DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Reactions to Specific Players

Man I had no idea where to put this and certainly a David Veikune post probably wouldn't be appropriate but.

Mangini quote:

"I think that David (Veikune) has done a real nice job. He's an athletic player, but he's also very stout. He has a good punch. He moves laterally well. It's a whole new world, because he's going from d-end to inside linebacker, as opposed to just, d-end to outside linebacker. His transition actually takes a couple steps. It takes time: 1) standing on your feet, and then 2) assessing everything that's going on inside, where everything prior to that was hand in the dirt. Now, he had moved around some in college, but he was in those defensive line meeting rooms as opposed to the linebacker meeting rooms."

I'm really happy to hear good news about a Hawaii Alum. He's a really strong guy and if he gets his hands on someone he has elite strength to get off of them.

With that said I continue to hear about his lateral agility which is something, if there is an ability in his agility , it is a new notion.

The guy is monster strong. He played in obvious passing downs at NT for UH. When I heard we drafted him as a OLB I thought he had ZERO chance to get around an average RT let alone a competant LT.

But as a ILB. Let's see what happens. He's as strong as an ox. ILB is all about getting through the wash and early recog. I hope it works.

As a UH and Browns season ticket holder I'm specifically interested in how this plays out.
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If you have a specific training camp thought about a player that doesn't warrant it's own thread put it here. Aloha!

So seeing that you are one of the few to actually see Veikune play in college, what makes you think he does not posses the ability to beat a RT for pressure? What did you see in his game that translate well to ILB as opposed to OLB? Also I was unaware he also played some NT, thats incredible. I find it completely interesting that he is lining up at ILB and am really curious to see him in action come pre season.

I like the guy.

My reason is as unscientific as it gets and is based on nothing my my perception...I think all teams need at least one guy on the team who gives you that Oofty Goofty look.

Oofty was the Wild Man of Borneo.

Since I knew nothing of him initially, my first reaction was to mispronounce his name. The second one was to note that he's wearing Clay Matthews number 57. I hoped there was an omen there and he would be up to the legend.

IIRC, back in mini camps, there was talk as he was doing some time on the inside that it was only because it was Mangini's way of moving players around to get them some experience at the different positions and he would move to and settle at OLB. Turns out that's not so. Mangini seems to have him solid at ILB.

Not to answer for Held, but I watched him as well. I can see him beating a right tackle fairly consistently, but think he would struggle on the left side, though he would have a chance with the bull rush. On the right side, he can win with his speed. On the left side, he would have to use his strength.

He's a stiff rigid robotic looking guy, like a guy who would explode himself trying to tackle a guy like Barry Sanders in space. He's not a real smooth athlete. But I can tell you that he's known as a guy with really strong hands. He's a gym warrior.

But he couldn't beat out Mel Purcell or Ikaika Alama-Francis. Purcell definitely had the better college career.

We shall see. I hope he proves me wrong.

Wasn't he competing against them though for a 3-4 DE spot? That could make a big difference. Although, I must admit, I know nothing about Hawaii football except for Colt Brennan who I still think could make a good NFL QB.

Yes. DE in a 34.

But think about it for a second. Why wasn't he an OLB then? Maybe because he doesn't have the skill set. That's what I personally think. But maybe he could be a Tedi Bruschi type in time for us at ILB. That would be the ceiling.

I was surprised he was drafted Day 1 and so was he. He was out golfing fully expecting to get drafted Sunday.

Oofty goofty.... that's a new one.

I thought you were going in a different direction- a player who gives every ounce he has to play the best and be the best. Those are some of the good things I've heard about David.

I just can't see him getting much of a real shot besides a back up. Barton and Jackson have it locked down.

The DE/DT to ILB thing along with everything else screams Tedy Bruschi about this kid. If he can play with half the heart Tedy plays with we're in business.

That's my hope too.

even if he can't win the starting job if he works his butt off we might have the start of a good LB rotation/situational breathers

When you get to the Pro's isn't it a little late to be changing positions. That stuff hardly ever works. Even De to OLB. Our own Kam W for instance. If we wanted a ILB we should have drafted Malaluga or the Animal. Sounds like a possible wasted draft choice to me.

DE to OLB is the only way to do it in a 3-4. Zero 3-4 OLB's played 4-3 OLB in college.

Mike Vrabel, Teddy Bruschie, and Adalius Thomas have all played inside after being college defensive ends.

The guy I wanted back in 06 was Tapp,I wanted him to be down inside..thats what you do with Tweeners..U see what their skillset allows them to move to.course U already know that..

1. I'd like to state that I was wrong when in the first mini-camps when DV was played at ILB I strongly pooh-poohed that notion and he would be vying for our OLB position.

2. What has changed? I think the depth at ILB is what has changed. Leon and Bell both not known for their football intelligence - I think are not long for the Browns. Triple A is a football player but right now is too light (maybe a year or two as he gets to 240).

3. The coming on of Titus Brown and Marcus Bernard...both having an excellent camp actually giving us a log jam at OLB.

4. DV has proven a fast learner and very versatile in his athletic abilities...he has been also described as very intelligent. I hope we got our Bruschi, bigger, faster!

JMHO - Barton to teach the kids, Double D's in the middle for the future...DQ n DV

The Browns have been desperate for that big thumper in the middle since Earl Holmes. DV may the hardest hitting player on this team not named Rogers. He is being brought along slowly (great move btw). He has natural instincts for the position but there is a learning curve.

I really expect big things for this young man as the season progresses. There are guys that try to separate the ball from carrier and then there are those rare players that try to separate the player from the ball and DV falls into the later group.

This new regime LOVES the inside blitz and thats one of the reasons that DV is inside.

I thought Holmes was our starting Mike in '01 and '02? From what your post reads, it sounds like he was a situational LB (goal line). I don't remember Holmes covering TEs very well.

Marcus Bernard? I've heard of Titus Brown. Camp fodder--but it would be nice to have some depth behind Wimbley and Hall--if either one works out you have a swingman and can cut the other one.

Quote:

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Didn't you hate the pick because he wasn't in your draft magazine or something?

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Bringing politics up in Pure Football is always a great and classy move.

Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons are both inside linebackers, and James Harrison played in a 3-4 for that one season and a 4-3 similar to the Giants which is almost a 3-4.

Timmons has started a few games at OLB for them...actually once last year against us.

I don't disagree with your statement on the whole...

But he only played there as a fill in. It would be like Patrick Willis playing OLB for the '9ers.

Also...

Pierre Woods, Shawn Crable and Lamarr Woodley. All three were OLB at Michigan and are now OLB for the Pats and Steelers respectively.

That's said, Deep's basic point is still valid: MOST 3-4 OLBs are converted college DEs. There is an art to figuring out if a college DE projects well as a 3-4 OLB. The Steelers and Pats seemed to have it down. Hopefully, the Browns will figure it out with this new regime.

That isn't entirely true. All three played defensive end, but Michigan liked to mix things up and put their ends at linebacker. I knew what I was saying when I made that statement.

That's really only true of Woodley (who was more of a hybrid player). Woods and Crable were definitely OLBs,—however. They put their hand down once in a while, but they were LB's first.

They were listed as defensive ends.

J/c

An inside pass rush.....

I don't think I've seen the Browns have an inside pass rush since Jamir Miller. It would be great to see us be able to have a defense similar to what's been used against us for the past 10 years. I can't wait to see it.