1. Not a 'transition' anymore for Pryor
Terrelle Pryor is one of the oldest players in the Browns wide receivers room these days but he's still relatively new to the position.
That second part, though, doesn't feel the same as it did around this time last year, when he began his pursuit of a new position after years and years as a quarterback. After Wednesday's OTA, another practice session at which he looked very comfortable and smooth at the position, Pryor made a point to say he no longer considers what he's doing a "transition."
"I feel like I'm on the end where now I'm really working on the skill, the details of running the routes and stuff like that. I feel great out there. It's definitely like second nature now," Pryor said. "There are certain particular routes that I like to do better and you want to get reps in. That's going to come with time. It's my first offseason as a receiver. It hasn't even been a year yet since I did it. Obviously, there are things that I want to keep working on and I will and I'll get a lot better at it."
2. 'More is caught than taught'
Demario Davis is in the middle of the Browns' installation of Ray Horton's defense both literally and figuratively.
The Browns are halfway through their OTAs, and Davis, a fifth-year inside linebacker, is once again learning the intricacies of a new 3-4 defense. He balked at comparing Horton's 3-4 to the ones he was a part of in four seasons with the New York Jets, but stressed he's lending a helping hand with some of the team's younger defenders.
And sometimes, that requires him to simply do his job.
"I really try to lead by example," Davis said. "I know there are people watching me, so I try to do the right thing. I'm a firm believer that more is caught than taught. I never try to speak lessons over anybody. If they want to know how to do I want to act and live in a way that they can look at me and get a good example of it. I just try to show up with a good attitude and work hard every day because where we're at we're going to have to be coaches very well.
"For us to take what the coaches are teaching us, we've got to put as much time into the learning as possible."
The Browns took to the field as a part of the team's Organized Team Activities.
3. That was easy
Browns special teams coordinator Chris Tabor had a simple answer about the status of veteran Andy Lee, the team's lone punter on the 90-man roster.
The 13-year veteran is coming off one of the best seasons of his career. His 46.7 gross average per punt was the best in team history and his 40.1 net is the best since at least 1976. The 33-year-old is the second-oldest member of the team behind quarterback Josh McCown but Tabor, who simply had to point at the numbers, believes he has plenty left in his right leg.
"Andy Lee set a gross and net record for the Cleveland Browns," Tabor said. "He's pretty good. I like his chances."
4. No change
It's still early, very early, in the Browns' preparations for the 2016 season, and associate head coach - offense Pep Hamilton reaffirmed that when it pertained to the status of Cleveland's quarterback competition.
"All the guys are working hard," Hamilton said. "We put a lot on their plates with regard to not only digesting our offense, but we ask our quarterbacks to make sure we don't waste plays. We're an advantage-based offense. We like to make sure we're in the ideal play against certain defensive looks. Our guys need to be on top of it. They have to have a comprehensive understanding of not only what it is we are trying to do, but the opponent, as well.
"It's been a good camp up until this point, the OTAs have been very productive, and all the guys are working hard."
In regard to Robert Griffin III, Hamilton said he's "here to compete with the other guys for an opportunity to lead this football team, and be the starting quarterback for this franchise."
"The thing with all our quarterbacks is that they have to be great decision-makers," Hamilton said. "We have to score the ball and protect the football."
5. Confidence in the O-line
Despite the departures of Alex Mack and Mitchell Schwartz, Hamilton said he feels good about the state of the unit, particularly with the players who have emerged to replace the longtime starters.
Hamilton said second-year player Cameron Erving has "stepped up" at center while mentioning Alvin Bailey, a free-agent signing who began his career with the Seahawks, at right tackle. The Browns drafted two players, Shon Coleman and Spencer Drango, who could compete at right tackle heading into 2016.
"They're still showing that they can play football the way we want them to play football at a high level," Hamilton said of the offensive line as a whole. "Once again, once we get to training camp and put football pads on, we will have a better feel for all those guys."
