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Center of power Notre Dame's Faine feels his edge gives him an edgePosted: Wednesday February 12, 2003 12:17 PM
This is the first in a series as SI.com follows Notre Dame center Jeff Faine in the weeks leading up to the 2003 NFL Draft in April. By David Clark, SI.com The NFL draft advisory board told Jeff Faine he would probably be a second-round pick. Faine doesn't see why he can't go in the first round. "They gave me a second-round grade, but there were some first-round votes in there. I've talked to a few scouts and coaches. There's been some interest in the first round. It all ends up who really needs a center and who wants you at your position." Since 1995, only one center has been drafted in the first round. The New England Patriots selected Damien Woody 17th overall in the 1999 draft. Faine believes he and Woody "share many of the same qualities." "I think for the most part my film did the talking. I'm still striving for the first round," Faine said. "It's hard at my position." How Faine looked on tape was all anyone had to go by -- until last weekend. The whirlwind tour of one workout facility after the next is under way. He just returned from his first workout in Pittsburgh, where he worked with former Steelers offensive lineman Tunch Ilkin, in addition to skills coaches. His experience was a positive one.
The 6-foot-2, 298-pounder looks forward to his next workout -- set for early March -- as an opportunity for "a little fine tuning ... to make sure everything's how it's supposed to be and I'm in top shape." So you figure Faine has time to relax and maybe lift some weights until his next workout? Think again. Faine, who is forgoing his final year of eligibility at Notre Dame, is taking 18 credit hours this semester in an effort to complete his degree as soon as possible. "It's actually overload. It's what I need to graduate. ... I want to finish up this semester," Faine said. But Faine isn't leaving early because he's sick of Notre Dame. To the contrary, he'll miss South Bend. "The risk of injury next year outweighs the rewards and benefits of being here. I pretty much had my mind made up before I got my grade back [from the draft advisory board] ... that was just the icing on the cake," he said. "I've given my all here for four years, competed as hard as I could. ... Leaving my teammates is my only regret ... my friends, that's the roughest part. And leaving Coach Willingham, who was a pretty big key to our success this year. I'd say the two not positive -- I wouldn't say negative -- things are leaving my teammates and Coach Willingham and leaving school. ... It's a wonderful place." The second-team All-American is proud of the player he became during his Golden Dome tenure. "I think I'm just a little different than most offensive lineman. I definitely have a mean streak ... kind of dirty ... not breaking-the-rules dirty, but I do everything I can to dominate my guy. It comes from within, the drive to be the best at my position. That's my goal. Hopefully, I'll be able to achieve that in the NFL." Faine is confident that right now his ability separates him from the rest of the centers and other offensive linemen entering the draft. "I've got a little mix of everything ... the total package. I can run block ... and I can get the job done in pass protection with fierce tenacity. I'm just so aggressive. I love to play the game, I love to dominate it. I think it's the best game in the world. His guilty pleasure? "To inflict your will on [your opponent]. You can do some things that are illegal on the street." |
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