NH Note: "Veikune waddled to the scale near the shower area of the locker room last fall and when the dial stopped spinning it registered he weighed 270 pounds. He looked like the guy on the midnight shift at the donut shop whose idea of three square meals a day were glazed, powdered and custard-filled. This spring, Veikune not only looks like a football player — he is moving like one. He is in the crowded but unsettled pack fighting for playing time at inside linebacker. He has dropped almost 20 pounds and worked his butt off in the offseason to become stronger."
About how he was too heavy last season and is in better shape now, David Veikune said:
"I'm definitely in better shape. Any rookie going through the combine, your pro day and all those things your body never rests. Then you come in here and get going right away. Now I'm in the low 250s. Last year I was way too heavy." (NH)
NH Note: "The coaches spent training camp last summer and most of the season figuring out where Veikune should play. He was too light to play defensive end in the 3-4 defense, so it came down to inside linebacker and outside linebacker. That experiment did not work, so this season he is strictly inside."
About how Veikune has benefitted by the increased reps he's been getting, head coach Eric Mangini said:
"I believe David's really benefitted well from some opportunities that have been created at the inside linebacker spot without having D'Qwell (Jackson) here. He's gotten quite a few reps, and I think he's done a nice job. I think some of the value with linebackers really has to be determined once the pads come on. Part of playing that inside linebacker spot is your ability to go up and thump, and I think that's something David showed in college. He showed different levels last season, but this is good work for him in terms of processing everything. Now ideally when it comes time to hit, it's where the added value comes in." (NH)
NH Note: "Veikune and Chris Gocong lined up with the first-team linebackers Monday. Scott Fujita has also worked inside. Last year, the opening-day starters were D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton. Both were injured during the first half of the season. David Bowens started the final nine games and Jason Trusnik the final six inside. Jackson, unhappy the Browns won't budge from their one-year contract tender, has boycotted the OTAs and is threatening to skip the mandatory minicamp beginning Thursday. Barton is not practicing because he is recovering from neck surgery. Bowens is in his 12th season, so Mangini isn't about to wear him out in June."
About how he felt "lost" last season, Veikune said:
"The whole yea.Even though I studied and stuff, it was still like night and day. I got some pieces of it, but this year everything is slowing down a lot more. I'm still studying everything. You just have to be a smart player." (NH)
http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/06/08/sports/nh2608107.txt
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