Preseason Profile: Kaelin Burnett, LB

 Posted by at 12:00 PM  No Responses »
Jul 172012
 

Kaelin Burnett #57

College: Nevada
Height: 6’3½”
Weight: 234 lbs
Arm Length: N/A
Hand Size N/A

 

40 Yard Dash: 4.64
3 Cone Drill: 6.70
20 Yard Shuttle: 4.30
Bench Press: 20 reps
Vertical Jump: 34.5″
Broad Jump: 129″

 

Kaelin Burnett is the brother of Miami Dolphins linebacker Kevin Burnett. Kaelin began his career playing outside linebacker at Nevada, but was moved to defensive end right before his senior season . He is obviously not your prototypical defensive end at 234 lbs, but did show case his agility and notched 48 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, and 5 sacks in his senior season.

Kaelin’s road to the NFL was not easy though. He had to overcome shoulder surgery in 2008 and a very serious hip injury he suffered during spring practice before his senior season at Nevada. “I went up in the air to knock down a screen pass,” Burnett said in an interview with Joe Santoro from examiner.com. “I got pushed in the air and landed on my hip.” this wasn’t an ordinary hip injury though. “They told me they had never seen it before from a football injury,” Burnett said. “It was split open (vertically) all along the side. They said it was the type of injury rodeo cowboys usually get after they get knocked off a horse or bull.” Burnett was later told by doctors that he likely would no longer be able to play football again.

Burnett’s determination and love for the game of football were severely underrated by the doctors though. After losing his father before he was even born, Kaelin was partly raised by his brother Kevin and wanted nothing more than to follow in his footsteps. He grew to love the game of football and dreamed of playing in the NFL. That dream was not going to be destroyed without a fight. It took almost 2 months before Burnett could walk on his own again, but once he got back on his feet, there was no stopping him. Less than 2 months later he was back out on the practice field with his teammates.

Obviously, his determination can not be questioned, but where does Burnett fit on the Raiders defense? Burnett is working strictly with the linebackers right now and is a candidate for a 3-4 rush linebacker role and the SAM linebacker role in the 4-3. He also excelled on special teams during his time at Nevada and will without a doubt look to lock up a role there as well start his career in the NFL. In a recent interview with Chris Hansen of RaidersBlog.com, Kaelin Burnett was asked about his expectations leading up to the draft “I’m happy if I get drafted or undrafted and go in as a free agent” Burnett said. “I’m just trying to get in the building, and once I get in the building, I don’t plan on leaving.”

Burnett will undoubtedly be a fun player to keep an eye on throughout camp, and we’ll see where his progress takes him now that he has his shot to make an NFL roster.

 

 

 

 

 

Shocking Loss. Shocking Win?

 Posted by at 10:16 AM  No Responses »
Dec 112011
 

A game like the one last Sunday against the Dolphins would cause any fan to start second guessing their team. It doesn’t mean you’re any less of a fan, it just means you expected a different result and are having a hard time figuring out what went wrong. What if I told you that loss wasn’t far off the beaten path?

It’s very easy to get caught up in the “now” when evaluating a team. Even though the season seems very short, for most teams there are many high and low points along the way.  In the end it’s how you finish that really matters. Most tend to look at schedules and mentally fill in wins and losses as if they are almost a sure thing, but one phrase will always remain true in the NFL, “Any Given Sunday.”

The Raiders have been a tough team to gauge this season and depending on what week I ask you, your answer would probably vary. However, one thing that is hard to argue is that this team is very dangerous. Most teams would tell you that they don’t look forward to playing the Raiders for the pure fact that they are a team with an endless amount of weapons and when they are firing on all cylinders the only ones who can stop them is them.

The loss to Miami put the Raiders season into perspective for a lot of people. The high of three straight wins is quickly wiped away by the sobering 34-14 defeat against a team most expected to beat. Keep in mind though that losses like that brings the team back down to earth as well. They are no longer coasting to the finish. The season now hangs in the balance and there is no room for a let down. Sometimes a bad loss is just what the doctor ordered to force a team to refocus for the final stretch of a season. It’s up to the coaches and players now to accept the challenge put in front of them and lay it on the line come Sunday.

Whether the Raiders have what it takes to knock off the Packers is yet to be seen, but don’t count them out. In order to be the best, you have to beat the best and Oakland gets that chance Sunday. The rest is just football, but I encourage you to ask yourself this question: In a season where the Raiders had three top free agents walk, lost their legendary owner, traded for their franchise quarterback mid-season, often played without their four best offensive players, won games they shouldn’t and lost games they shouldn’t, would a win against the Packers on Sunday really be that surprising?