

Van Dyke visited the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday and Tuesday.

He previously worked out for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

Van Dyke met with the Ravens during the combine.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt(notes) (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(sports.yahoo.com)

University of Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke began his Philadelphia Eagles visit today.

He previously worked out for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

Van Dyke met with the Baltimore Ravens during the combine.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

University of Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke is working out for the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons today.

Van Dyke ran the 40-yard dash between 4.25 and 4.28 seconds at the NFL scouting combine.

He's regarded as a late-round draft target.

In 50 games, he started 21 games and recorded 80 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass deflections.

He also ran track.

He started three games last season.

At the combine, he posted the third-fastest time in the past decade.

Van Dyke met with the Baltimore Ravens during the combine.

An angular 174 pounds, the 6-foot defensive back ran the fastest time since Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson (4.24, 2008) and Oakland Raiders cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27, 2005).

Van Dyke's lack of size and strength are a concern, but his speed is rare.

He bench pressed 225 pounds five times at the combine.



(nationalfootballpost.com)

Miami cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke ran the fastest forty-yard dash at last week’s Scouting Combine, clocking a 4.28 official time.  It was the third fastest forty since the year 2000.

Only Chris Johnson (4.24) and Stanford Routt (4.27) have been faster in the last decade.

Contacted by PFT on Saturday, Van Dyke revealed that he has private, on-campus workouts scheduled with the Eagles and Browns on the 14th and 17th of this month. The Eagles have a major need at right cornerback, while the Browns are pursuing help at the nickel position.

At the Combine, Van Dyke weighed in at 6-foot-1 and 176 pounds. In addition to the blazing forty time, “DVD” recorded a 33.5-inch vertical, 10-foot, 1-inch broad jump, and 4.09 20-yard shuttle time.

PFT also asked Van Dyke if he’s heard rumors that the stopwatch at the Combine was broken, resulting in inaccurate official times.

“Naw,” he said.

So add smarts to Van Dyke’s impressive height-speed combination.



(profootballtalk.com)

Twan Ruseell, Gaby Sanchez and future proCanes Colin McCarthy, Damien Berry, Demarcus Van Dyke and Graig Cooper were guests on WQAM this past week. Click here to listen to the interviews.




(wqam.com)

Agent Drew Rosenhaus joined me on the show Thursday and the subject of the Randy Shannon era at Coral Gables with the University of Miami came up:

Drew, one of of the great stories I like is that one of your clients who only started a couple of games for the University of Miami last year, DeMarcus Van Dyke. We had a draft expert on earlier who said that he might be able to sneak into round 2 of the draft. That's unbelievable if that's true, Drew: "I think it is, Joe. My sense is that this is rare speed. This the fastest player who has been timed from the University of Miami, which historically has been one of the fastest schools. He plays a pivotal position, where speed really is the No. 1 denominator, and the guy's got game-breaking speed. And he's a great kid. ... Here's my take on it. When you run a 4.28[-second 40-yard dash], there's not many guys in the entire NFL that can do that. You're talking about Chris Johnson-type speed. And, at that cornerback position, that means he can run with any receiver in the game. So, this is going to be great for him. His good friend, Sam Shields, also has indirectly helped. Sam, he didn't play a whole lot, either, and he came into the NFL and played at a very, very high level."

How do we read into that, Drew? "Well, I think it's probably one of the reasons that they have made an adjustment with the coaching staff. I guess they felt that, you know, the talent didn't translate with respect to the wins and losses. But it's very easy to hand pick a couple guys, and I'm not going to."

No, no. I'm not asking you trash Randy Shannon. I gotcha: "No one's perfect and you do make mistakes, but, at the end of the day, DeMarcus Van Dyke not starting for the University of Miami this year, playing behind another player who wasn't even invited to the combine, I don't understand that. I really don't."



