OSU CORNER COVERS ALL.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer The statistics are deceiving. Keith Heyward-Johnson's value to the Oregon State secondary cannot be measured numerically. The senior, from Taft High in Woodland Hills (he attended Montclair Prep his first three years), has just seven tackles, five pass break-ups, one interception and one fumble return for a two-point conversion In American football and Canadian football, a team may try to score a two-point conversion (score two points) instead of an extra point (one point) immediately after it scores a touchdown. heading into today's Pac-10 game with UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX at the Rose Bowl. He might have more if OSU's scheme required him to assist on run defense. Still, most opponents think they can run on the Beavers. Makes sense, considering there's All-America candidate Dennis Weathersby Dennis Weathersby (born June 16, 1980 in Glendora, California) is a former NFL cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in college for Oregon State University. At OSU he started 45 games, and set a school record of 57 passes deflected. at one corner and Heyward-Johnson at the other. At first, opponents thought they could throw at Heyward-Johnson. New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). found out they couldn't - Heyward-Johnson picked off a pass. USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. tried, too, but Heyward-Johnson broke up three passes. Against Washington, he picked up a fumble on a conversion attempt and ran it back 96 yards for two points. He called that a season highlight. He wishes there would be more highlights but accepts what has come. ``That's alright,'' he said. ``I haven't seen as many balls. I want to, because I love the challenge.'' Life at Oregon State has been one challenge after another for Heyward- Johnson. He went from playing on special teams as a sophomore to earning starts as a junior after he demonstrated his ability to skeptical coaches. Defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a football team in the National Football League or college football who is in charge of the defense. This position aids the head coach a great deal in many ways by delegating play calling to other coaches and allowing the head Craig Bray was one naysayer nay·say tr.v. nay·said , nay·say·ing, nay·says To oppose, deny, or take a pessimistic or negative view of: They will naysay any policy that raises taxes. . He saw this slow, 5-foot-11 defensive back who wasn't very physical. Bray figured Heyward-Johnson wouldn't cut it. He was wrong. ``He's a guy I thought would get beat out,'' Bray said, ``and he's not going to let that happen.'' The reason: Heyward-Johnson studies the game. He spends about two extra hours a week watching films, breaking down opponents' tendencies and planning the best way to defend. During the week, he's especially focused on proper technique. ``You'll be in a winning situation as long as you execute your game plan,'' he said. ``To be a good player, you have to study the game and study the opponent. It's just like homework. I'm a student of the game. I like to learn more, to always get an edge.'' Bray is so impressed, he puts Heyward-Johnson into any situation that requires a cornerback cor·ner·back also corner back n. Football Either of two defensive halfbacks stationed a short distance behind the linebackers and relatively near the sidelines. Noun 1. to think and adjust on the fly. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Keith Heyward-Johnson's value to Oregon State isn't all stats-related. Courtesy of Oregon State |
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