If it were up to Joel Bitonio, he would stay inside at guard.
But he's a team-first player, and he's aware there's an outside shot he could be asked to play left tackle. Bitonio doesn't mind, though. Shon Coleman has been taking the reps with the first-team offense through the first three days of training camp, and Bitonio wants to make sure if Coleman is the guy at left tackle, he's ready. So, for now, Bitonio is keeping the left tackle talk at an if-necessary basis.
"I think it is something that is pretty far down the line. Right now, I am really focused on playing left guard and trying to get whoever is playing next to me ready to play left tackle," Bitonio said. "We have some options there. Right now, I do not think it is a thing where I have to volunteer for the spot. If we go down the line and something needs to happen, we will see what happens there. For right now, I am just thinking about the first day of pads and playing left guard."
Browns head coach Hue Jackson agreed with Bitonio: It's too early in camp to discuss the possibility. He needs to evaluate Greg Robinson, who is in the concussion protocol and didn't practice Saturday, current starting left tackle Shon Coleman and undrafted free agent Desmond Harrison, who is currently on the Physically Unable to Perform list, before he makes any decision on Bitonio.
Bitonio played every snap at left guard for the Browns last season.
"I know that Joel will do anything for the football team," Jackson said. "Hopefully, we do not have to go to that, but if we do, we do. I feel like we have some guys, we just got to get them healthy and get them out there."
— Staying along the offensive line, Bitonio's fellow Nevada alumnus, Austin Corbett, isn't sure which position he'll play during his rookie campaign. Corbett, the team's second-round selection, has spent time at left guard and left tackle early in training camp. He played left tackle in college and earned some left tackle reps with the second team Saturday. Like Bitonio, Corbett is willing to help the team however he can, even if it means a switch of positions.
"Right now, we are just trying to figure out the spot where I am going to end up," Corbett said. "Whatever the team asks me to do , whether it is the left side or even the right side, that is where I am going to work. Just getting a position figured out."
— Coleman has big shoes to fill, potentially replacing future Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. Bitonio knows left tackle isn't easy to play, so he's helping Coleman any way he can. After all, Coleman is going against Myles Garrett every day in practice.
"He goes against Myles Garrett most of the time, and if he can go out there and be OK against that guy, he is going be pretty good when he goes out there on Sundays," Bitonio said.
— Quarterback Drew Stanton who orchestrated the quarterback-only RV that's parked at the Browns' facility, has been a leader for Baker Mayfield. He has been near Mayfield throughout training camp to field any questions the rookie might have about the offense. Stanton and Jackson think Mayfield is progressing. "This guy's got something to him," Jackson said. "He's going to be fine."
Jackson also added that if he wants to go into the RV, he will whether he's invited or not: "Any time I want to go in, I'm going in," Jackson said. "That's my parking lot. I'm going in."
— The Browns plan to have an intra-squad scrimmage Friday in Berea. The team is unable to host its Orange and Brown Scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium because of previous events at the venue.
