Kaufman Delivers Extra Dimension -- Ex-UW Tailback Making Big Plays As Raider Rookie

KIRKLAND - This is how well Napoleon Kaufman's young NFL career is going:

Oakland Coach Mike White says Kaufman was drafted "to give us a dimension the Raiders haven't had since early in Marcus Allen's career." Kaufman is delivering.

"He is everything we expected with his change-of-pace and ability to make plays," White said yesterday in telephone interview. "We are tremendously happy we have him."

When Oakland made Kaufman the 18th player and third running back selected in the April draft, analysts immediately described him as a "third-down" back.

Not so. The ex-Husky is seeing some action on all downs in addition to averaging 26.9 yards on kickoff returns.

Kaufman, who has quick feet and a breakaway gear, is the No. 2 ballcarrier on the AFC's No. 1 rushing team. He has gained 257 yards on 48 carries (5.4 average) and has scored one touchdown. He gained 95 yards in last week's 47-10 road romp over the Jets.

He also has caught four passes for 38 yards.

"I'm playing in every quarter and every situation," Kaufman said. "It makes it fun."

He compared this year to the season when he was a young UW backup to Beno Bryant.

"I used to just come in and do what they told me to do," he said. "It's basically the same thing."

Kaufman's new teammates seem to appreciate him.

"He's a tough guy, that's what everybody likes about him," said wide receiver Tim Brown. "He's a guy who will go out there and stick his nose in it and that makes everyone want to go out and work harder for him.

"Napoleon has really brought a different dimension to our running game," Brown continued. "He is bringing a little bit more speed and a little bit more quickness plus that outside threat. Harvey (Williams) is a 4.4 guy (40-yard dash speed), but if you have a 4.2 guy back there, it's a little bit different."

Williams, 6 feet 2, 215 pounds, is a five-year pro who leads the Raiders with 364 yards on 69 carries (4.1 average).

Kaufman is a 5-8 1/2, 185-pounder who can bench press 420 pounds. He is the University of Washington's all-time leader in rushing yards (4,041) and all-purpose yards (5,658).

Kaufman will be on Northwest TV screens Sunday when the Seahawks (2-2) visit the Raiders (4-1) in the Oakland Coliseum.

Kaufman seems to be having an easier time than veterans in adjusting to the Raiders' strange situation this year that makes every game a road game. The team practices in the Los Angeles suburb of El Segundo then flies to Oakland on Saturday afternoons to play on Sunday.

When Kaufman was drafted, the Raiders were still a Los Angeles team. He said at the time he was pleased to be back in Southern California so his family in Lompoc could attend home games.

Kaufman said he was mildly disappointed when the team moved but said that at least all the Raider games are on TV in Lompoc.

Kaufman describes the Oakland crowds as "just crazy."

He said Husky crowds "had a lot of guys in suits and ties and stuff like that.

"They don't get up and go crazy. In Oakland, they have paint on their faces, they are throwing stuff and cussing and drinking. It makes it a little bit more wild."

Kaufman said he is happy he stayed around for a fourth season as a Husky. Not only did it help him climb into the lucrative first round - he signed a five-year contract worth nearly $5 million - but he said it also helped him mature and learn more football. He credited Al Lavan, a Husky assistant whose resume includes stops on the 49er and Cowboy staffs, with helping him prepare for the NFL.

Kaufman said he plans to return to the UW in the offseason to finish his degree in drama.

White said one Husky game that boosted Kaufman's stock was his 80-yard rushing performance in the 38-20 road upset against Miami.

"I was impressed with him against Miami on grass," White said. "A lot of times backs have great credentials coming off of one particular surface and they aren't as adaptable when they have to play on another surface."

Seahawk Coach Dennis Erickson, who was the losing coach in that game, said Kaufman "can strike you at any minute. He's a guy if he gets in the open he's hard to catch. I've always admired him and how he plays. He plays so hard and he's tough."

Kaufman said he isn't feeling any special pressure as a first-round pick and isn't overwhelmed at being in the NFL.

"I'm having a lot of fun down here," he said. "I just go in and play. It's the same old thing: `set-hut.' " ----------------------------------------------------------------- Rating the rookie backs

Napoleon Kaufman of the Oakland Raiders has been the second most productive rookie running back in the NFL this season. Denver rookie Terrell Davis, the 196th pick in last spring's draft, is the leading ground gainer with 287 yards. Rookie backs, with their draft number:

No. Player Team College Att. Yds Avg. TD.

196 Terrell Davis Denver Georgia 66 287 4.3 3. . 18 Napoleon Kaufman Oakland Washington 48 257 5.4 1. . 74 Curtis Martin New England Pitt 75 249 3.3 2. . 21 Rashaan Salaam Chicago Colorado 57 171 3.0 3. . 19 James Stewart Jacksonville Tennessee 50 140 2.8 0. . 46 Sherman Williams Dallas Alabama 18 125 6.9 1. . 17 Tyrone Wheatley N.Y. Giants Michigan 11 61 5.5 1. . 1 Ki-Jana Carter Cincinnati Penn State Injured; has not played.