Napoleon, Nfl Scouts Wind Up World’s Apart

Scouts saw plenty when Napoleon Kaufman played at the University of Washington.

They saw what looked like a turbo-boost of speed whenever he turned the corner.

They saw the moves that juked opponents out of their socks, and other articles of athletic apparel.

But this was definitely a pocket rocket.

At only 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, Kaufman would never stand up to the punishment a back faces in the NFL.

The fears were that, with every hit, Napoleon might break a bone apart.

Except in the eyes of the Raiders, who were criticized for not taking bigger backs such as Michigan’s Tyrone Wheatley, or Colorado’s Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam.

Those two have yet to have much impact, while Kaufman has averaged 5.4 yards per carry and is seeing action in all situations - not just as a third-down scatback, as was predicted.

“He is everything we expected,” Raiders coach Mike White said Wednesday as his team prepared to play host to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday in Oakland. “His change of pace and ability to make plays make us tremendously happy we have him.”

Periodically spelling starting tailback Harvey Williams, Kaufman has gained 257 yards in the first five games. And along with Williams’ 364 yards, he has helped the Raiders rank first in the AFC in rushing.

“When you’re a first-round draft choice, there’s a lot of expectancy, not only on the player, but also on the team,” White said. “But his explosion and his quickness are two qualities in pro sports that set people apart.

“We realized that Napoleon was not just a third-down back, a role a lot of people envisioned him in. We recognized how he could complement Harvey Williams and each week we have identified a role for him and increased his opportunities.”

A gesture Kaufman appreciates, and one of which he is working ceaselessly to prove himself worthy.

“He’s not afraid to put me in situations where I block or do the things bigger guys are supposed to do,” Kaufman said of White. “First down, second down, whenever, he sticks me in there.”

As a kickoff returner, Kaufman already ranks second in the AFC with a robust 26.9-yard average.

“I’m having a lot of fun down here right now,” Kaufman said. He had hoped to get drafted by the Raiders to be close to his family in Los Angeles, but the team’s move to Oakland derailed those visions.

It was worth it, though, since what he has seen of the fans at the OaklandAlameda County Coliseum has stunned him as much as anything else he has witnessed in his short career.

“The Raiders fans are really, really excited down here, they’re crazy,” Kaufman said. “We get to (the stadium) at about 8 o’clock and they’re already going wild. At UW, in the crowd, you’ve got guys wearing suits and ties and they don’t get up and go crazy much. Here, they’ve got guys with paint on their face, throwing stuff, cussing and drinking and going crazy.”

Looking back, he is certain he was right to stay at UW for his senior season rather than turn pro early.

“I learned a lot that helped me in the long run, learned about the game, and mentally matured,” Kaufman said. “I’m just very happy I stayed in school and got more experience.”

Serving as a backup to Williams is no problem, Kaufman said, since he’s done it before. “I look at it a lot like when I was backing up Beno Bryant,” he said. “I just came in and did what they told me to do. This is fine, I don’t feel any pressure; I just go out and play.”

And play well, in fact.

“Napoleon has really brought a different dimension to our running game,” Raiders receiver Tim Brown said. “What Nap is doing is bringing us a little more speed and quickness and an outside threat. Harvey is a 4.4 guy (in the 40-yard dash), but when you’ve got a 4.2 guy, it makes a difference. Plus, he’s a tough guy, he isn’t afraid to stick his nose in there.”

Notes

Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson said he didn’t win any fans among his team when he held to the regular Monday practice schedule even though the Mariners were engaged in their crucial one-game playoff with the California Angels.

“Some of the players were mad we had practice because they wanted to go to the game,” Erickson said Wednesday. “The players almost went on strike. But I’d have been the one striking them (if they’d missed practice).”

One might think that Hawks linebacker Winston Moss would have mixed feelings heading into the game against the Raiders, considering he had been the team’s defensive captain before being picked up by Seattle in the off-season.

Au contraire.

“He always joked that if he ever played against me he’d just kill me,” Brown said of his former teammate. “He’s been telling guys that he’s put all of his savings away because he knows he’s gonna get fined a lot this week.” The feeling is mutual on the Raiders.

“Winston was a guy who was highly repected here ans well-liked by the players, but he’s in the blue and silver now and we’re going to treat him like it,” Brown said.

Erickson said that injured tackle Ray Roberts and defensive end Antonio Edwards will most likely be able to play Sunday.

“It’s a day-to-day thing, though,” Erickson said. “If they can play at 100 percent, they’ll play. If not, they won’t.”

Surprisingly strong efforts by Roberts’ fill-in James Atkins has taken the pressure off Roberts to make too hasty of a return.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: Cut in Spokane edition.