Hooray for the Promotion of Youth! Marcus Benard Added to 53-Man Roster

by Chris Pokorny on Nov 9, 2009 1:11 PM EST in General News Comment 22 comments

The Cleveland Browns signed rookie LB Marcus Benard to the 53-man roster on Monday, according to the OBR. If you recall, Benard was the linebacker who shined twice during the preseason -- once against the Green Bay Packers and once against the Chicago Bears. He actually made the 53-man roster to start the season, but was released prior to the season opener. He's been on the Browns' practice squad ever since. The other candidate to take a roster spot was LB Titus Brown. He will remain on the team's practice squad for the time being.

After waiving K Billy Cundiff and DB Anthony Madison last week, the Browns had two open roster spots. After signing Benard, one roster spot still remains open. That number could jump back up to two if the team decides to place veteran LB Eric Barton on the injured reserve in the coming days.

The OBR also reports that moving forward, it appears that LB David Bowens will continue to start at inside linebacker with LB Jason Trusnik starting at outside linebacker. The combination doesn't sound very flashy, but Rob Ryan's system worked against the Chicago Bears in using the tandem to help generate pressure.

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Trusnik may be the gem

Of the trades that have been made. The Steelers and Patriots have made a living in picking up stray players and turning them into full time productive players, maybe he’ll do the same. He fits the bill as a young player that has some upside. Say what you will about how “talented” he is, but he gets pressure on the QB, ends up around the football a lot and looks like a guy that not only wants to be a player…but he wants to play for the Browns!

by blockersave93 on Nov 9, 2009 4:19 PM EST reply actions

I am glad to hear that Trusnik will be getting more time.

He has played well when he has been in. That being said, where is Veikune?

by Bernie19Kosar on Nov 9, 2009 6:33 PM EST reply actions

he played a little last week and should start / play a whole lot at inside LB this week

by notthatnoise on Nov 9, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions

Haven’t we been thinking this all season though? Hopefully the bye week helped him.

by Bernie19Kosar on Nov 9, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions

He was a 3-4 defensive end in college. Making the switch to inside linebacker is a huge transition.

by Bumblyjack on Nov 9, 2009 10:45 PM EST up reply actions

I understand, but two things bother me.

1. Why was he switched to a ILB? I saw nothing pre-draft about anyone thinking he was a ILB. His strong suit was his ability to pass rush.

2. He was praised this preseason because he was understanding the defense well. He hasn’t been hurt. How does he have zero tackles? It’s not like he was switching from OLB to RB.

Please don’t take this as a “he sucks” type thing, but I was expecting much more from him. LB isn’t one of those positions that usually take a couple of years to get their feet wet.

by Bernie19Kosar on Nov 9, 2009 11:12 PM EST up reply actions

There is a very good reason that he was switched to ILB. He has very loose hips and has drawn comparisons to Tedy Bruschi as one of those few guys who is, as Eric Mangini described it, “made of rubber”. It is very rare for a player of his size and strength (which is also off the charts) to have his agility. This should make him the perfect fit for the SAM inside linebacker spot who has to take on interior linemen in run defense. The coaching staff could play him at OLB, but if that is what we wanted we would have drafted Cody Brown, Paul Kruger, Victor Butler, or Lawrence Sidbury who are all better pass rushers.

Take a look at 0:50-1:01 in his combine video to see his fluid hips: http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80f34ba9

by Bumblyjack on Nov 10, 2009 1:08 AM EST up reply actions

…and it took Bruschi years to make the transition from college DE to pro ILB.

Veikune was a low risk / high reward player late in the second round. Even if he doesn’t pan out (and just because we haven’t seen much of him doesn’t mean that he’s a bust), you can’t fault them for taking him.

by golanbatrac on Nov 10, 2009 1:54 AM EST up reply actions

But Teddy Buschi was on the field even as a rookie. He was a pass rusher.

