DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Shaffer Adapting To Right Side Of OL

BROWNS TRAINING CAMP: ‘Lefty’ Shaffer finding way to adapt to right side
By STEVE DOERSCHUK
repository sports writer

BEREA Kevin Shaffer loved being a lefty.

“He wasn’t jumping up and down,” Romeo Crennel said, when the Browns asked him to be a righty.

Left tackles are the big cheeses among offensive linemen. The good ones are to pigskin what Emeril is to pork tenderloin.

The Browns were convinced Shaffer could be good when they offered him $36 million to jump from Atlanta in free agency before last season.

Shaffer seemed sincere about becoming a great one, even after an up and down 2006. He talked in terms of the NFL left tackle market going through the roof. He said he was happy as a Brown but might have cheated himself out of bigger money if he broke through.

His argument made sense after the Browns committed $49.5 million to the new left guard, Eric Steinbach.

Fans, coaches and management weren’t as high on Shaffer. When the Browns spent a No. 3 overall draft pick on Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas, it was obvious Shaffer would have to move to another position — or another team.

Trading Shaffer would have been a problem because of the contract. Keeping him turns out to be a solution.

When veteran right tackle Ryan Tucker was nailed with a four-game, steriod-related suspension, Thomas became the starting left tackle. Shaffer moved to right tackle.

“It is what it is,” Shaffer says now. “I can be unhappy about it. I can be happy. That doesn’t matter, because that’s just the way it is.

“So how am I gonna go out there? Am I gonna try my best and be positive about it? Or am I gonna just blame everyone and be upset or whatever?

“I made my decision to just be positive and see how it goes.”

Crennel said Shaffer got beat inside once in Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chiefs, but overall has done “pretty well” since moving right.

“You’re not concerned about him handling the physical part,” Crennel said of the 6-foot-5, 320-pound veteran of 69 NFL games. “You are concerned about the footwork.’’

Rightfully so, Shaffer said.

“I had the jitters (against Kansas City),’’ the 27-year-old Pennsylvanian said. “I was nervous just because my pass sets aren’t totally comfortable.

“The run blocking is about the same. Pass blocking is completely opposite. The balance is opposite. I’ve got to get used to that.

“It’s muscle memory, trying to train the brain to do something different.’’

His first practice as a right tackle, Shaffer said, “was like starting back at Day One.”

“I’m still not 100 percent comfortable there yet,” he said. “But the progress in just one week was amazing, so ...”

Shaffer was on the field only in the first half Saturday, but that was as busy as playing in some games last year.

The Browns milked 219 yards out of 41 plays through two quarters. In an entire game against the Bengals last November, they gained 203 yards on 47 plays.

“We were definitely tired,” Shaffer said. “But that’s fine. It helps us get in game shape a little earlier than we thought.”

In addition to learning a new position, Shaffer is adjusting to a new line coach. Last year, it was Jeff Davidson, the strong, silent type. This year, it’s Steve Marshall, a 51-year-old chatterbox.

“Marshall is always going, always trying to coach us up,” Shaffer said. “I don’t know where he gets all his energy. Maybe it’s the coffee, or whatever, but he’s just a maniac.”

Likewise, Shaffer is working for a new coordinator, Rob Chudzinski, who is more vocal on the field than either of last year’s coordinators, Mo Carthon and later Davidson.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Shaffer said of Chudzinski. “It’s going a lot better than expected.”

Mammoth fourth-year pro Kelly Butler is trying to challenge Shaffer for the right tackle job. Shaffer, though, is more athletic and has seen much more pro game action.

Barring injuries, it will be a big surprise if he doesn’t open the season at right tackle against Pittsburgh.

“I think we convinced him moving over is best for the team,” Crennel said. “I think he’ll take pride in the job he does there.”

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com

another o-line article.. gotta love it..

Wasnt he a left tackle in Atlanta? Wouldnt that really make him a right tackle?
Vic is left handed isnt he?

It would make him essentially a RT in LT clothing .... however, as the article said, it's getting used to playing backwards that has been the adjustment for Shaffer. Pressure comes from the opposite direction as a RT. He has to ride pass rushers right instead of left. Probably not a huge issue, as even rookie players manage to make the transition, but a transition for Shaffer nonetheless.

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Wasnt he a left tackle in Atlanta? Wouldnt that really make him a right tackle?
Vic is left handed isnt he?

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Yes, no and yes.. Yup he was a LT in Atlanta,, but like he said, it's muscle memory and footwork. And yes, the jailbird to be, Mike Vick is left handed!

But I know where you are going here and that is that he never protected his QB's blind side until he came to Cleveland so your corrolation is that if he plays on the Right side here, and we have all Right handed QB's, that he won't be protecting thier blind side here either... True,,

But go back to what Shaffer says,,, he makes sense to me.

I sure hope this works out for us.. man this could be terrific. We have Two Centers and a LG and a RT and a LT all signed for years. This is a line that reallycould grow up together...

Now all we need is that young RG and we are set for the next 5 years or so... Exciting thought isn't it? But to be honest, one of our centers (bentley) can easily switch to RG if needed. So look out man,,,

Yes in terms of playing with strongside protection, but like the others said, he had to learn how to move and block with his right side on the right, and left side on the left.

I wish I knew if he was right or left handed...it can make a big difference.

It would make him essentially a RT in LT clothing .... however, as the article said, it's getting used to playing backwards that has been the adjustment for Shaffer. Pressure comes from the opposite direction as a RT
It'll be interesting to see how the adjustment progresses..he has power rushers on that right end spot..
They will be looping to his right and or cutting inside to his left when there are stunts and blitzes..
And the blitzes are going to be the tough thing..knowing when to chip the LB and still move to hit the DE is going to be a challenge..vs taking the blitzer and letting the guard hit the DE..

Well Attack, I think you made it clear he has some adjusting to do, but from what I saw last Saturday, He seems to be moving in the right direction.. I'm actually pretty hopeful..

What about Tucker at RG...he was demolishing people.

Good read, Stabber.

Thanks for posting. It's nice to read about someone who's willing to change to make the team better. Seems the players that have been brought in here have bought into the whole team first concept. Get that BE?!

It only makes this team better.

jc...

The smartest move Savage didn't make was trading him. I know it had to be tempting, but I think Shaffer will make a good right tackle.

I hope we keep Tucker when he gets back even if he doesn't start.

The OL will be the single biggest reason for any success this year, and it looks like we could surprise some people.

It sounds like there's a learning curve involved. Maybe like driving a car with the wheel on the passenger side.

I was thinking more like taking a NASCAR driver and making him race on a course that does all right turns.

Tucker at RG would be amazing.. Bentley would be even better.. ( if he's healthy that is) and what's really cool is that McKinney was pretty darn good also...

It's hard to imagine anything much better (on paper) than we have right now...

All this good praise lately on our o-line is making me blush.

that is totally evil

we definatly look good on paper and i was hoping Shaffer would move to the right and not be traded