Of the Cleveland Browns restricted free agents, only one of them signed their contract soon after it was offered to him -- LB Jason Trusnik. In a story released last night, the Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto featured a nice article on Trusnik, emphasizing how it's time to focus on a player who did show up to practice as opposed to all of the players who didn't.
When he played at Division III Ohio Northern, he kept his dreams of pro football to himself. Yes, Ohio Northern plays in the same Ohio Athletic Conference as Mount Union, and the Polar Bears have a strong, small-college program.
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Come draft day, no NFL team called Trusnik's name.
"It was the same story that I heard coming out of high school -- not big enough, not fast enough," he said.
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Trusnik doesn't talk about other players' contract talks. His highest salary before was $460,000, so to go to $1,700,000 is a healthy raise for a guy who was never supposed to make the NFL.
"I just know that I needed to be here," he said. "I know how hard it is to make the league and how hard it is to stay here."
Trusnik seems to be representative of the type of player Mangini wants on the Browns, and he played a significant role in stabilizing the team's linebacker position last year after injuries to D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton.
0 recs | 99 comments
Trusnik is better than Barton and a decent replacement for DQwell
rockybrown - May 21, 2010
He’s more of an OLB so I’d have to disagree. It’s nice to see a guy realize his value and accept an offer like that. Hopefully he has a successful season, we could definately use someone stepping up at LB.
AG7 - May 21, 2010
I don’t know why we’re talking about a replacement for D’Qwell… Wasn’t he the league leader in tackles the year before last? Or he may have just barely gotten edged out… And then he was doing pretty well last year until he got injured, if memory serves. It’s my understanding from rotowire and other news sources that he wants to play for the Browns and he doesn’t plan on sitting out of training camp… I’m not sure why we’re talking about replacing him?
shep615 - May 21, 2010
he’s replaceable, and some people think keeping him around isn’t worth the contract discontent. I’m not really sure where I personally stand on this, I flip-flop a lot.
also, tackles aren’t a very good metric for judging a defensive player.
notthatnoise - May 22, 2010
he was leader in tackles, but they were too often 5-6 yards past the line of scrimmage on running plays. DQ doesn’t shed blocks well, doesn’t make big plays, and simply isn’t big or fast enough to merit any sort of big contract.
If he comes back- great. Let him compete with Barton and Fujita and the handful of other marginal LBs for a roster spot and playing time. If we get a couple cases of powerade for him, that’s cool too.
Ryan Kelsey - May 22, 2010
I do not understand this argument at all. Ok so he doesn’t make all takcles at the
line of scrimmage. Wouldn’t that have more to do with the fact that the front 3 aren’t getting it done? If he can’t get off blocks, why is he still racking up so many tackles. He may not be the greatest at shedding, but he does what he’s asked to do. Solid LB; when he’s gone, people will start to realize how important he was.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
I would also like some sort of evidence that most of his tackles are 5-6 yards downfield. Or maybe something else that says that his tackles were a function of mediocre performance, when in fact he may have been compensating for poor play elsewhere.
Mangini praised him when he first came over, the only professional evaluations I have heard are of a really solid MLB.
Roger Dorn - May 23, 2010
I wish I could offer something more concrete than my opinion here. I mean, he doesn’t make a lot of TFLs or sacks- that can be shown with numbers. But where the tackles are made isn’t something readily available, at least not to me. I think the better way of looking at things is to take tackles out of the equation.
Tackles are a semi-subjective, unreliable stat. Take away that measure and attempt to prove that DQ was above-average. I’m not sure that is possible either. I suppose you have quotes praising him, but I think anyone with a decent work ethic and character is going to have nice quotes from coaches and the like. Heck, if you read the story in the plain dealer about Scott Fujita today, you would think we were getting a hall of famer.
The bottom line is, in my observation, the defense played better with DQ off the field. He is a nice player, but isn’t good enough. He just doesn’t make plays. He is the definition of replaceable.
Ryan Kelsey - May 24, 2010
I think some of the defense’s succes without him has to do with the fact that players were more familiar with Ryan’s scheme and he began to give offenses a variety of different looks.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
I try to separate PD quotes from the coaching staff and GM. DQ has some of the most praiseworthy comments I have heard from them.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
I should say Mangini since I haven’t heard Heckert or Holmgren say anything yet.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
I agree. But there is a stat that shows where tackles are made. it is on Football Outsiders.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
The only thing I can show is DQ reacting quicker than everyone else on the defense and diagnosing the play before everyone else does. Or Trusnik not doing this and getting beaten by a FB for a touchdown. Or Maiava and Bowens making tackles 5-6 yards downfield.
