A Sea Of Red

Here's your Sam fix for the week:

Samkon Gado Looks Forward To New Offensive Scheme

by Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com
posted 02/06/2006



Four-and-a half months ago, Samkon Gado was a former backup at a Division I-AA school and an anonymous practice squader hoping to make it on an NFL active roster. Three 100-yard rushing games in the NFL later, sunglasses and hats will not keep the autograph hounds away. That star-induced adulation has followed him from Green Bay, Wis. to his hometown of Columbia, S.C.

"I walk into restaurants, and people know who I am," Gado said. "The last two months have probably changed almost everything about my life."

The Packers 2006 offensive scheme, however, will serve as a return to the familiar. Gado played in the new zone blocking scheme installed by offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski and offensive line coach Joe Philbin while in college at Liberty University. Gado's head coach at Liberty, former quarterback Ken Karcher, played under Jagodzinksi's mentor, Alex Gibbs, while with the Denver Broncos in 1987. Karcher liked that zone blocking scheme so much that he installed it at Liberty. Gado's experience in that system has him pumped for the 2006 season to begin.

"I've been running the zone blocking schemes for four years," Gado said. "Once I heard that connection, I just couldn't wait to start. That has a lot to do with my excitement in getting ready for next year."

Gado already has begun those preparations. While most players take time off following the season to rest their bodies, Gado, who ended his season by spraining a knee ligament in Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens, has worked out intensely.

"Because I missed the last two-and-a-half weeks of the season," Gado said. "I felt like that was rest enough."

Gado spends two days in the gym each week, focusing on Olympic lifting. He follows those muscle-building sessions by running on a treadmill. He also spends three days-a-week on the track, working on general conditioning and speed.

"I'm trying to get at the highest level of conditioning I've ever been in my life," Gado said.

He displayed that same drive during his rookie season. Often players spend Tuesday, their off day, as far away from the stadium facility as possible. Even when he was on the practice squad with no chance of seeing action in that week's game, Gado, however, lifted weights and broke down film with running backs coach Edgar Bennett every Tuesday.

The hard work paid off. He not only earned a spot on the active roster but also became the starting running back in Week 10. Gado went on to rush for 582 yards and score seven touchdowns. As the 2005 season wore on, the raw rookie improved his vision and patience in letting holes develop.

In 2006 Gado wants to take it another step. He yearns to become better at reading his blocks, protecting the passer and holding on to the football. Once he returns to Green Bay in March, he will perform daily drills to hammer home the correct form of using his forearm and hand to grasp the football high and tight near his shoulder. Gado fumbled four times in a three-game stretch last season, but he has set a goal of going without fumbles in 2006.

"I want to put the fumbling issue to rest," Gado said. "I want to greatly improve on that."

In the mean time he spends his offseason working out, visiting with friends and family and speaking at various engagements. Those speaking opportunities, all made possible by his new-found fame, have taken place all over the country. He has traveled to churches and schools throughout the southeastern United States and has trips planned to Ohio and California.

Gado has quite a message to impart. He lived in Kufai, Nigeria until the age of nine. In 1990 his father, Jeremiah, came to the United States to earn a doctorate degree in divinity at Columbia International University. Through a church in South Carolina, a donation was made one year later, allowing Samkon and his mother Grace to join him in America.

He went on to letter four times at Liberty while earning conference all-academic honors with a 3.66 GPA in health promotions and becoming a member of the university's honors program. Gado started only two games at Liberty but still made it to the NFL, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs. After finishing his NFL career, he wants to become a doctor and return to his native Nigeria as a medical missionary.

Medical school, however, will have to wait. Gado's thoughts revolve around football now. Since the season ended, Gado watched other NFL teams compete in the playoffs while champing at the bit to join them in action.

"Just watching the playoffs makes me want to compete that much more," Gado said. "I'm so excited. I just cannot wait to start minicamp."

http://www.packers.com/news/stories/2006/02/06/1/

I hope he gets the chance to start for them. It would stink if the job was handed right back to Ahman Green, who was pretty ineffective before going down last season.

I think Sam has the potential to put up 1000 yards and 6-7 scores if he gets the carries.

Sam will be at LU next week.... I will be catching up with him and should be able to give you guys a good soild report..