(wqam.com)

DeMarcus Van Dyke/CB/Miami: Van Dyke finished up a phenomenal two months with a terrific workout. After a terrific performance at the Shrine Game in January, then a solid showing two weeks later in the Senior Bowl, he gave scouts more to think about with his combine effort. Van Dyke never ran slower than 4.30 seconds in the 40 then displayed quickness, explosion and balance in the position drills. He's gone from backup with the Hurricanes last season to potential top-100 pick in the draft.



(cnnsi.com)

Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke posted the third-fastest time at the NFL scouting combine since 2000.

Van Dyke, who met with the Ravens during the combine, ran the 40-yard dash Tuesday in 4.28 seconds. Over the past 12 combines, only East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24 in 2008) and Houston cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27 in 2005) were faster.

"Everybody here is fast," Van Dyke said during the combine, "but you have to be faster to stand out in the DB group."

At 6 feet, 168 pounds, Van Dyke was rated the 23rd-best cornerback prospect by Pro Football Weekly. He is considered a hard worker with coverage skills. But he is expected to go in the middle rounds because he's an inconsistent tackler and has marginal strength.

Two higher-round cornerback prospects that could draw interest from the Ravens also ran well. Colorado's Jimmy Smith (who is considered a first-round talent) and Virginia's Ras-I Dowling (who is projected to go in the second round) tied for the seventh-fastest times (4.46) for defensive backs.

Van Dyke beat out Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott (4.34 seconds) as the fastest player at this year's combine.

Fastest at combine

1. DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB, Miami: 4.28
2t. Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU: 4.34
2t. Da'Rel Scott, RB, Maryland: 4.34
4t. Edmond Gates, WR, Abilene Christian: 4.37
4t. Ricardo Lockette, WR, Fort Valley State:4.37
6. Mario Fannin, RB, Auburn: 4.38
7. Julio Jones, WR, Alabama: 4.39



(baltimoresun.com)

Demarcus Van Dyke, a Miami cornerback, said that he met with the Texans on Saturday. Van Dyke is an interesting later-round prospect. Tall and lean at 6-1, 175, he ran track at Miami for three years. Van Dyke competed in the 60-, 100-, 200- and 4x100-meter dashes and said Sunday that he his personal bests are 6.81 seconds in the 60 and 10.43 in the 100.

Van Dyke is close friends with Darryl Sharpton, whom the Texans drafted last year in the fourth round.

“Me and him are boys, man,” Van Dyke said. “I talked to Darryl two weeks ago about the whole Combine the whole draft process. He told me to take it in, soak it in and that it’s a blessing. He’s a good guy.”



(houstontexans.com)

The University of Miami football program has taken a step back since the late 1990s, but they haven’t stopped churning out NFL stars. Recent success stories include Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, Packers cornerback Sam Shields, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, Giants safety Kenny Phillips, and Panthers linebacker Jon Beason.

Miami sends nine players to this year’s Scouting Combine, and PFT had the chance to speak with two of them Wednesday.

First up was cornerback Demarcus Van Dyke, a projected middle-round selection. Van Dyke earned an invite to January’s Senior Bowl, and has been mentioned as a candidate to run the fastest forty-yard dash in Indianapolis.

A humble Van Dyke wouldn’t get specific about projections, saying his goal is to “just run a fast time.” Van Dyke mentioned Fort Valley State receiver/returner Ricardo Lockette and Kentucky running back Derrick Locke as also in the mix to blaze the track in Indy. ”D.V.D.,” as he’s known, helped break the University of Miami record in the 4×100 sprint relay as a Canes track star.

Van Dyke had two pass breakups and four tackles in the Senior Bowl game. He said the Bills and Cowboys, especially, have shown interest in him.

Running back Damien Berry was impressive to speak to, recalling his early-career days as a kickoff coverage ace for The U.
“I love special teams,” stressed Berry.

Berry believes he’s been unfairly pegged as a 4.5-type athlete, but is confident he’ll hit the 4.4s at the Combine.  He said the Dolphins and Jaguars have seemed keen on him so far, but it “really doesn’t matter” where he lands.

“I just love to win,” he said.



(profootballtalk.com)