Lets not forget that after DQ went down, we did give up 38 to Detroit and 34 to KC. However, I agree that the defense got better as the year went on and I believe that was the case for a number of reasons:
-We played better together, as a team. We played less like individuals and more like a unit.
-We got more comfortable with the defense. Players like Robaire Smith and David Bowens started playing faster.
-We got Matt Roth, who was one of few pass rushing threats we had from the LB posiiton. He also gave us something we didn’t have before; a player who could line up and perform as a strong side DE in a 4-3 scheme as well as a LOLB in a 3-4.
-Our offense found out how to chew clock and stopped absolutely demoralizing our D. Against Minnesota and Denver, for example, we held the opposing team to a reasonable number of points early, but we were clearly polishing the brass on the Titanic. We had many games where we held the opposing team to relatively few points in the first quarter (GB, pitt1, Chi, Bal2) but it was clear the defense was on the field too long, and were too outmatched talent-wise to hold the opposing team to under 10 points for the whole game (which would have been necessary because our O couldn’t score or stay on the field)
I think the extent to which many fans and PD writers are seeing a causal link between some of our better defensive players getting hurt and our improved D is ridiculous.
So maybe Rubin is better at the NT position, and we do want Rogers playing DE. And maybe shifting Bowens inside was a good move. But do we really think the combination of Hank Poteat and Mike Furrey at FS was better than Brodney Pool? Why is no one clamoring for Poteat and Furrey to start next year?
rufio - May 25, 2010
The importance of which cannot be easily overstated.
danvail - May 25, 2010
Rufio, you should do one of your crazy awesome scouting things on dqwell.
TheRealSlimShady - May 25, 2010
It’s coming, hopefully. I am trying to figure out what we were (trying to) do(ing) through the air as a team first. I think I have most of our running game down, from later in the season at least.
I also want to look at Colt at Texas and Haden at UF if I can muster up any footage of what they did in college.
rufio - May 25, 2010
Cool
TheRealSlimShady - May 26, 2010
false. completely false. you can have a front 3 that aren’t spectacular but still make plays near the line of scrimmage. Lets compare 2007 numbers between Andra Davis and DQ.
Yards per Running Play. AD: 2.1 DQ: 4.4
4.4 is a bit worse than league average for the position
Run Stop Rate (rate of plays made against the run that end up being a “stop”)
-AD: 72% DQ: 58%. 58% is a bit above average, but still nothing special. 72 is quite good.
DQ is better than Davis against the pass. However, he is not very highly ranked at rushing the passer or putting pressure on the QB. He gets a lot of tackles, but that does not make him great at making plays.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
No one is making the case for DQ being a great playmaker. He is a solid linebacker. Yeah, we could draft a LB in the first two rounds, and who knows how they would turn out. We could also go after someone in FA, but if you want someone at DQ’s level or above it will cost the same amount or more. DQ is a good LB and a good guy overall for the franchise. He wants to be here and I would love to see him stay for quite some time. With the options we’ve got, why would anyone want to trade him/release him.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
Right, bross you are arguing something complete different here.
Roger Dorn - May 23, 2010
not really…se above.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
No, I think bross just gave you what you were looking for. statistical evidence that he just wasn’t anything but average. Definitely a target for improvement. And if he is going to consider holding out or wants more money, it should be no sweat off our back.
Ryan Kelsey - May 24, 2010
No, I guess my point is that I am not arguing DQ is spectacular, I don’t think he comes close to approaching spectacular. He is above average has been the point of the DQ supporters. Most would probably agree that we shouldn’t pay him an exorbitant amount of money.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
I don’t think giving him a small raise would be out of line. I don’t think his salary is even in the millions. He shouldn’t be getting Dansby’s 9.6million/year from us, but would a sizable signing bonus and then 3-4 million/year be that out of line for a starting ILB?
Leroy Hill is making 5mil/year, Nick Barnett 4.6, Ben Leber 4.6, EJ Henderson 4.9.
