#124: Browns select Owen Marecic, FB, Stanford

Phills1 said:

So he's going to be a FB/Special Teams in the pros? Can he play LB in the pros?

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Lee said:

I was wondering the same thing. He was honorable mention all pac ten at LB. Maybe we drafted him as a LB and saw something that others didnt.

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#Browns new FB/MLB Owen Marecic says Browns told him he'll be a fullback for them.

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Phills1 said:

So he's going to be a FB/Special Teams in the pros? Can he play LB in the pros?

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kiji said:

Quarterback - Redneck from Texas, Running Back - Redneck from Arkansas, Fullback - A well-spoken Human Biology major from Stanford.... that likes to hit people. Made for TV movie. (All white backfield? - Yeah I went there.)

In his interview with the media, he said his pop warner team was coached by Clay Matthews. Friends with Casey Matthews. So there you go, if you wanted the Matthews connection really bad.

Wouldn't exactly count Vickers out quite yet. May only pan out as a special teams guy.

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huber14 said:

Special teams for 1 year then released

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"In 30 years of being in college and pro football, I haven't seen a guy like him," says Harbaugh. "He does everything right, all the time, the first time. He has everything—strength, humility, intelligence. He's everything I envisioned being as a football player."

"What Owen is doing is really hard," says Harbaugh. "For one thing he is playing the two most physical positions on the field. How many guys are in that kind of shape or are physically talented enough to do that? Then there's the mental part. Most guys couldn't comprehend a pro-style system on offense and a pro-style system on defense. It's multiple packages, fronts, coverages, blitzes, personnel groups, plays, adjustments. Who's smart enough to get all those things the first time and actually go out and do them on the field?"

In his office Harbaugh keeps one of the several helmets Marecic has cracked while at Stanford. At Harbaugh's request Marecic signed the helmet, along with words he lives by: TODAY GIVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE, FOR WHAT YOU KEEP INSIDE YOU LOSE FOREVER.

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Ghost Writer said:

I don't think the Browns are interested in him as a fullback, I think he'll spend more time on the defensive end

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BEREA, Ohio -- Owen Marecic could spell the end of Lawrence Vickers' five-year career in Cleveland.

The Browns are enamored with their new fullback, who was picked in the fourth round out of Stanford and was a favorite of former Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh, who started him both as a fullback and linebacker.

"He's going to be a fullback for us," said Browns GM Tom Heckert. "But he's a great kid. Super-hard worker. I don't know if you guys got a chance to talk to him, but he's a legit fullback. I mean he can lead block, he can catch the ball, he can run the football, but obviously his strength is blocking and catching. We think he's going to be a great special teams player."

It means he'll most likely replace Vickers, who will be a free agent, either restricted or unrestricted, when the league re-opens for business.

"We'll see [about Vickers] when we get back to the league rules," said Heckert.

Harbaugh marveled at Marecic's ability to play both ways -- and excel at both. Against Notre Dame, he scored on offense and defense in the span of 13 seconds.

"What Owen is doing is really hard," Harbaugh told Sports Illustrated. "For one thing he is playing the two most physical positions on the field. How many guys are in that kind of shape or are physically talented enough to do that? Then there's the mental part. Most guys couldn't comprehend a pro-style system on offense and a pro-style system on defense. It's multiple packages, fronts, coverages, blitzes, personnel groups, plays, adjustments. Who's smart enough to get all those things the first time and actually go out and do them on the field?"

He often held up Marecic as an example of the consummate player.

"In 30 years of being in college and pro football, I haven't seen a guy like him," Harbaugh said. "He does everything right, all the time, the first time. He has everything--strength, humility, intelligence. He's everything I envisioned being as a football player."

Marecic's Pop Warner coach when he was a quarterback was former Browns linebacker Clay Matthews. He's also friends with new Eagles rookie Casey Matthews.

"I know Clay is very proud to be part of the Cleveland Browns family," said Marecic. "They're huge football fans and growing up, just the tradition was evident watching Browns games and hearing about the team. I'm very excited to join that whole tradition."

Marecic is excited to block for Peyton Hillis, who just won the fans' vote to be on the cover of Madden 12.

"That's a testament to his talent as a football player," said Marecic. "I know watching parts of the season last year, he's an incredible athlete. He's just a force of nature. I'm excited. I'm definitely very, very humbled by this whole experience in the last hour or so.

"Like I keep saying, I'm just excited to get back to work and training and hopefully be able to contribute to the team and help them out in any way that I can."

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"That's a testament to his talent as a football player," said Marecic. "I know watching parts of the season last year, he's an incredible athlete. He's just a force of nature. I'm excited. I'm definitely very, very humbled by this whole experience in the last hour or so.

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