DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Blocking out past failures is top job ..JT

Blocking out past failures is top job

Browns rookie lineman to fill key gap Sunday, May 06, 2007 Mary Kay CabotPlain Dealer Reporter

Joe Thomas approached former Browns left tackle Doug Dieken after his first minicamp practice and said, "Hey, man, I'm sorry I stole your number [No. 73]."

"It's OK," said Dieken, to the Browns' No. 3 overall pick. "There's still a lot of good hits in it. But I used up all the holding penalties."

If Thomas, the Browns' future starting left tackle, can wear the number as long and as proud as Dieken did, the Browns will be overjoyed.



Dieken, a sixth-round pick out of Illinois in 1971, replaced Dick Schafrath in Week 10 of his rookie season and went on to start a club-record 194 consecutive games.

In fact, Dieken was only the third starting left tackle the Browns had from 1948 through 1984, including Lou Groza and Schafrath.

Since then, they've had nine left tackles -- and six since the Browns returned in 1999. None of those six could hold the job for two straight full seasons.

The closest they came was in 2000 when Roman Oben started all 16 games his first season and then 13 in 2001 before being replaced by Ross Verba.

"It's a huge plus to have that position solidified," said Dieken, now the Browns' radio and television analyst. "If you've got one guy that every Sunday you put out there and say, You're going to take this guy and we won't have to waste a running back or tight end or anything that way,' then all of a sudden it helps the rest of the protection because they can do things on the other side."

Dieken had some advice for Thomas after watching new line coach Steve Marshall tweak his technique on the first day.

"Play the way your body tells you to play," Dieken said. "If a guy is comfortable doing something some way and he can do it, don't try to make him something he's not. You've got to let him play in the way that he's effective."

Dieken said Thomas will probably have a rude awakening his first start because of the adjustment.

"Especially when he comes from a successful school like Wisconsin, you don't have a lot of obvious passing situations," said Dieken. "So when you get that first game and all the sudden you've got 10 or 15 third-and-10s, you just do whatever. You start out as a boxing match and if you start to lose, you turn it into a street fight."

Dieken said it will help Thomas that he was coached in college by former Browns and longtime NFL offensive line coach Bob Palcic.


"I'm sure Bob taught him the same techniques he'll learn here," said Dieken. "But he's got that natural ability for the position."

Dieken said he's impressed with Thomas so far. "He's not enormous, but he's solid and he's got a presence to him. Half of it is being smart and another big part is confidence, and he's got both."

Dieken acknowleged there's a learning curve, but said he can see Thomas starting the opener against the Steelers.

"It'll be a little easier now that [linebacker] Joey Porter is gone probably," said Dieken. "He's going to get a lot of work in and he's played at a high level. It's not like he's coming from Fargo State and trying to start. He saw a lot of premium players in the Big 10, so he should be ahead of the curve."

Thomas said he appreciates the advice from Dieken and from strength coach Tom Myslinski, who was an offensive lineman for nine NFL seasons.

"There's a lot of good things about being surrounded by guys who understand what it takes to play the position," said Thomas. "It helps you in all areas.

"And Doug understands the history and tradition of the team. I see his picture on the wall on my way into the lunchroom."

Thomas said one thing Marshall doesn't want him to change is his weight (311), even though Palcic said he could easily put on 20 pounds if need be.

"Coach Marshall talked to me the other day and said he doesn't want me over 310, so I don't have any plans of gaining any weight or losing any weight," said Thomas.

Thomas said coach Marshall has asked him to alter a few things, but nothing big or unexpected.


"Everybody has a preference on the way you make your first step, the way you punch your hands, your pass sets and stuff like that," he said. "I think you come out here and try to do everything exactly the way he wants it. Obviously it's worked for them or they wouldn't be coaching the Browns offensive line."

Thomas was as confident during minicamp as he was on draft day. "I plan on starting on day one," he said.


http://www.cleveland.com/browns/plaindea...&thispage=1


Didn't see this posted yet... If so .. delete at will..

I read this the other day, but I think it was in the paper, not on here. So you're good!

Hope your not as old as I am ..

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Dieken had some advice for Thomas after watching new line coach Steve Marshall tweak his technique on the first day.

"Play the way your body tells you to play," Dieken said. "If a guy is comfortable doing something some way and he can do it, don't try to make him something he's not. You've got to let him play in the way that he's effective."

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I agree with Dieken on this, and was kind of worried when I watched Thomas' press conference and heard him say Marshall was changing his technique. I guess most of my worry arises from the fact I have little faith in Marshall, especially after wathcing his Texan lines.

I'm 30 today Sounds so crappy to say...."I'm 30."

The dirty thirty

Yeah don't remind me

Why? He was only the line coach for the worst line in NFL history.

Seriously I don't know how much blame he deserves because he didn't pick the stiffs who played for him. I do worry about him messing around with JT right away. What he did worked well for him at Wisconsin. I don't know what the tweaks were but I like the fact Doug spoke up.

