MVP
06-19-2006, 12:33 PM
He's a cornerback that stands 6'1" and weighs 200 pounds, runs a sub-4.35 forty-time and played his college ball at a major program. On measurables alone, you would think Oklahoma's Eric Bassey would have been drafted this past spring by one of the NFL's 32 teams.
He wasn't. The problem for Bassey was during his time as a member of the Sooners secondary he couldn't stay on the field long enough to make a name for himself.
"He's a size and speed prospect," said Bills Assistant GM Tom Modrak. "He comes from a big program and has some cover skills. He played behind some real good players there."
After starting every game his redshirt freshman season as Oklahoma's strong safety he moved to his more natural position of cornerback as a sophomore, but sat behind Derrick Strait (NY Jets) on the depth chart.
He won the starting job his junior year and started the first nine games before he was replaced in the lineup at the end of the season. As a senior he struggled with a quadriceps injury that limited him to three starts.
Bassey, who was criticized at times for his work ethic while at Oklahoma, was determined to recover from his lingering injuries and prove he was still a lightning fast cornerback with rare physical skills at his college pro day.
"It was a 4.31," said Bassey of his 40-time. "Some guys had me at a 4.28 or 4.27. It's something I worked hard on to get myself back in football shape. I had a few injuries my senior season which kept me down for most of the year, but I just kept working hard rehabbing to get back to that speed."
And now Bassey is determined to prove he is totally committed to the game and prepared to make the most of the opportunity before him with the Bills.
"I'm just trying to fit in with the rest of the guys," said Bassey. "It's a tremendous opportunity. These are the greatest athletes in the world I'm watching and getting a chance to play with them. I'm loving it."
Bassey sees himself as a fit for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's defensive scheme. With the need for 11 men to be in pursuit of the football, tackling is an important asset for cornerbacks out on the edge. Having played a full season of strong safety in college, logic would indicate that Bassey can tackle.
"I'm a big, physical corner," Bassey said. "I can run. Some of those factors are going to fit in this defense. You've got to be stout on the edge and come up for run support."
Bassey is mostly focused on improving, and he's using more than just the reps on the field to accomplish that.
"I just want to learn from some of these older guys like Terrence (McGee) and some of the other guys I have been watching," said Bassey. "Even Rashad (Baker) playing safety, I think he's one of the quicker and better safeties that I've seen. I'm just looking at their technique and seeing how I can better apply it to my technique. I'm watching extra tape and doing what it takes to improve as a player."
But the rookie free agent cornerback also has other interests aside from the game that he would like to make his profession. Bassey is a talented writer who over the past few years has written song lyrics, movie scripts and poetry.
Bassey, who had one of his poems published, has a wide range of subject matter.
"Basically it's whatever comes to me," said Bassey. "I like to write scripts, movie scripts and things like that. I've done a few of them. I did a horror film, an action film and I guess another would be a mystery. They're all narrative stories, some with fictional characters and some with real characters. It's just a hobby, something I like to do."
So have any Hollywood producers come calling?
"No," said Bassey. "I've talked to a few guys in college but I've never really pursued it."
For now Bassey would prefer to focus all of his energy on football, knowing there will always be time to write when his football career is over.
"I always believe if you're going to do something that you have to put 100 percent into it," he said. "Right now football is what I'm working on. This is what I'm going to do. I'm just trying to get on this Bills roster and help this team win the Super Bowl. Hopefully I can bring my athletic ability to this defense."
If so he'll have an awful lot to write about.
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He wasn't. The problem for Bassey was during his time as a member of the Sooners secondary he couldn't stay on the field long enough to make a name for himself.
"He's a size and speed prospect," said Bills Assistant GM Tom Modrak. "He comes from a big program and has some cover skills. He played behind some real good players there."
After starting every game his redshirt freshman season as Oklahoma's strong safety he moved to his more natural position of cornerback as a sophomore, but sat behind Derrick Strait (NY Jets) on the depth chart.
He won the starting job his junior year and started the first nine games before he was replaced in the lineup at the end of the season. As a senior he struggled with a quadriceps injury that limited him to three starts.
Bassey, who was criticized at times for his work ethic while at Oklahoma, was determined to recover from his lingering injuries and prove he was still a lightning fast cornerback with rare physical skills at his college pro day.
"It was a 4.31," said Bassey of his 40-time. "Some guys had me at a 4.28 or 4.27. It's something I worked hard on to get myself back in football shape. I had a few injuries my senior season which kept me down for most of the year, but I just kept working hard rehabbing to get back to that speed."
And now Bassey is determined to prove he is totally committed to the game and prepared to make the most of the opportunity before him with the Bills.
"I'm just trying to fit in with the rest of the guys," said Bassey. "It's a tremendous opportunity. These are the greatest athletes in the world I'm watching and getting a chance to play with them. I'm loving it."
Bassey sees himself as a fit for defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's defensive scheme. With the need for 11 men to be in pursuit of the football, tackling is an important asset for cornerbacks out on the edge. Having played a full season of strong safety in college, logic would indicate that Bassey can tackle.
"I'm a big, physical corner," Bassey said. "I can run. Some of those factors are going to fit in this defense. You've got to be stout on the edge and come up for run support."
Bassey is mostly focused on improving, and he's using more than just the reps on the field to accomplish that.
"I just want to learn from some of these older guys like Terrence (McGee) and some of the other guys I have been watching," said Bassey. "Even Rashad (Baker) playing safety, I think he's one of the quicker and better safeties that I've seen. I'm just looking at their technique and seeing how I can better apply it to my technique. I'm watching extra tape and doing what it takes to improve as a player."
But the rookie free agent cornerback also has other interests aside from the game that he would like to make his profession. Bassey is a talented writer who over the past few years has written song lyrics, movie scripts and poetry.
Bassey, who had one of his poems published, has a wide range of subject matter.
"Basically it's whatever comes to me," said Bassey. "I like to write scripts, movie scripts and things like that. I've done a few of them. I did a horror film, an action film and I guess another would be a mystery. They're all narrative stories, some with fictional characters and some with real characters. It's just a hobby, something I like to do."
So have any Hollywood producers come calling?
"No," said Bassey. "I've talked to a few guys in college but I've never really pursued it."
For now Bassey would prefer to focus all of his energy on football, knowing there will always be time to write when his football career is over.
"I always believe if you're going to do something that you have to put 100 percent into it," he said. "Right now football is what I'm working on. This is what I'm going to do. I'm just trying to get on this Bills roster and help this team win the Super Bowl. Hopefully I can bring my athletic ability to this defense."
If so he'll have an awful lot to write about.
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http://www.buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3825