Post by Guvmintcheeze on Oct 19, 2014 12:52:06 GMT
Saturday special: Ra'Shede Hageman
Hageman came to the Falcons as an anxious, second-round draft pick eager to make an immediate impact along the defensive line.
Six games into his career, Hageman has learned to accept whatever role the coaches ask of him, even if that means playing special teams.
"When you get hired, you obviously have to put in work to make a name for yourself," Hageman said. "You've got to start from the bottom. The majority of all the rookies play special teams. It's whatever I can do to help the team."
The 6-foot-6-inch, 318-pound Hageman actually earned some notice during last week's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears when he blocked an extra point. The coaches previously mentioned how Hageman's frame and athletic ability make him ideal for blocking field goals or extra-point attempts.
"It was just practice, man," Hageman said of the block against the Bears. "During the week, it was having a good game plan and just listening to coach (Keith) Armstrong about what would be the right time to do that. At the end of the day, I just stuck to my technique. ... It's just about pad level, staying low, and keep driving your legs, because you're obviously trying to push the other guy backwards in order to block that kick."
Hageman has done it before. Back in college at Minnesota, he recalled blocking at least three kicks. Last August against UNLV, Hageman blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt. Teammate Martez Shabazz gathered the loose ball and returned in 51 yards for a score in a 51-23 win by the Gophers.
"That's probably my most memorable field-goal block," Hageman said.
He hopes to get a few more moving forward as he aims to make even more of an impression on the coaching staff. Although field-goal block is his primary role on special teams, he was part of the kickoff coverage during his Week 4 homecoming game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"It was new to me, but at the end of the day you've just got to run full speed and try to knock somebody over," Hageman said. "I was with a lot of skill players, so I definitely had to be conscious of how I was running, because I didn't know if I had to break down or follow them. I made about two good plays."
Maybe that will translate to a few more plays on defense, period.
Hageman came to the Falcons as an anxious, second-round draft pick eager to make an immediate impact along the defensive line.
Six games into his career, Hageman has learned to accept whatever role the coaches ask of him, even if that means playing special teams.
"When you get hired, you obviously have to put in work to make a name for yourself," Hageman said. "You've got to start from the bottom. The majority of all the rookies play special teams. It's whatever I can do to help the team."
The 6-foot-6-inch, 318-pound Hageman actually earned some notice during last week's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears when he blocked an extra point. The coaches previously mentioned how Hageman's frame and athletic ability make him ideal for blocking field goals or extra-point attempts.
"It was just practice, man," Hageman said of the block against the Bears. "During the week, it was having a good game plan and just listening to coach (Keith) Armstrong about what would be the right time to do that. At the end of the day, I just stuck to my technique. ... It's just about pad level, staying low, and keep driving your legs, because you're obviously trying to push the other guy backwards in order to block that kick."
Hageman has done it before. Back in college at Minnesota, he recalled blocking at least three kicks. Last August against UNLV, Hageman blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt. Teammate Martez Shabazz gathered the loose ball and returned in 51 yards for a score in a 51-23 win by the Gophers.
"That's probably my most memorable field-goal block," Hageman said.
He hopes to get a few more moving forward as he aims to make even more of an impression on the coaching staff. Although field-goal block is his primary role on special teams, he was part of the kickoff coverage during his Week 4 homecoming game against the Minnesota Vikings.
"It was new to me, but at the end of the day you've just got to run full speed and try to knock somebody over," Hageman said. "I was with a lot of skill players, so I definitely had to be conscious of how I was running, because I didn't know if I had to break down or follow them. I made about two good plays."
Maybe that will translate to a few more plays on defense, period.
