Cameron Erving labels the first two years of his Browns career as "trying" but he doesn't view it in a negative sense. Far from it.

The third-year offensive lineman is set to tackle his third position in as many seasons, right tackle, and he's doing it with a positive attitude and optimism. Erving was a left tackle during the majority of his college career and he feels a sense of familiarity now when he lines up on the right side of the line.

Erving's next couple of months will be consumed with the competition he'll face from Shon Coleman, and he's made it clear that's all that is on his mind.

"It's definitely been two trying years of my career, but I don't feel like they've gone bad," Erving said. "I feel that I've done what I've needed to do and just moving forward, you've got to worry about what's coming, not what's in the past."

Erving's past proves he's willing to do whatever is best for the team, and this year it's providing competition to Coleman at right tackle, the lone position on Cleveland's revamped offensive line without a clear cut answer.

During Erving's senior season, Florida State needed a center. Though Erving had been one of the program's most consistent left tackles in years, he gladly accepted the assignment and helped the Seminoles at an unfamiliar spot the rest of the way.

In Erving's first season with the Browns, Cleveland was pretty much set with its starters at all five spots. Depth was thinnest at guard, though, and that's where Erving primarily played. When called upon, he played admirably but struggled at a spot that simply wasn't his best overall fit.

This past season, Cleveland needed a center, and Erving was pegged as the solution. After an up and down 15 games, Erving finished the season at right tackle in an injury-shortened loss to the Steelers.

"I play football," Erving said. "At the end of the day, I'm a professional and I have to roll with the punches wherever they may fall. I'm in a good position now, and that's all I can think about."

Erving said he's taken inspiration from veteran left tackle Joe Thomas, who never shies away from mentoring and helping the team's younger offensive linemen. He considers Thomas to be one of the best ever to play the game -- regardless of position -- and admires the 10-year veteran for his resiliency.

That's a key theme to Erving's approach in 2017.

"Just trying to take after those guys, to have a short-term memory—if something bad happens, you move on," Erving said. "If something good happens, you move on. You never should dwell on anything that's happened before."

Browns executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown lauded Erving for the versatility he's given to Cleveland over his first two seasons and said he's noticed the urgency he's carried into what could be a neck-and-neck competition with Coleman, who saw the field minimally as a rookie.

"We would like to solidify him at a position, but we do know Cam is such a great athlete that he can play multiple positions and in fairness, I think he understands he wants his play to take a step forward this year," Brown said. "He is working hard at it this spring."

Erving's goals are straightforward: He wants to be successful from an individual and team standpoint and not be known as "just another guy."

"There's always going to be a chip on my shoulder regardless of where I play, how long I play," Erving said. "Every year, I have something to prove, so that's how I feel."