I think we could triple his 1.2million cap number and still be getting a good value, paying him as much as Thomas Davis, Lofa Tatupu, Scott Shanie, or Michael Boley.
rufio - May 25, 2010
it seems like you are putting words in my mouth…I am in favor of keeping him at this point.
The point I WAS making is that its not accurate to blame it all on the D and front 3 around him. I was pointing out Andra Davis, with the same front 3 ahead of him, was much better at stopping the run. In 2007, Andra davis WAS making plays near the line of scrimmage, however DQ wasn’t.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
That is me stating my opinion. I wasn’t trying to say you wanted him gone.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
sorry. it justeemed like you were.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
He was the leader in tackles two years straight. He doesn’t get nearly enough credit.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
Tackles mean nothing to me.
Bernie19Kosar - May 23, 2010
They should mean something to you. They shouldn’t mean everything to you.
rufio - May 23, 2010
Yeah, who needs those things anyway.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
I don’t mean the act of tackling, that is very important.
Tackles as a stat mean nothing to me. IMO it means that everyone around you is doing a good job (DLine taking up blockers, OLB’s setting edge forcing runs back to the middle, etc.) or no one around you is doing a good job (No one else on defense is making tackles so there are plenty of chances).
Barrett Ruud had more tackles than Ray Lewis last year. Dhani Jones had more tackles than Karlos Dansby.
Using tackles as a measuring stick is misguided.
Bernie19Kosar - May 24, 2010
I should add that in 48 career starts for DQ he has created five turnovers (4 INTS and 1 FF) to go along with four sacks.
I mean really? Good LB’s put up those numbers in one season let alone four seasons.
DQ is 100% replaceable. At his price tag right now, I would love to have him back. If he wants more money or the Browns get a decent trade offer, they should dump him ASAP.
Bernie19Kosar - May 24, 2010
D’Qwell’s job (as it has been under Romeo and to a large extent Mangini) is to diagnose plays, to cover, and to make tackles.
Sacks are largely determined by the offense. A defense can do things to confuse blocking schemes, it can send overloads or selective overloads, but the offense determines who to block and who to let through in a best case scenario for the D. And it hasn’t been like DQ is sent after the quarterback every down. You know better than to judge someone in coverage based on their INT numbers. Lastly, this has probably changed slightly under Rob Ryan, but the emphasis under Romeo was not blowing tackles by going for FFs. It would be hard to say DQ didn’t play into that philosophy.
How can you fault him so much for doing his job?
And if good/not great players at low VORP positions such as ILB are easily replaced, why do we have an enormous lack of good players?
rufio - May 24, 2010
That’s basically been my argument in support of DQ. He has been doing the job he has been asked to do. Sacks and turnovers are not going to ever be him.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
If we are only expecting an ILB in a 3-4 defense to make tackles, then we should be stoked to have DQ.
I personally expect more. I want turnovers. I don’t care how they come, but my ILB better be forcing them if you want big dollars. I don’t buy the argument that the system is holding him back, Bowens stepped in and created plays.
Again, this doesn’t mean that I think DQ “sucks” or I don’t want him on this team. It just means that he is replaceable in my eyes.
The Browns suck at finding good players? Running Back is the easiest position in football to fill, yet we haven’t had a bell cow RB in how many years?
Just because something is easy doesn’t mean the Browns can do it.
Bernie19Kosar - May 24, 2010
Which is also why we should try and keep these guys unless their asking prices are outrageous.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
Like I stated above, I think Ryan got more creative when Bowens moved over and DQ was out. I say we see what DQ does this season and, if he does well and it’s not too late, sign him then.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
tell that to all the RFA’s holding out please
Kimble_79 - May 24, 2010
and this is why I don’t want us to immediately try to replace him. we have generally not been that good at finding replacements.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
i think that to believe this is an organizational curse totally dismisses holmgren and heckert as talent evaluators.
Dawg Nuts - May 26, 2010
Are we sure that Barrett Ruud wasn’t better than Ray Lewis last year? Ray is getting older and is probably not as good as he was in his prime. Ruud is a very solid player.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
Ruud is a very good player. Ray is on the downside of his career, but he is coming from a pretty high peak.
rufio - May 24, 2010
it depends on how you count tackles. many people just count solo tackles and in that sense, he wasn’t top 10. he racked up a ton of assisted tackles, but many people do not look at those stats and each stadium counts tackles and assists differently.
