Day 3 of training camp was as intense as advertised, as the Browns on Sunday suited up full pads for the first time since January. The afternoon was filled with big plays, live tackling and plenty of fans on hand to watch a feisty practice.

"It was just another day, but we were able to finally kind of run into each other a little bit and I think that's what it's going to take to get us to where we need to be," first-year coach Hue Jackson said on Sunday.

"We'll be smart about it, we don't want to lose anybody but at the same time, I think we all recognize and understand the hazards of playing in the National Football League and we'll be as smart as we can be.

"We have to have some very spirited, physical practices as we move forward just to get our football team where we need to be and I thought the guys did a great job today."

Without further ado, here's five things to know from Sunday afternoon's session:

Leading by example

As the Browns continue training camp in hopes of establishing an identity — something Jackson spoke about on Saturday —  he heaped praise on veterans like left tackle Joe Thomas, outside linebacker Paul Kruger and cornerback Tramon Williams for their leadership.​

Because of their example, Jackson said, the team can have practices as productive and positive as Sunday's session.

"I'm very happy with our football team, our coaching staff. I'm really very happy with a lot of our veteran players because they really allowed our coaches to coach them," he said.

"Starting from Joe Thomas, Kruger, Tramon Williams, guys who have been in this league a long time, I asked them to just kind of follow the process and trust what we're trying to build here.

"When you have guys go all in, it's very easy to go out and compete and practice the way we did."

Confidence in Cam

Cameron Erving appears poised to start at center after a strong offseason in which he grew on and off the field. The 2015 first-round draft pick continues to grow and develop in training camp, leaning on the support of the coaching staff and his teammates.

"He'll get to where he needs to be," offensive line coach Hal Hunter said. "I've got a lot of confidence in him."

After all, Erving is surrounded by the likes of Thomas, Joel Bitonio and John Greco.

"He's got two experienced guards playing next to him so the communication has been really good between the whole offensive line, everybody's communicating, everybody's talking," Hunter said.

And in the Browns offense, Erving will have help reading the defense and making calls as see fit to put the team in the best position possible.

"He makes some initial points, but there's other things that we're asking the offensive lineman  in terms of recognition to help him with and I've done that every place I've ever been. I had an All-Pro center in San Diego, but I still had other people making calls," Hunter said.

"Our system's a little different than it's been in the past, we don't put everything on the century. The center directs us and we all share responsibility to get us where we need to be."

Nunn impressed by D-Line and Shelton's 'outstanding start'

In the wake of Desmond Bryant's pectoral surgery, the Browns have made it clear they'll have to find a way to replace the veteran defensive end on and off the field. One player who might play a key role in doing that is second-year nose tackle Danny Shelton, who has spoken of taking on leadership role in a young defensive line room.

Defensive line coach Robert Nunn on Sunday said the 2015 first-round draft pick is off to a good start and then some.

"When I first walked in the door, I told Danny he could change the way we play defense himself just by buying in, getting himself in great condition and playing with a hot motor," Nunn said.

"Since that day that I've talked to him, he's done nothing but that. In the weight room, off the field with his diet, training throughout the summer, staying in touch with the people that are working with him, he's done exactly that. So far, it has shown."

Indeed, Shelton slimmed down this spring and enters training camp poised to be an impact player on the Browns defense.

"He's got a different skillset than most people in this league. He's such a powerful man. He's a big body who has a lot of quickness and power. I couldn't be more pleased with him right now. He just have to keep doing what he's doing," Nunn said.

"I told him that when we were in meetings this morning. He wants to know this and wants know how. You keep doing exactly what you're doing and buying into what we're trying to do and again, he can be the one as much as anybody out here, can change how we play defense.'"

Nunn added the entire defensive line — players such as Nassib, Emmanuel Ogbah, Xavier Cooper, John Hughes III — have impressed him thus far.

"There is no one that has shown up that hasn't bought in that I don't feel comfortable about," he said.

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Diligent Drango**

Rookie offensive lineman Spencer Drango said he planned on spending his summer break with his head in the playbook. That approach has continued into training camp, as the former Baylor standout and All American learns the finer points of playing multiple positions.

"This is what happens in the NFL, if you're not a starter in the offensive line, you can't play just one position because you're not valuable enough. If you're dressing seven or eight guys, you've got to be able to play more than one position," offensive line coach Hal Hunter said.

"If you're not a starter, you've got to be able to play more than one position. And he's a smart guy, he's very diligent. Bed check the other night, at 11:30, he's in his room studying. So that tells you something about a guy, he's going to have to do a couple things and he's shown that he can do it."

'Versatile' Nassib's first training camp

After missing some time during offseason workouts because of injury, rookie defensive end Carl Nassib said he's happy to be healthy.

"It feels great to be back out here. Missing time is not anybody's ideal situation, but I'm just really happy to be back out there," Nassib said Sunday. I'm working on some new skills and getting better."

Drafted in the third round this spring, Nassib had a monster senior season at Penn State, notching 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for the loss to become an All American and the 2015 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year.

As a result, the Browns hope Nassib can be equally effective in pressuring the quarterback and bolstering a pass rush that struggled last year. He said defensive coordinator Ray Horton and defensive line coach Robert Nunn have him working on the inside and outside of the defensive line in hopes of giving them the best idea of where he might be most effective. "The more versatile you are, the more value you bring to your team," he said. "I like the fact that I'm being used inside and outside."