The same role as we all thought Veikune would have. I would have thought that the Browns would have at least gotten some blitz packages for him.

I hope that he comes on big in the second half.

by Bernie19Kosar on Nov 10, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions

Rookie Bruschi was an OLB, though.

A run stopping ILB who is fast enough and agile enough to run from sideline to sideline and cover tight ends and backs would go a long way toward solving many of the problems we’ve had on defense since moving to the 3-4. For that reason, I think I’m fine with them trying to develop Veikune as an ILB without first developing him as an OLB, even if it means we don’t see much of him this year.

by golanbatrac on Nov 10, 2009 3:11 PM EST up reply actions

How come everytime I try to follow a link to a nfl.com video I get the
“this video is no longer avalible”.
I think the nlf.com site has something agsinst me cuz i’m a Browns fan. :-(

Fooootball has been beary beary good to me.

by doggrad87 on Nov 10, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions

I was just about to suggest bringing up Titus Brown or Marcus Bernard from the Practice squad

by TheRealSlimShady on Nov 9, 2009 6:49 PM EST reply actions

Is Bernard a OLB or ILB?

by TheRealSlimShady on Nov 9, 2009 7:20 PM EST reply actions

Marcus Benard is Rob Ryan’s favorite player. He’s the guy that Ryan was goofing around with a few times during practice.

By the way, he’s an OLB that was a defensive end in college.

by Bumblyjack on Nov 9, 2009 10:43 PM EST reply actions

David Vaikune was scouted as a DE/LB hybrid. He has since successfully made the transition to MLB. If we were to play a 4-3, he would receive prime consideration to start.
Jason Trusnik is similarly qualified.
Both are too large for 3-4 inside linebackers, and not fast and quick enough for 3-4 outside linebackers, to receive consideration as long term answers for the Browns standard 3-4 alignment. We think it is more prudent to get to the point of impact fast, rather than to maul the ball handler. The creed for our sporty linebackers is: “impede-proceed”.
They are however prototypical 4-3 middle linebackers, and the Browns are proud to have such attractive athletes on their roster. Their physical attributes are appreciated in our defensive efforts to shore up the offenses´ subpar play. They are very helpful in helping prevent blowouts.

by mooncamping on Nov 10, 2009 9:23 AM EST reply actions

I am curious why you deem Veikune’s conversion to MLB a success at this point.

by Roger Dorn on Nov 10, 2009 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

We´re making a Browns product comparable to Rey Maualuga, and we´ll get mucho dinero when we trade him.

by mooncamping on Nov 10, 2009 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

The fact that you now see yourself as the GM of the Browns makes your tense and posts even more hilarious/entertaining/confusing to read.

And how are we going to get “mucho dinero” when we trade a successful middle linebacker?

by Ryan Kelsey on Nov 10, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

What I´m saying is, that with Shaun Rogers, Robaire Smith, and David Vaikune and Jason Trusnik as inside linebackers (although they are not prototype, and not a long term solution), we can totally shut down the Ravens rushing game inside the offensive tackles. That leaves them with end-around attempts and a passing game that we can then concentrate on shutting down. It´s not pretty, but who cares at this point.
In that formation we are built to stop the Ravens offense. Leaving the predicament to the offense, which seems perfectly fine to me.

by mooncamping on Nov 10, 2009 10:57 AM EST reply actions

Shaun Rogers and Robaire Smith as linebackers?

by TheRealSlimShady on Nov 10, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions

Rogers is all ready lining up at LB I thought. Or at least a deep, upright NT position.

by SpecialBrownie on Nov 10, 2009 9:13 PM EST up reply actions

Oh so funny.
Of course I meant Robaire and Shaun on the three man d-line, and Vaikune and Trusnik as inside linebackers. The sentence may look a bit confusing, if you decide to read it wrong. So I´m clarifying.

by mooncamping on Nov 11, 2009 9:25 AM EST reply actions