Raven on the Rise: Rookie Safety Nakamura Spreads His Wings

Raven on the Rise: Rookie Safety Nakamura Spreads His Wings
By nbt_archives. Posted on Thursday, January 22, 2009.No CommentBy ALEC YOSHIO MacDONALD
Nichi Bei Times

Here’s an obscure bit of trivia from last Sunday’s AFC championship match-up of the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers: five of the players who took the field claim Asian Pacific ancestry.

It’s not a stat that the Elias Sports Bureau keeps track of or a storyline that the mainstream media looks to develop, but it’s an exceptional occurrence for a football game of this magnitude.

Of the five players in question, four have firmly established themselves in the NFL. Along with fourth-year offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu (born in Tonga), the Steelers have two bona-fide stars in receiver Hines Ward (of Korean descent) and safety Troy Polamalu (of Samoan descent). For the Ravens, Haloti Ngata (of Tongan descent) has emerged as an intimidating defensive force in his third year at nose tackle.

In contrast to these standouts, the fifth Asian Pacific player to see action that day is still finding his way in the league. But Baltimore rookie Haruki Nakamura has proven himself a hard worker, and in time may grasp the same success enjoyed by the other four.

The Nikkei safety was reminded of the experiential gap between himself and the others at the start of the game, when he found himself sprawled out on the turf after missing a tackle on Ward as the 2006 Super Bowl MVP broke off a 45-yard gain, clearing 1,000 career playoff yards in the process. An opportunity for redemption presented itself later in the first quarter, as he had a shot at sacking Ben Roethlisberger, only to fly past the juking Steeler quarterback, who managed to get rid of the ball before Nakamura regrouped to administer a jarring knockdown.

Playing limited minutes on special teams and in select defensive situations, the rookie did eventually collect a tackle, yet on the whole it was a rough day for him and his teammates. The Ravens put up an admirable fight, but they struggled offensively, and Pittsburgh rolled to a 23-14 victory (Polamalu sealed the win with an interception).

Now that it’s over, Nakamura’s first professional season might be viewed as a modest accomplishment. As a sixth-round draft pick (206th overall) out of the University of Cincinnati, the 5-10, 205-pound Cleveland native was never a lock to make the Raven’s final roster. However, an impressive training camp helped land him a spot alongside luminaries like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis on Baltimore’s vaunted defense.

The league’s sole Japanese American player proceeded to put up unimpressive numbers, making just 12 tackles in 16 games, primarily on special teams. Over just three playoff games, however, he collected seven more tackles, picking up five of these against the Tennessee Titans in backup duty for starting safety Jim Leonhard, who had to leave the field with a minor concussion.

Leonhard’s contract is up, and he may parlay his strong performance this year into a profitable deal elsewhere. Such a development could conceivably open a window for Nakamura next season, but competition for playing time will remain stiff no matter what. Good thing the Nikkei safety has what it takes to keep putting himself in contention.

“Haruki’s biggest strengths are his ability to rush the passer and his support in stopping the run,” said Edward Lee, who covers the Ravens for the Baltimore Sun. Lee also told the Nichi Bei Times that Nakamura is “an excellent tackler,” but tempered this praise in noting that “perhaps the one area that is still developing is his recognition of his role in pass coverage. That’s not unusual for a rookie, but he needs to continue to improve in that area to become a well-rounded safety in the NFL.”

In addition to his skills, Lee described Nakamura’s attitude as well, revealing that “he’s a very energetic and jovial personality in the locker room. He doesn’t have the kind of demeanor that overpowers a locker room á la Ray Lewis or Derrick Mason, but it’s clear that many of his teammates like him and enjoy his company.”

Another personal detail about Nakamura of added interest — to Asian American fans in particular — is the fact that he shows pride in his Japanese heritage. Late last summer, he spoke with the Associated Press about his family’s profound dedication to judo. His father (who passed away almost two decades ago) was an eighth-degree black belt and his mother is a fourth-degree black-belt; he and his siblings were all national champions in the sport. Although he ultimately went a different direction, this pursuit benefited his football abilities. “I think it really helps my explosiveness and my quickness,” he said.

Lee corroborated that “when you talk to him, he is certainly proud of his family and his name.” The Sun writer also mentioned that the Nikkei has attracted attention from the Japanese media, who interviewed him both during training camp and prior to Sunday’s game, creating “a source of amusement for his teammates because one crew handed out Japanese-themed headbands to players like Ray Lewis and Joe Flacco.”

As for APAs taking notice, Lee reported that he hasn’t seen a strong following for Nakamura yet. “The Asian American community in general hasn’t embraced football the way other ethnicities have,” he commented.

Given all the players in the AFC championship that this community could identify with, however, the situation seems primed for a shift — and how well Nakamura performs in the future is sure to be a factor in whether or not it happens.