Cleveland Browns: Cameron Erving finally plays like a first-round pick

The Cleveland Browns moved Cameron Erving to right tackle for the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and it turned into a smart moved that paid off.

The Cleveland Browns have yet to solve the Cameron Erving riddle. Since being selected in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft, Erving has played guard and center and did it ineffectively at both positions.

However, on Sunday, the Browns may have solved the enigma of Erving.

In an effort to evaluate several players, the Browns decided to start Erving at right tackle. And finally, after two seasons, Erving demonstrated why he was a first-round pick. He played with a level of speed, athleticism and quickness that coaches long for in offensive linemen.

But not everything was great for Erving. While he showed a high level of physical abilities, his technique is still in need of refinement. Let’s review what went well on Sunday and what needs work.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

• How the Browns could maximize Nick Chubb in 2023
• Can Deshaun Watson get to Patrick Mahomes level for Cleveland Browns?
• 3 Cleveland Browns who should see an expanded role in 2023 and 1 who should not
• Is Marcus Davenport on the Browns radar in 2023?
• 5 Free agents from Super Bowl LVII Cleveland Browns should target

First, Erving looked comfortable at right tackle. This may be a small point, but it is the biggest step to becoming a productive player. Erving never really looked comfortable at center or guard. However, on Sunday he looked comfortable and confident playing tackle.

He played most of his career at tackle at Florida State, it would make sense a move back to his natural position would provide a confidence boost.

At Florida State, Erving was a 2013 All-ACC left tackle and second team All-American. The following season he started at left tackle then switched to center due to injury to the starting center. He was successful at center and the Browns chose Erving 19th overall in the 2015 draft with the intention of playing him at center. However, tackle was where he was most comfortable and successful in college. A return to tackle in the NFL will be his best chance to succeed.

Second, Erving played with leverage against the Steelers. One of the hardest things for young NFL linemen to learn is how to play with leverage. Coming out of spread offensive systems, most college linemen are not asked to line up in a three-point stance and move people off the ball. Thus, when they come to the NFL it is a whole new world of blocking. In some cases, it is like starting all over from scratch.

Erving played at Florida State in a pro-style offense under famed offensive line coach Rick Trickett. He learned the basics of playing in stances and using leverage. However, in college a player of Erving’s physical abilities can afford a few lapses in technique.

On Sunday, Erving played with the kind of leverage that allowed him to push defenders backward and open holes in the running game. The leverage combined with an already vibrant mean streak makes Erving a great fit for right tackle.

Finally, Erving used his quickness and speed to make seemingly impossible hook and reach blocks to the outside. A hook and reach block to the outside is extremely difficult for offensive linemen as it requires a rather large offensive lineman is to outrun a smaller, and presumably faster, linebacker to the edge and block the man back toward the inside. Usually tight ends are tasked with this responsibility.

On Sunday, Erving showed his physical gifts by consistently setting an edge in an outside zone scheme. If Erving can consistently make those blocks in the NFL, the sky is the limit for the Browns running game.

Not all was great for Erving. He did struggle in a couple of key areas.

First, the wide 9 technique continues to confound Erving. Although he did a great job of blocking Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree all game on Sunday, his technique in doing so was not fundamentally sound.

Erving tends to turn his hips to face the wide rusher. By doing so, he opens up the inside rush route toward the quarterback. Luckily for the Browns on Sunday Dupree rarely took that inside route. If he had, it would have been a long day for Browns’ quarterbacks.

Second, Erving does not have an accurate awareness of where his quarterback is setting up. An awareness of where the quarterback is setting up determines for the tackle how far his drop will be and how much room he has to run a defender behind the pocket.

The lack of awareness is an issue for two reasons. First, Erving has played center all year and does not have a tackle’s feel for quarterback drops. This can be fixed with more experience. Second, Cleveland’s quarterbacks have been inconsistent in drops. The quarterback carousel combined with inconsistent play leaves lineman high and dry when it comes to pass protection.

Next: Browns: 2-round mock draft

Overall Erving showed why he was a first-round pick on Sunday against the Steelers. He funneled his natural mean streak and take-no-crap attitude into proper run-blocking technique and leverage. As a result he effectively block on the first, second and even sometimes third levels. Pass protection is a work in progress but his technique is mainly sound.

Erving has all the physical abilities be a tackle (right or left) in the NFL for many years. This coaching staff would be wise to allow him to compete for the right tackle position next season.