While We’re Waiting… Chip Trick Shot, Browns/Chiefs and Hot Rod Highlights
September 20, 20102010-11 NBA Blogger Previews – Atlantic Division
September 20, 2010
Lost in the horrendous start to the season for the Browns is how well Marcus Benard is playing. We were watching in horror and mockery a season ago when David Veikune was inactive for games after being drafted in the second round. When Veikune was finally cut before he could be listed inactive for multiple games in his second season, the Browns’ depth at linebacker was listed as one of the reasons. Veikune was marginalized by players like 4th rounder Kaluka Maiava and undrafted free agent Marcus Benard.
For however foolish you might think the Browns look for drafting and failing to convert Veikune from a defensive end into a linebacker, isn’t it funny they don’t get credit for Benard? Benard played DE in college at Jackson State after taking a circuitous route because of bad grades in high school. Now that he is with the Browns, all that matters is that he is producing well above any expectations that ever could have been imagined for him when he was sitting behind both Maiava and Veikune on the depth chart a year ago.
In the 2009 season Benard had 3.5 sacks in just six games for the Browns. Through two games this season, Benard already has 2.5. Against the Chiefs, he went the long way out-working and outrunning the offensive line to travel all the way around a block to Matt Cassell. In addition to that, he was able to drop into coverage and get his left fingertips on a pass that was destined for tight end Moeaki. If it gets over Benard there it is almost certainly a first down for the Chiefs on a third and five play.
It is still early for Marcus Benard in his career. The 6′ 2″ DE turned 3-4 linebacker has still only played in eight career games so far. That is hardly a big enough sampling size to declare him the next James Harrison, who was signed by the Steelers after he went undrafted out of Kent State. For now it will have to be good enough to say he isn’t David Veikune.
(Photo John H. Reid III)
21 Comments
yay
It will be great if Bernard gets to start, well earns the starting job, by seasons end. If he becomes a solid OLB that takes away 1 less need for this team.
When is someone at WFNY going to address the REAL dissappearing act? Where was Randall Lerner yesterday? A NO SHOW for the home opener and ring of honor ceremony? Just sell the team dude.
I could care less about Lerner being there. Just hand over that checkbook to Mr. Walrus and he can go wherever he pleases. I’d rather have Lerner’s deep pockets around than have him sell the team to a guy with limited funds but a great relationship with the fans.
Unless Randy Lerner was calling plays or in uniform, it’s completely irrelevant if he was there or not.
I wouldn’t be that upset about Veikune if he was an undrafted free agent, but Mangini wasted a second-round pick on him. Much like how the second round picks used for Massaquoi and Robiskie are looking to be a waste.
But yay Bernard!
Lerner put Holmgren in place for all things football – it’s Mike’s show now.
Re Benard, I just wish he could’ve been in there on a few of those third-and-longs that wound up in the hands of their no-name tight end on the EXACT SAME PLAY each time out.
You guys are so sad. Keep defending your owner. He’s done SO MUCH for you. Wow.
Um, I don’t think anyone is really defending him…I think everyone realizes he made a good move in putting Holmgren in charge…so from here out who cares what he does?
He hasn’t been a good owner in the past other than having deep pockets. That factor is helpful, but by itself doesn’t make one a good owner. The fact that he has hired the first really legit president of football operations to handle EVERYTHING makes all the other negatives about Randy moot now. I don’t have any expectations of Lerner except to write checks and fire Mike Holmgren if and when he needs to do that.
So far, despite the rough start, I am not ready to have Mike Holmgren fired. 🙂
Lerner makes moves on a whim, while we (and our wallets) are effectively held hostage, hoping the moves he makes are the right ones.
I have more hope/faith in this regime than any of its predecessors, but that still doesn’t change the fact that the owner is basically throwing darts blindfolded and hoping he hits the board.