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Joe Thomas approached former Browns left tackle Doug Dieken after his first minicamp practice and said, "Hey, man, I'm sorry I stole your number [No. 73]."

"It's OK," said Dieken, to the Browns' No. 3 overall pick. "There's still a lot of good hits in it. But I used up all the holding penalties."

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Haha, I can see Diek developing a man crush on big Joe already. For a rookie to show that much knowledge of team history and respect to a retired vet is awesome!

I wonder how this will effect Diekens broadcasts, hehe

"Play the way your body tells you to play," Dieken said. "If a guy is comfortable doing something some way and he can do it, don't try to make him something he's not. You've got to let him play in the way that he's effective."

Bad advice.Never tell a rookie not to listen to coaches.There's a reason why Marshall is here and coaching,and why Dieken is announcing.To his credit,Dieken was a pretty good LT,but,his game was mauling not pass pro.It's a different game now,different things need to be taught.I like you up in the booth Doug,stay there and let the coaches coach.

Part of the slight change in technique will be due to scheme. Looking at this line I cant help but think its gonna be a heck of a lot more zone blocking than we have seen before. Thomas, Steinbach, Fraley and shaffer should simply excel due to mobility and technique.

I really look forward to see Hank Steinbach and Joe Thomas getting out into the second level and punishing some people. Our running game should be pretty fun with Lewis pounding it behind what could be a great line

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Why? He was only the line coach for the worst line in NFL history.

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Like you say, he's gotta coach the guys they give him and the guys they gave him weren't exactly top shelf,,,,, actually, they were more like Bottom Rung

When I think about all the money that has been poured into the Oline this year,, REsigning Fraley, signing McKinney and Stienbach, Drafting Thomas, And at the same time, retaining the services (at least thus far) of Shaffer..... you have to wonder if Chud sat down with Phil and said,, get me the horses up front or I don't want the job! I just wonder?

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It's not like he's coming from Fargo State and trying to start.

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Hey Dieken! I take exception to that!!! LOL

you have no idea how badly i hope that Joe can live up to the likes of Groza, Schafrath, and Dieken.

heh, no kidding, that would be a dream.... right now I just hope he lives up to Verba

well, baby steps, i guess. . .

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To his credit,Dieken was a pretty good LT,but,his game was mauling not pass pro.It's a different game now

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Just for you younger guys and gals who have a hard time remembering what Doug looked liked...

http://cgi.ebay.com/1977-Topps-162-Doug-...3QQcmdZViewItem

I would have posted it but for some reason couldn't resize it.

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Just for you younger guys and gals who have a hard time remembering what Doug looked liked...

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Gawd, I love the 70's!

Pretty bad when the shipping is more costly than the card

I didn't notice. I just wanted to show the stark contrast in body type since he came into the league.

His legs look like they've never met a squat rack they liked. Cue the chicken music!

It is pretty amazing how much bigger and stronger current players are compared to that era.

Why? from what I can tell from what I can tell we are going to smaller quicker lineman. He is about the same size as Shaffer. McKinney and Steinback aren't as big as the mauler types we have had in the past. I haven't heard anything but maybe we are going to more of a zone blocking scheme.

You are in the minority so your opinion doesn't matter. *L* I don't see where 10 pounds of muscle would hurt anybody his size.

I know it is the system the Donks use. I wonder if Droughns leaving has anything with his off field issues. He was found not guilty of the DD charge and the incident with his wife sure seemed trumped up. To leave us in the situation we are in at RB after the draft doesn't make any sense. Even if we owed him a roster bonus. It's not like we are in cap hell.

No I agree, but what might happen is that they see how he plays at this weight..U can gain strength without putting on a lot of weight..

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you have to wonder if Chud sat down with Phil and said,, get me the horses up front or I don't want the job! I just wonder?

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It's what I'd have told him, if I found myself in Chudzy's shoes.

Otherwise, it's just a job and a paycheck... and the job wouldn't last too long.
(as we've already seen... time and again...)

I don't how you grow 'em in Texas,but I've yet to see a 300# 21yo without some baby fat.
Of coarse Longhorn beef is leaner.
And tougher,and stringier,and not nearly as tasty as Angus.
I'll refrain from commenting on your adopted son,Rueben.

As long as he doesn't diet like Faine i don't care that much. But our LT being 320 instead of 310 would be nice. I feel that a little extra power is always a good thing. He's a tall dude and supposidley has the fram to add some more weight

Any beef raised on a commercial farm wouldn't pass a French drug test.I raise my own.Yearlings this year are T-bone and Big Mac.Herefords,they'll put on wieght in the winter.

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"It's OK," said Dieken, to the Browns' No. 3 overall pick. "There's still a lot of good hits in it. But I used up all the holding penalties."

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"HOLDING, 73 OFFENSE"

Boy, does that bring back a lot of bad memories of good plays called back. Dieken's got to have the Browns all time record for holding penalties.

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Wasn't Faine the guy that wouldn't eat meat, or something rediculous like that?

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Yes, he was a vegetarian... Not strict, but a veg head to be sure.