I Didn't KNOW that!

Thanks to Terry Pluto, whose statements I can rely on without fact-checking for this: David Veikune came in this season at 235.

This explains why Veikune has been working mostly at WEAK inside linebacker, where Jackson normally plays.

Casual fans don't know that weak inside linebackers tend to be quicker/faster than strong inside linebackers. Offenses tend to put the tight end on the right side, and use bulldozers at right guard. They're "right-handed" and tend to run to that side.

The strong inside linebacker is often a bigger guy who can take on offenseive linemen (like David Bowens). Now, here I need to mention that Eric Barton played here last season, and got pushed around. This is because he, like Jackson, is best as a weak inside linebacker. This season, Barton will almost certainly be a backup, and may not make the team at all.

When David Bowens took over at strong inside backer last season, he kicked butt. So much so that he should see more time there this season. At this stage in his carreer, he's probably a better inside linebacker than outside linebacker. Why don't people see that?

Anyway, back to Veikune: If anybody but some crickets ever read my blog, they'd know that last season when Veikune was drafted, I looked at his workout tapes. I even ran them and Kaluka...M's workouts alternately, and was pretty shocked.

Background: Kaluka Maiava was the "other" USC linebacker who some teams projected as a safety. Prior to his starting at weak inside backer due to injuries, he played a lot in his rookie season as a coverage guy.

Veikune was a 260 lb. defensive end. Two inches taller and thirty pounds heavier. What I saw in the Veikune tapes between these two players showed that Veikune was nearly as quick and fast as the guy many thought of as a safety--at 260 pounds!!!

Sure, he tripped a little once, and of course couldn't match the safety/linebacker hybrid step-for-step, but he made most of the other big guys look sick.

NOW he comes in at 235? WOW!

Because, see, here's another thing about this big Polynesian: He's stronger than many offensive linemen, and it's mostly natural "country" strength. Prior to Pluto's comment, I had him pegged as a strong inside guy, if not an outside linebacker. But now? Jackson needs to get his head out of his butt. Even after he comes back, he'll have to fight for his job.

David Veikune can do everything Jackson did, plus is stronger. Weak inside linebackers also tend to be the ones who drop into coverage, and based on those workouts, Veikune can do that even better than Jackson as well.

Welllll...okay that's a bit of a leap. He has the hips and speed, and he's got better length and reach. However, much of coverage is mental, and it's tough to predict how a guy two seasons removed from being a small-school DE will do.

We do, however, have training camp reports to go by, and I have yet to read any knocks on his coverage. On the flip side, I've read about deflections and interceptions.

Now, unlike a lot of doomsday posters, I like Jackson the player. He truly is a very good linebacker. No, he didn't make all his tackles five yards downfield. Bashers say that stuff like Al Sharpton cites racism. Jackson wasn't helped by a nose tackle who wouldn't play two-gap, or a strong inside partner who was his own size. He covered really well, too.

So I didn't come here to bury D'Qwell. However, I believe that Veikune may well be better--he can add more blitzing and penetration. He can stone big backs cold.

Everybody seems to have an agenda, and rely on "faith". Those who burn Mangini in effigy desperately want Veikune to fail. As of the third or fourth game last season, they were already gleefully declaring him a bust. Others who want him to succeed are calling Jackson an overrated bum. In either case, the actual performances of these two players will do little to change either opinion.

Here I've said watch out for Veikune at inside linebacker. And down the road apiece we'll see him outside as well. He's not a bust, and might be awesome.

I don't care who drafted him, or where. I only care how well he plays. Aint that refreshing?