Browns Robert Griffin III says the Browns offense, with Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, Gary Barnidge, etc. 'has the potential to be great.'
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BEREA, Ohio -- Robert Griffin III scans the field and sees the likes of Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor, Gary Barnidge and Duke Johnson.
Before the long, he'll have also have his former Baylor teammate Josh Gordon, recovering from a quad injury, in the progression.
Not a bad supporting cast for a guy who spent plenty of time playing scout-team safety last season and who's trying to resuscitate his career.
"(We have the) potential to be great,'' said Griffin. "I think all 32 teams right now look at their roster and say, 'Man, we've got them.' It's about the ones who grow together the best, come through training camp and get the best out of their season and become gritty, win close games. When it's winning time, do the right things.''
The uptempo offense is flashing in camp, and it's still mostly without Barnidge, who's recovering from hernia surgery, and Gordon, who ran on the side with trainers Monday.
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"It's real exciting to see our roster, to see the guys and know that we do have some guys that aren't completely healthy and when they do get out here and start rolling it can be even more fun,'' said Griffin. "It's my job to get them the ball and I promise you I'm going to do my best."
Griffin got no argument from second-year running back Duke Johnson, who finished second among NFL rookies last year with 61 receptions.
"We have the potential to have a great, dynamic offense,'' he said. "Like I said, it's about everyone doing their job and putting it all together at the same time. Just because we have one guy that is coming back that's a dynamic player, if we don't block up front and get the guy the ball, then none of it matters. All 11 guys got to do their job."
Left tackle Joe Thomas, who's witnessed it all in his nine seasons, is feeling it too. There's something exciting happening on the Browns offense under Hue Jackson, Pep Hamilton and Al Saunders, who was partly responsible for Kurt Warner's Greatest Show on Turf Rams offenses.
"Gary kind of had a breakout season and Duke played really well and he's only going to get better,'' said Thomas. "Isaiah had a good season. It's really exciting from an offensive standpoint to kind of pair Hue Jackson's offensive mind and his creativity with some of the weapons that we have coming back on offense. We have a pretty good opportunity to be pretty good on offense."
Of course, a lot depends on RG3, who was demoted to third-string quarterback last season in Washington behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy.
"Robert's been doing really good,'' said Thomas. "I'm no quarterback guru, but you've seen the growth that he's already experienced just from the beginning of OTA's to where we are right now. He's a natural leader and that's what you need from an intangibles standpoint.
"Everyone knows how talented he is as an athlete and throwing the ball and the one thing that maybe guys didn't know about that have been really impressed with him so far is his work ethic, his intelligence, the way he prepares and he studies just like the great quarterbacks in the game right now.
"You put all those things together and you put a guy like Hue Jackson in his corner and he can have an excellent season."
Outside linebacker Nate Orchard has also seen the improvement in Griffin, who's being coached hard by Jackson and Hamilton. Griffin also spent part of his break in Los Angele with quarterback guru Tom House, who's worked wonders with some of the best, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Carson Palmer and Andy Dalton.
"He's definitely comfortable out there in the pocket,'' Orchard said. "I've had a chance to grow close with Robert, and get to know him personally and his family, things like that. And to see him and where he's at now, and the swag he's got, it's fun, because that's what you want in a quarterback. You want him to be out there loose and enjoying himself, controlling that offense and you can see everyone gravitates towards him and they trust him and know he's going to do good things for us.''
Griffin is establishing good chemistry with his receivers, especially Coleman and Pryor. The Browns have a deep position this year, with four draft picks, Andrew Hawkins, Taylor Gabriel, Marlon Moore and others.
"They've all done a great job,'' Griffin said. "There's no shortage of speed for us at wide receiver and there won't be. These guys are like a track team running up and down the field. But we have to take care of them and make sure these guys stay healthy. They're doing a good job taking care of their bodies and making sure they're available every single day. All of us have been impressed with our receiving corps and what they can do."
Griffin, who's operating from the pocket but also pulling the ball in and running, has dazzled training camp crowds with some big plays to Coleman, who's athleticism is standing out.
"Corey's doing well,'' he said. "His speed flashes every day. He's a dynamic player. That's why he's a first round pick -- and he went to Baylor.''
The two grew even closer when Coleman joined Griffin at House's 3DQB academy in Los Angeles.
"I know Corey,'' said Griffin. "I was leaving Baylor when he was a recruit coming in and I went back to Baylor a bunch. So I know Corey really well. I know what he's about. I know what drives him. The same with Josh (Gordon). It's been fun, the experience of getting to know the rest of the receivers in the same exact way, what drives them, what they do well, what motivates them.''
Coleman trip to 3DQB has made for some big, crowd-pleasing plays in the early days of camp.
"It builds trust, it builds camaraderie to know when he's going to be coming out of his breaks,'' Griffin said. "He made the effort to come work out when he could be off. He could be in the Bahamas or something sipping on Pina Coladas or whatever he wanted to do, and he came out to work and I think that's important for him, for us as a team.''
Pryor and Griffin have also developed a rhythm, with the two connecting on a 50-yard strike in team this week and then chest-bumping afterwards. Jackson is finding creative ways to use the two athletes, who have both spent time as dual-threat NFL quarterbacks.
But when asked about some of the trick plays in camp, RG3 was careful not to tip off the opposition.
"I don't know what you're talking about,'' he said with a smile.
But he does know a good receiver when he sees one.
"TP's transition from quarterback to wide receiver has been phenomenal. It's really hard to do. Not many guys have done it. ...in a Bowl game he caught a fade for a touchdown over a safety and I was watching and I was like 'man, that guy can play receiver.''
Terrelle Pryor realizing his dream of playing with Josh Gordon
The Browns are also determined to support Griffin with a strong running game. Isaiah Crowell and Johnson have explosive in camp and both promise to have big seasons.
"When we came out in OTAs, it was awesome to see those guys run as hard as they were running,'' he said. "All those guys have come in in great shape, ready to go and it's going to give us a competitive advantage.''
He's also getting in synch with new center Cam Erving, who's replacing three-time Pro Bowler Alex Mack.
"It's his first year playing full-time center and Cam's done a great job,'' said Griffin. "There's always going to be growing pains here and there, but he's being physical, he's calling out his points and then making all his checks. We've got a long way to go before the season starts to get to where we want to be, but cam has done a great job.''
Of course, it begins and ends with Griffin, who will likely be named the starting quarterback within the next 10 days.
"When you come into a new team, everybody wants to see what you do and how you respond,'' he said. "What I try to do is go in and work hard, show up every day and prove it to them that they can trust me. Now, have I done that? You got to ask them. I can't tell you that. I know what they've told me, but you just come in, put your best foot forward, show them that they can trust you, (and) work hard every day.''
And having some big playmakers around you doesn't hurt either.
