BEREA – He’s got the name that would make the Dawg Pound happy—meet Orlando Ruff.
One of the newest additions to the Browns linebacking corps, the seven-year
NFL veteran found his name among the casualties of the June 1 salary purge of
the New Orleans Saints.
The Browns brought him in and he caught Romeo Crennel’s eye in the preseason
opener against the Giants.
“He had an active game,” Crennel said. “We’ve now put him into the rotation
with the second team.”
Ruff led the Browns with six tackles and recorded a sack.
“I’m felt comfortable out there,” Ruff said. “I said when I first came here
that my main purpose is to just contribute.
“Saturday’s game against the Giants was a starting point for me,” he said. “I
try to not get too excited and just keep moving forward.”
Ruff has never played in the 3-4 defense, but is on the inside and could push
Ben Taylor for playing time if he continues his progression.
He played his first four years with the San Diego Chargers after making the
team as an undrafted free agent. He then was with the Saints the past two
seasons.
“The coaches have been moving us around and looking at us in different
situations.”
Ruff is a big, physical linebacker (6-3, 253 pounds) with speed. However, he
says his biggest attribute comes from the inside.
“When the lights come on, that’s when it starts,” he said. “When I come into
play, I want to run around out there and make things happen.
“My biggest attribute is my heart,” he said. “When I’m on the field I went to
be around the ball. That’s my mentality.”
Ruff is used to battling the odds after playing after not being drafted
coming out of Furman.
“I’ve fought my entire career and I’m used to it,” he said. “Coming in
undrafted, nothing comes easy.”