His stop rate is only slightly above average for a MLB. Stop rate is basically the % of plays that don’t result in a success for the offense. Although DQ racked up a lot of tackles, his stop rate was only slightly above average. He has never been nearly as good against the run as Andra Davis was…
Out of LBs who have taken at least 50 or so snaps, his stop rate has ranked 70th, 65th, and 99th respectively since 2007. His yards per play (amount of rushing yards per play he makes) has been fairly pedestrian over his career at 4.4 (compare to league avg for the position about 3.7). So, when people say that he is always making plays 4-5 yards past the line of scrimmage, the stats do back it up. Even having Shaun Rogers didn’t help his numbers much.
against the pass, DQ was one of the worst LBs this year when healthy with only 2 stops in 19 completed passes and also let up almost 12 yards per pass play. In previous years, he was better, but not at the level of the kinds of players he ranks near in stats.
Point being, tackles are not an accurate assessment of plays made and how well someone makes plays. He is a solid player but not that irreplacable.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
What is the significance of the average yards per rush on plays he makes. I would love to hear how that stat would be considered useful in determining a LB’s talent. I would have to imagine that the level of talent of players in front and behind the LB is more significant than the LB’s actual ability. It almost seems ridiculous to me to even include this in the argument. Would you rather have him attack every play and make more plays in the backfield? I can’t imagine that would work out well with Mike Adams and Mike Furrey behind him on playswhere he reads the play wrong.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
Lavar Arrington used to do this and was considered terrible late in his career because he wasn’t staying in his gaps. People are overrating where these tackles need to be taking place, and need to instead focus on how he does playing within the scheme.
Roger Dorn - May 23, 2010
uhhh…It shows where the LB is making the plays. you know those allegations that DQ was making plays 5 yards downfield a lot? his yards per running play support it. its pretty simple…good run defenders tend to make plays against the run closer to the line of scrimmage…
like I showed above, Davis was able to make plays with the exact same talent.
its definitely not as ridiculous as total tackles. that stat does not truly show performance, and it is calculated differently at different stadiums
He also doesn’t have a particularly great stop rate, though it isn’t particularly terrible. stop rate is the most accurate factor, IMO, of the impact a guy has in run support.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
I think also, you would have to compare him to the average yards per rush before the tackle for 3-4 defenses to be more accurate.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
Also, Andra Davis was in a different system. I’d like to see the amount of points allowed in Davis’ tenure compared to in DQ’s. I think that would be helpful in seeing how significant the yards per running play stat is.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
the number of touchdowns is almost exactly the same. last year they gave up 41. with Davis, it hovered between 40-42.
also, points is not a great way to determine an individual’s contribution.
notthatnoise - May 23, 2010
I don’t really know how to determine whether the yards per running play stat is useful.
AG7 - May 23, 2010
but this isn’t yards per running play for the WHOLE D. this is yards per running play that the LB was involved in. it was the average yards the RB gained on plays where the LB got to the RB.
bross09 - May 23, 2010
Yeah, I realize that, but what does it prove really? I mean it could go to show hegets hung up on blocks. It could also mean that the front 3 aren’t taking blockers, making it difficult to make the tackles closer to the line. In comparing DQ’s numbers to the leagure average, you would have to take into account the defense beingrun, 3-4 / 4-3. It seems to me as if there are too many variables here to use this stat as a way to determine a LB’s worth.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
its not the only way of course, but its one useful indicator.
notthatnoise - May 24, 2010
I also compared it to the league average for 3-4 Defenses and it was still slightly below average. I realize there are other variables at play. that is why I also tried to include in the discussion stats for other players who played ILB in our system…like Andra Davis during 2007-2008 who made plays against the run closer to the LOS, and more consistently. However he didn’t have DQs range.
If a lot of it is the front 3, then how come we have guys with the same front 3 making tackles CLOSER to the LOS than DQ does?
yes, it could show how he might not be able to shed blockers or how he gets hung up on them…so? this is relevant in its own way. if you can’t shed blockers well and because of that, are making plays 5 yards downfield, that limits your effectiveness as a player. that is why they always talk in scouting reports of LBs about their ability to shed blockers…because its important.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
I am literally watching the film right now and we don’t have guys making tackles closer to the LoS than DQ does. Maiava is getting dominated at the point of attack, Trusnik is turning 5-6 yard gains into TDs for the other team, and Bowens is getting juked out of his pants in the open field.
rufio - May 24, 2010
sorry. i meant to say have had. Andra davis made plays closer. most guys on our team now tackle guys 5-6 yards downfield just likd DQ.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
Adra Davis made tackles closer to the LoS than 5 yards in the wrong direction?
rufio - May 25, 2010
yeah. the stats show that in the years he played side by side with DQ, he was making plays closer to the line on average.
bross09 - May 25, 2010
That was sarcasm on my part.
rufio - May 25, 2010
Do you have someone in mind that made plays closer to the line, because I’m drawing a blank right now?
