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Finesse left tackle? Browns' Roman Oben has odd label for his position
BEREA, Ohio (AP) -- Cleveland Browns left tackle Roman Oben has a label more suited for a running back or wide receiver -- and he knows he's stuck with it. No matter how big he gets or how many defenders he pushes around, Oben is still considered to be a "finesse" player. "It's something you must live with and just accept," Oben said. "Just because you get a label, it doesn't mean it's true and it doesn't mean you can't play." The Browns obviously feel Oben can play. They signed him to a three-year, $10 million contract during the offseason. "Roman Oben is a high-energy guy," said Browns coach Chris Palmer. "When you first start talking to him, you think he's an intellectual, and that he'd be more of a finesse guy. He shows some nastiness out there. "We're hoping he has a breakout season, and with the way he's practicing right now, he's doing a very nice job." Oben has been dealing with the "finesse" label since his senior season at Louisville in 1996. At 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds, scouts thought Oben didn't fit the mold of a typical tackle. So he bulked up to 305 pounds before the rookie scouting combine in Indianapolis. That's something Oben still regrets. "That was a big mistake," said Oben, who was rated by some experts as the third-best left tackle in the nation as a college senior. "I thought I needed to get bigger, but that killed me. I got up over 300 pounds and I wasn't comfortable at the combine." The heavier Oben didn't perform to scouts' expectations, and as a result lesser-rated linemen like Boston College's Pete Kendall were taken ahead of him in the 1996 NFL draft. The Giants selected Oben in the third round. Oben proved he could play in the NFL by taking over as a starter with the Giants before his second year. In 1998, he helped lead the way for journeyman running back Gary Brown, who rushed for 1,063 yards in 11 starts. But Oben wore out his welcome in New York with a disappointing 1999 season after allowing 11.75 sacks. Only Cincinnati's Rod Jones (13.0) and New England's Bruce Armstrong (12.25) allowed more sacks as starting left tackles. Oben's abilities in the running game also were questioned as the Giants averaged just 2.9 yards per carry when running to his side of the field. While an injury to Brown and Oben's own nagging knee injury gave him an easy defense for his subpar season this past year, Oben refused to make excuses. He is confident he can help the Browns improve their weak rushing attack of this past season. "I don't want to dwell on a year ago," Oben said. "I don't want to talk about injuries or use that as an excuse. I don't want to think about any of that. What matters is right now."
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