And we have to keep footing the bill, because the league already showed us once what happens to naughty fans who dont appreciate (read:subsidize) crappy products.
and deep pockets my rear end….I doubt he has taken a loss yet…so really, it’s not coming out of his pockets at all. Granted, it may be on the way to his pocket and he allows it to be diverted, but it’s not like it’s coming out of his 401(k) or home equity line
How did this turn into a Randy talk? Who cares about him.
Lerner finally brings in a solid front office–something folks have been screaming for him to do–and there are some people who still want to whine about him as the problem with the Browns? He’s an owner for crying out loud, exactly what else would you have him do? He put good people in charge at the top during the offseason (just this previous offseason, so how about giving it some time to take hold instead of being knee-jerk ingrates) and he’s paying the bills, so get off his back already. Did it take him longer than it should have to reach this point? I’d say so. But it’s here now, so you can stop beating that dead horse.
Now, if you want to complain about the quality of the coaching (or lack thereof) or the lack of quality players on the roster or the lack of brains/heart routinely demonstrated by both of those groups, then you have a legitimate gripe. Brian Daboll is easily the worst OC I have seen come through here since ’99, and that is most certainly saying something. Mangini is supposed to be a discipline guy, and yet we continue to make the same stupid mistakes at the worst times. Either his message isn’t getting through, or the players are just too dumb to understand or too incompetent to follow it. The defense is the only ray of hope thus far, and they couldn’t pressure the opposing QB if their own lives depended on doing so. And nevermind the fact that personnel dictates we should be using a 4-3 anyway.
As has been mentioned in previous posts and comments, a change at HC during the season would be a fool’s errand: what quality of coach would be willing to jump into this quagmire now when they could wait and start with a fresh record next season? For now an immediate change needs to happen at OC just to give the fans some hope (I’m thoroughly sick of this pathetic squad, and it’s only week 3) and the players some chance to perform–maybe we can pull out a W against Buffalo in December or even Jacksonville in November with some changes. Then, if at season’s end we look elsewhere for HC, then so be it. Just please don’t let it be Jon Gruden.
B-bo what’s an offensive coordinator? I can’t remember the last time that position was actually FILLED and it showed on the field. Lindy Infante? Anyways I agree about Mangini all I heard were excuses for the same mistakes and mental breakdowns. It’s only because the first two opponents were who they were that the final scores were that close. You know kinda like the last four games of last year. I’m just amazed at how many people are willing to accept what they are watching, it’s pitiful. I watch other NFL games and see actual football being played. The Browns make everything look so much more difficult. I didn’t expect 2-0 but 0-2 giving away games wasn’t what I expected either. Unfortunately after two games Mike Holmgren’s decision to retain Mangini looks like a big mistake.
You are the same people that whined about Lebron “not doing the right thing” and telling the Cavs of his intentions before that silly tv special.. that he was leaving. Now, Lerner does the WRONG thing by not even showing up to the team’s biggest ceremony in years.. and you all defend him? Double standard posters on this site. Sad.
@15
Difference being Lebron’s actions handicapped the team’s ability to replace him.
Lerner not being there doesn’t affect the team at all.
Double standards can be a bad thing. So can misdirected hostility. With all the legit, on-field problems the team faces, it’s the freaking owner we should be expected to focus on? Please.
@15 – LOL
no seriously thank you I needed a good laugh on this monday.
Honestly, I was more disappointed that Ozzie Newsome sent NO ONE to represent him for the ceremony. I get why he himself couldn’t be there (in that he has an NFL job that he has to attend to), but he couldn’t send a family member? He couldn’t send anyone?
I was more hurt by that than Randy not being there. In fact, to be honest, I didn’t even notice that Randy wasn’t there. And honestly that’s how it should be with the owner. I’d rather have that than someone like Jerry Jones who would have been the MC as well as talking about how great the letters he used to put the names up on the facade are, and aren’t you all lucky to be sitting in my beautiful stadium?
Oh, and yea Benard!
Come on guys, give Lerner a break. He probably donated his suite to the Boys and Girls Club, because in reality, he was still in England after Aston Villa’s game Saturday since soccer is more exciting than the Browns
**I can’t decide whether that deserves the sarcasm slash or not**