Left guard or left tackle, it doesn't matter to Joel Bitonio.
The Browns' veteran offensive lineman said he's ready to go as Cleveland ponders retooling the left side of its offensive line less than week until the season opener.
"Whatever they put me at, I'm ready to go and play some football finally," Bitonio said Monday.
Browns coach Hue Jackson said last week he's considering moving Bitonio back to guard after sliding him over to tackle at the beginning of training camp, ending months of uncertainty at the position following the retirement of future Hall-of-Famer Joe Thomas.
But with a date against the Pittsburgh Steelers set for Sunday, Jackson said the coaching staff is still evaluating its starting lineup after solidifying the team's active roster this past weekend.
"We're going to figure it out and put the best five guys out there," he said, adding "I have a pretty good idea of what it's going to be. I have to keep saying it, keep having the guys work every day together and go from there."
Either way, Bitonio will likely be playing next to a rookie whatever Jackson and Co. decide. The question at hand is whether to start Desmond Harrison, an undrafted free agent, at left tackle or keep Austin Corbett, the 33rd overall pick in the draft, at left guard. Veteran Greg Robinson is also a possibility at left tackle, though he finished the preseason as Cleveland's backup right tackle.
Corbett saw considerable action throughout the preseason with the first-team offense while Harrison — once described by NFL.com as a "boom or bust" prospect with elite athleticism — started Thursday's preseason finale against Detroit.
Jackson said Harrison, who missed much of camp with a toe injury, has demonstrated improvement worthy of inserting himself into the conversation.
"It gives you another option to look through to see who are the best five guys to put out there – him, (former second-overall pick Greg) Robinson. Robinson has improved. I had seen a lot of good things over the last week and a half," he said. "My job is to make sure that we put the best players out there. Period. Whatever position it is, that's what we're supposed to do. In those situations, that's what we are going to do."
Bitonio shrugged off what might seem like an awkward situation this close to a pivotal season in which the Browns hope to bounce back from a winless campaign.
"I think it's just trying to get the best five guys out there. I know (Jackson) is going through his plan and Desmond hasn't got as much practice time, so he's trying to see where he is at and Corbett is still working," he said. "So I think it's just trying to get the best five guys out there. It's taking a little bit more time than we would have hoped, but we didn't have (starting right guard Kevin) Zeitler out there either, so we need a few good days of practice. We're going to get a good rhythm going and we'll be fine for Pittsburgh."
Whatever happens, Bitonio said he's prepared for either role.
"I've done it for a long time," said Bitonio, a four-year starter who earned Pro Bowl alternate nods last season. "Hopefully it's like riding a bike."
