ALAMEDA, Calif. — Michael Huff's move from strong safety to his more natural free safety position this season was supposed to revive the former first-round pick's career with the Oakland Raiders.

Less than one-third through the season, that move has been followed by yet another: The seventh pick in the 2006 draft has been replaced in the starting lineup by former undrafted free agent Hiram Eugene.

"I'm definitely surprised," Huff said. "I thought going out there I'd play well at free safety. This is the hardest I've worked this past offseason. Things just didn't go my way so it was time to make a move. I definitely understand it."

Huff was out of place his first two seasons, forced to play close to the line of scrimmage and guard tight ends despite being on the small size for a safety at just over 200 pounds.

But after Gibril Wilson was signed as a free agent, Huff moved back to free safety and the early reports were positive.

He performed well in offseason workouts as well as preseason games as both the coaching staff and Huff talked about his increased comfort with a familiar position, which translated into more confidence and success.

But once the season started, Huff almost disappeared. He was beaten on a long pass play in the opener against Denver. He failed to make a single tackle or defend a pass three weeks ago against San Diego, and was beaten again on a deep ball last week in New Orleans. In all, Huff has just 12 tackles and two passes defensed through five games.

"Open-field tackling is harder than I thought it would be," Huff said. "That's probably the biggest adjustment."

In 37 career games, Huff has struggled to make any big plays. He has just one interception, one sack, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery — hardly what the Raiders expected when they picked him ahead of Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler two years ago.

Eugene signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of Louisiana Tech in 2005. He spent most of his first two seasons on the practice squad before playing in all 16 games last season.

He started the final five contests after starter Stuart Schweigert was demoted and hopes that experience will help him this season.

"I had been on the practice squad here for two years, so I haven't really had much game experience," Eugene said. "Starting and getting a lot of reps toward the end of the season last year kind of helped me out in feeling my way."

The switch at safety comes in Tom Cable's second game since replacing Lane Kiffin as coach. He is making a move at wide receiver as well, giving rookie Chaz Schilens the start Sunday against the New York Jets in place of Ronald Curry.

Cable hopes Eugene can give a spark to a defense that has struggled early this season against the pass.

"The thing about Eugene that impresses me is I've seen him throw his body around in there," Cable said. "I've seen him get out of center field and get to the sideline with some range. Not that Michael hasn't, but I just see it with a little more zip, a little more flair if you will, and that's what we're looking for; we're looking for intensity on defense."

Huff admitted to feeling the pressure of being a top 10 pick expected to produce from the start. But he has been unable to perform the way he did as a college star at Texas and hasn't come close to reaching the level either he or the Raiders expected when he entered the NFL.

"I expect to go out there and perform at a Pro Bowl caliber level every year so when I don't, I've kind of disappointed myself," Huff said. "I don't like to have the name on my back. I play for my dad, really, so anytime I go out there and don't play as well as I could, I know I'm letting him down so I put more pressure on myself than I have from any outside source."

Huff's demotion marks the latest case of a high draft pick failing to live up to expectations in Oakland. Of the eight players selected in the first round from 2001-06, only two are starters for the Raiders: cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and guard Robert Gallery.

The other five are not with the team any more. Cornerback Fabian Washington, a 2005 pick, was traded to Baltimore in the offseason. Oakland previously traded both of its 2002 picks, linebacker Napoleon Harris and cornerback Phillip Buchanon. Defensive lineman Tyler Brayton, the team's second first-round pick in 2003, left as a free agent this past offseason, while 2001 top pick Derrick Gibson is out of the NFL.

Defensive end Derrick Burgess (triceps) did not practice Friday and is doubtful for the game, as is tight end Ben Troupe (foot).