BEREA Chaun Thompson thoroughly enjoyed doing business as an outside linebacker behind defensive tackle Orpheus Roye in Butch Davis’ 4-3 defense.

“Orpheus hit people in the mouth,” Thompson said. “He was good.”

Life has changed in Romeo Crennel’s 3-4. Roye is a 300-pound end on a three-man line. Thompson is an inside linebacker playing behind a nose tackle, Ted Washington, roughly as heavy as a Lincoln Navigator.

“The offense can either let the running back get hit by somebody my size,” the 249-pound Thompson said, “or they can get hit by Ted.

Meaning what to Thompson?

“So, they’re gonna double down on Ted and let me run.”

There’s a catch. Crennel is in the latter stages of deciding whether Thompson or rookie Round 2 pick D’Qwell Jackson will do the running opposite Andra Davis, who has a vice grip on the other inside linebacker job.

Jackson has the edge because he is more instinctive and has had a strong training camp, whereas Thompson is adapting to his fourth different role in as many NFL seasons, and is coming off a calf injury.

Both players will be under the microscope in Saturday’s preseason game at Buffalo.

“It’s real important,” Thompson said. “Since I missed two preseason games, I’m really playing catchup.”

Thompson’s edge is being bigger, stronger and at least as fast as Jackson. Thompson is obviously pouring himself into the challenge of proving he’s not overmatched just because he played college ball at West Texas A&M.

“(Jackson) played a lot of better competition (while at Maryland),” Thompson said. “Me? I just have a dogfight. I have to practice well, play well.

“He’s got a little more instincts, but whoever wants to work the best ... he wants it ... I want it .. that can’t do nothin’ but make us better.

“I want it because I want to win. If it’s to go out there and be backup, be a starter, whatever makes us win, that’s what I want to do.”

JACKSON’S VIEW

Jackson keeps scoring points with coaches. On Friday, he racked up some more with an interception against the Lions.

“The competition is out of my hands,” Jackson said. “It’s out of Chaun’s hands. We help each other as much as we can. If both of us can be strong, it’ll be better for the team.”

It’s possible Crennel will opt for a system in which Davis, Jackson and Thompson all play a lot in an inside linebacker rotation.

One school of thought has it that Jackson, exciting a prospect as he is, shouldn’t be fed too much too soon.

“Coach Crennel is a stickler about details, doing everything right,” Jackson said. “Up here, guys know the ins and outs of techniques. Me being a rookie, if I’ve got man coverage on a back, I have to stay on that back.

“I can’t afford to look in the backfield. Whatever slight mistake you might make up here is gonna show.”

And it has. Jackson has been burned a few times in coverage this month.

TAKING OVER FOR TAYLOR

Thompson and Jackson are competing for the spot manned by Ben Taylor last year. Taylor ranked second on the 2005 Browns with 139 tackles, and the team liked him to a degree, but only enough to offer a modest contract. He bolted to Green Bay.

“Ben started 16 games,” Crennel said. “Everyone who was here last year and is back is a better player because they understand the defense better.

“If Ben were still here, he would be a better player in the system. Only time will tell if these guys are better fits than Ben.

“Hopefully, they will be real good. You don’t know until you start playing games.”

If Thompson doesn’t win the job, that means the Browns will open the season without two of their top three tacklers from 2005 in the starting lineup.

Thompson ranked third on the team behind Davis and Taylor with 102 stops. That was as an outside linebacker. The Browns wanted more juice on the outside, so they signed Willie McGinest and spent a Round 1 pick on Kamerion Wimbley.

Thompson had to move.

“I didn’t resist it,” he said. “If they want me to do it, I’m willing.”

Reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it