AG7 - May 24, 2010
above. meant have had. no one now makes plays significantly closer (though I believe Fujita might be able to)
bross09 - May 24, 2010
Based on what?
AG7 - May 25, 2010
playing at OLB, he was quite good at containing his area and making plays closer to the line. he does have to switch positions, but I think he could be about as good at stopping the run as DQ.
bross09 - May 25, 2010
Fujita has played in a 4-3. Usually different run responsibilities. Not to say he can’t do it.
rufio - May 26, 2010
yep. That is why I said he really has to switch positions and responsibilities…Its no guarantee but I have a gut feeling about him this year.
bross09 - May 26, 2010
I am not talking about Andra Davis circa 2004. I am talking about Andra davis circa 2006-2007 when he was playing in a 3-4.
an attempt to show that b/c they are 2 different systems (which for the years I was looking at is incorrect) to invalidate my point…yet…
but WAIT….They were in 2 different systems…right?
bross09 - May 23, 2010
If you believe that this statistic is significant, would it not be useful to look up those numbers either way?
AG7 - May 24, 2010
What is the point we don’t have Andre anymore. If D’Qwell comes back and contributes thats great but if he sits out well thats on him. I don’t see the point in talking about what could have been. I just hope the future brings wins or a team that is a least fun to watch and root for.
Suppa Bob - May 24, 2010
points allowed? I do not consider it a significant statistic first of all.
second of all, comparing the ability of one player stopping the run to the whole defenses ability to keep a team from scoring, whether running or passing, doesn’t make much sense.
You do not seem to like yards per rush against a player. you say it has too any variables. ironically, you are trying to use a stat and say it is significant that is even more variable. yards per run play is only about running plays…and it is only about plays the player is involved in. total points allowed involves offense, defense, and special teams. It is a combination of run and pass.
Hypothetically, if Ray Lewis was on a team with a terrible passing D, they would still give up a ton of points. one player can’t stop a whole team from scoring. There are also ways that the other team can score that isn’t by beating your defense. Special teams and special teams coverage plays a role into that. Also, if you are on a great D, but the offense turns the ball over a lot, especially for multiple/several pick 6s, that can greatly affect the point total.
The narrower you get in stats, in general, the less variables you tend to get. the yards per play stat and stop rate stats are very narrow stats because they only look at plays a certain player was involved in. points per game, or total yardage are about as broad of stats as you can get.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
My thinking was that points allowed would give us an indication of whether Davis making plays closer to the line also caused big plays to result when he read a play wrong.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
I’m not saying points allowed will proe how valuable DQ is, I’m saying it might tie in to the tackles closer to the line stat. Obviously, since the average points allowed were similar, it doesn’t have a huge impact on it.
AG7 - May 24, 2010
How???…you are comparing apples to an armchair…
and to your other comment above (don’t really want to respond twice), I don’t see how points would give us any indication of him reading plays wrong. there are so many variables at place…especially the fact that he not involved (most likely) in a vast majority of the plays that were touchdowns. I don’t see how you can judge the worth of one player based on team points. its like trying to judge one company’s annual growth and financial solvency by looking at GDP.
bross09 - May 24, 2010
Someone has hacked into the bross09 account.
Bernie19Kosar - May 25, 2010
This made me laugh.
golanbatrac - May 25, 2010
This. let’s all watch to see if he says “i don’t want to change my argument halfway through it.” that will confirm things.
Dawg Nuts - May 26, 2010
Ok, look. Davis made plays closer to the line, indicating he made his decision faster and reacted more quickly than DQ. My thinking is that these quicker decisions, while causing him to make more plays close to the line, could also end up causing our D to get burned more often if he makes the wrong call. Whereas if the LB waits back a second longer and has an average yards per running play against average that is a bit higher, he would be more likely to recover if he diagnoses the play wrong initially.
