Paul Brown connection – more on the offensive line
By STEVE KING
In my last post, I talked about the new Browns decision-makers, Andrew Berry and Kevin Stefanski, their focus on movement as they evaluate offensive linemen and how that all traces back to the team’s first head coach and general manager, Paul Brown.
Enter Doug Dieken, who has been associated with the Browns for 49 years, playing left tackle from 1971-84 and then serving as the color analyst on the Browns Radio Network from 1985-present.
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No one knows more about offensive line play than Dieken. A tight end at Illinois who made the conversion to left tackle when he was selected by the Browns in the 1971 NFL Draft, he had to be a superb technician – and use his movement skills from having been a pass-catcher for the Illini – to survive for nearly a decade and a half against big, strong defensive ends.
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When the Browns drafted future Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas – perhaps you’ve heard of him – No. 3 overall in 2007, everyone in the media was excited to see him don an orange helmet and some shorts and, while wearing Dieken’s old No. 73, practice for the first time a week after the draft in the annual rookie mini-camp.
Media members watched from about 10 yards away as Thomas went through various drills. Standing next to Dieken, I noticed he was looking down, not up, like the rest of us.
Finally, I asked him what he was doing.
“I’ve been looking at his feet,” Dieken said. “He has good feet. He’s quick on his feet. This kid’s got a chance.”
Yeah, I guess Thomas does.
Dieken was good friends with a teammate, Hall of Fame guard Gene Hickerson, who was drafted by Paul Brown. Dieken often talks of his admiration for former Browns head coach Blanton Collier, who, following his retirement, returned to the team as a special assistant coach, especially with the offensive linemen, including a then young Dieken.
Collier was Brown’s most trusted assistant from 1946-53, and then again in 1962 before taking over for him as head coach the following year.
It’s funny that no matter who, what or where with the Browns, it all keeps tracing back to the Paul Brown connection.
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