LU kept trying to give Sam some money but he wouldnt accept it, he finally allowed them to pay for gas...he just couldnt believe that they could get him some tickets to the concert either, this guy is one of the best

Some interesting tidbits and humorous excerpts about Gado from an article from three weeks ago: (pardon me if it's already been posted.)


http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story ... ry_id=3589

..."With Vonta and guys like Dayne backing me up and Samkon, it makes it a lot easier," Green said. "You know you’ve got guys back there who are going to back you up and can do the job as well as you can..."

Gado, Leach, Green and center Mike Flanagan all previously played for the Packers. Gado started five games for the Packers in 2005 and was traded to Houston last Sept. 13. Green followed this season.

Gado jokes that Green is holding back his career.

"I can’t get away from this guy," Gado said. "I’m trying to start a career and as long as he follows me my career is not going up. But I called him and said congratulations.’’

In reality, Gado has learned from Green.

"I enjoyed in Green Bay just watching him," Gado said. "He’s been in the league for so long, for a young guy to come in and want to compete, you’d be a fool not to just watch him and do everything he does on and off the field.

Gado noticed that Green wore smaller pads so Gado now wears smaller shoulder pads. Green doesn’t wear a back flap. Now, neither does Gado.

"It’s almost shameful how much I copy him even from the way he dresses for games," Gado said...

Sam got some reps yesterday and was much more explosive in the Texans' victory over the pathetic Dolphins. Next week when we expect Ahman to be activated then I think there is a good chance Sam will get the call and the Lynchburger Dayne will go back to the sideline as the #3 where Sam spent the first few weeks inactive.

it looked to me like Dayne was getting the bulk of the carries, you dont think they'll make him the #2 and Sam the #3?

I was playing Madden yesterday; in my franchise I signed Gado to be my backup HB. Yesterday, he scored a touchdown for me... which prompted the announcer to say "The former Liberty standout takes it in for six!"


Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

Ed Dantes wrote:I was playing Madden yesterday; in my franchise I signed Gado to be my backup HB. Yesterday, he scored a touchdown for me... which prompted the announcer to say "The former Liberty standout takes it in for six!"


Yes!!!!!!!!!!!

They didnt call us Liberty College? That isnt very realistic then...everytime I hear an announcer mention us they have no idea that we're actually a University!

The Texans waived Sam today (10/23/07) ........what does that mean??

bozlady wrote:The Texans waived Sam today (10/23/07) ........what does that mean??

He's not on the team anymore.

sly where were on this one?? any insight to the situation

jcmanson wrote:He's not on the team anymore.

It's info like that that keeps me coming back for more

Hold My Own wrote:

jcmanson wrote:He's not on the team anymore.

It's info like that that keeps me coming back for more

Thank you, thank you.

man, didn't see this coming. That sucks. The Bengals could have used him 3 weeks ago.

We already know the Dolphin's front office are idiots, but they are even bigger idiots if they don't snatch up Samkon. They are really hurting for a back. He could help them big time.

actually, if you think about it, if this were to happen to Sam, now is the best time. There has been a ton of injury to the RB spot this year. Hopefully he gets claimed very quickly.

Have said it before, but - MAN- could Philly use another dependable RB.

never happen. We only make STUPID managment decisions in this town. Like releasing Dante Stallworth

I love how if you even THINK of posting about something on the wrong spot on this board you quickly get put in your place. Gotta love the post police around here.

PAmedic wrote:Have said it before, but - MAN- could Philly use another dependable RB.

never happen. We only make STUPID managment decisions in this town. Like releasing Dante Stallworth

We just didn't release him medic...we didn't resign him....Curtis has been OK but i would have been fine picking them both up honestly. With Buckhalter and his 3 previous years of knee surgery boy would i love Sam for a briuser....Heck cut Reno " im not worth the Jersey i wear" Mahe and let Sam return punts/kickoffs!

truedrewdawg87 wrote:I love how if you even THINK of posting about something on the wrong spot on this board you quickly get put in your place. Gotta love the post police around here.

take the chip off your shoulder. It just keeps things organized and easy to find.

If Samkon gets picked up by somebody and they actually play him it will be for the best. The Texans have lost complete faith in both Sam and Lynchburger Ron Dayne. If Sam remains on the team but isn't active then he doesn't get full game checks. I have a feeling someone will snatch him up if they haven't already. Sam had a few chances to step up here (very few) and he didn't bust the big play needed to grab the job. But trying to run behind the Texans' horrendous O-line would be a challenge for even Jim Brown or Barry Sanders.

gado apparently has been claimed off of waivers bby miami...

link? I haven't seen it in the news or on dolphin message boards.

my insider sources...