AG7 - May 25, 2010
I still doubt Andra Davis ever making a tackle within 4 yards of the LoS for the Browns. FO be damned.
rufio - May 25, 2010
isn’t that a positive? I always heard that play recognition, instincts and quick decision making were DQs strengths…but I guess Andra was better..
but there is no evidence to support this, you are now off in the realm of wild speculation of teams 2 years ago based off of nothing really.
bross09 - May 25, 2010
1. Yes it would be a positive, as long as he didn’t get burned more frequently (for the 4th time)
2. The stat itself seems too dependent on a number of variables, I was simply trying to determine a way of validating it (Again, for the 4th time)
AG7 - May 26, 2010
yes. there is no stat to say or no evidence about how often he got burned. Yes the stat has a number of variables, but so did points scored that you used (in fact many more variables), tackles are dependent on many variables too.
Football is a team game, much more than basketball or baseball. your stats and your success are affected not only by what you do, but what the team does. This is why it is hard to pinpoint stats to show what a player does positively for the team.
No stat in football is infallible. All of them have some variables in them. Especially on the defensive side, most stats do not themselves truly show what the player contributes to the team.
the goal of football statistics (and websites like football outsiders) is to find more accurate stats, stats that more accurately measure the player’s contributions. None of their stats are at all perfect, but I do like theirs better than many of the conventional ones.
bross09 - May 27, 2010
Disagree.
rufio - May 22, 2010
Replace D’Qwell? Hmmmh I would guess becuase he is trying to play hardball with the organization over promises made by people that got fired. i don’t begrudge anyone their just due. The guy only played six games last year I guess he was payed even though he did not suit up for over half the season. maybe he should sign his tender and play ball let the rest take care of itself.
Suppa Bob - May 22, 2010
MOUNT UNION YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
SpecialBrownie - May 22, 2010
good for Trusnik. Ultimate Mangini-guy. fantastic effort player and special teams ace, but not a guy who you want actually taking snaps on defense.
jaws. - May 22, 2010
I dunno, I thought he played pretty well last year, and he’s still young so he’s got time to get better.
notthatnoise - May 22, 2010
It’s definitely refreshing to see an NFL athlete that isn’t completely and totally full of themselves to that point that they’ll avoid team activities, voluntary or not.
And I usually support just paying players, but only if they’re worth the money.
Simmsinns - May 22, 2010
hey guys, first time poster here, but ive been following for awhile now. Just wanted to say i played football with trusnik at onu. He was a stand up guy, not the strongest or fastest but by far the hardest working. Dont be surprised if he blossums into to a good pass rusher for us done the line, he was an unstopable DE in college, i know it was against much weaker competion but i still think he could at least be a servicable starter for us anyway and im glad to see we got him
lizardking86 - May 24, 2010
I like Trusnik a lot. Of all the players we got from the Jets in trade last year, he’s the one I’ve been most impressed with.
golanbatrac - May 24, 2010
he’s been the biggest surprise for sure. I didn’t think he would be anything more than a special teamer
notthatnoise - May 24, 2010
Bowens for me.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
We didn’t trade for Bowens. He’s easily the most impressive of the former Jets we picked up last year though.
golanbatrac - May 24, 2010
Yea, sorry I thought you meant any Jet acquired.
Roger Dorn - May 24, 2010
I like Trusnik, he is not an ILB, he is not ready to start at OLB. Love having him on the roster, though.
rufio - May 24, 2010
What’s impressive about him? From what I’ve seen he was a liability out there.
The Licensed Pessimist - May 24, 2010
I like him on special teams. All out effort on defense is nice, but ideally we’d like to be in a situation roster-wise where we don’t need to use him on D.
golanbatrac - May 24, 2010
Also, it’s guys like Trusnik that make the difference between a team that is competitive every year (what we want to be), and a team that follows a 10-6 season with 4 wins and then a complete rebuild.
Playmakers dictate how far you go in a good season, but it’s the bottom half of the roster that dictates whether you get back the next year and the year after that. The more Trusnik like players we have (hard working, smart, high motor, inexpensive) the better.
golanbatrac - May 24, 2010
well stated
Kimble_79 - May 24, 2010
Nicely said. Depth is underrated.
RelapsingDawgCatcher - May 25, 2010
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