Cleveland Browns: Desmond Harrison experiment at left tackle a success?

Have the Cleveland Browns found their left tackle in undrafted free agent Desmond Harrison?

It is almost impossible to be the man that follows the man, and Joe Thomas was definitely the man. Thomas was almost taken for granted being as dependable as he was. Season by season, game by game, and snap by snap for a decade, there was never any question who was going to line up at left tackle for the Cleveland Browns. And then…he retired.

We have been shuffling the deck so long at quarterback that we don’t even want to begin to fathom having to do the same at left tackle. How do you attempt to replace Joe Thomas? Just the thought of it is exhausting to contemplate.

Rewind to Sept. 7. We were coming out of the preseason and there was no clear decision made on the starter at left tackle. Then, two days before our season opener against Pittsburgh, Hue Jackson named Desmond Harrison the starter. It was a highly questioned decision at the time. Many theorized that Jackson was panicking, and in fact did not have a true left tackle on the roster. But start Harrison he did, week 1.

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

Now we are 3 games into the season, and I think it’s fair to ask this question. Is it working? Have we found our left tackle?

The fact that we aren’t talking about Harrison is proof that the undrafted free agent rookie is working out at left tackle. Of course, the jury is still out on him being the long-term solution at the position. But each week Harrison’s play has improved.

He has all the physical traits to be dominant at left tackle, but he definitely has technical aspects of his game that need to be refined. His pass sets seem to improve as the game goes on, and he is a natural at getting to the second level and getting his helmet on defenders.

If he can keep improving that aspect of his game he will spring some big runs for our running backs. What I like the most about Harrison is how he battles. Until his technique catches up with his physicality, his effort will have to fill in the gaps.

This is baptism by fire for Harrison, and there are no easy weeks to play left tackle in the NFL. He will see talented pass rushers week in and week out. But as long as we aren’t talking about him, we have to consider it a success. With that being said, I should stop writing about him and let him quietly become the left tackle that replaces Joe Thomas, for the foreseeable future I hope.