Cleveland Browns Rookie Nick Harris impressing coaches

Cleveland Browns rookie center Nick Harris has impressed the coaching staff

The Cleveland Browns coaching staff expected to open camp with one rookie already expected to take over at left tackle in Jedrick Wills. What they did not expect was another rookie needing to do the same.

Just as training camp was about to start, veteran center J.C. Tretter was shelved due to soreness in his knee. Tretter would end up needing a surgical procedure to clean up loose bodies in the same knee causing him to miss training camp.

Tretter’s injury meant that fifth-round pick, Nick Harris, out of Washington, would be starting at center a lot earlier than expected. All Harris has done since is impress the players and coaches with his “poise” after being placed in a tough spot.

According to offensive line coach Bill Callahan, Harris has been handling the position’s nuances with confidence.

"“His development has been interesting, just because of the fact that he was not expected to come in and run the show. He has been impressive in the sense that he can communicate all of the various sequences of communications along the line, whether it is the point system or the call system. He can get us in and out of the protection calls that we need to make. That aspect for a young center has been really impressive.”“So far, we are really pleased, but until you get him matched up against teams like Baltimore and obviously Cincinnati, you just do not know.” — Bill Callahan via clevelandbrowns.com"

With only a couple of weeks left before the Browns are to open against the Ravens, Tretter has yet to get on the practice field. Obviously, if you are the Browns, you want to see your top ten starting center out there opening day. In the event that does not happen, Harris has had the chance to get valuable starting reps and learn a lot over his time at camp.

Harris has always had to prove himself to get to where he is at. He didn’t get the big-time scholarship offers but fought his way to starting at guard his freshman year. He eventually became one of the nation’s best centers, but once again, his size came into play as he was left languishing until the fifth-round of the NFL draft.

Should Harris be forced to start the opener, he will once again be looking to prove doubters wrong and show them, and the Ravens, he belongs in the NFL.