BEREA: Terrelle Pryor’s confidence as a wide receiver has grown so much this offseason that the big, athletic former quarterback no longer views his transition as such.
“I don’t even call it a transition anymore,” Pryor said Wednesday after the fifth practice of organized team activities. “I feel like I’m there. I already transitioned. It’s now continuing to get better at my craft and try to be the best I can be.”
The 6-foot-4, 223-pound Pryor switched to receiver in June after being cut by the Cincinnati Bengals and essentially running out of opportunities as an NFL quarterback. The Browns’ previous regime claimed him off waivers but cut him three days before the regular-season opener partly because a hamstring injury hindered him throughout training camp. It re-signed him in December and used him in three games. He caught one pass for 42 yards.
Now Pryor, 26, claims he’s “10 times” better than last season. He credits wide receivers coach Al Saunders, assistant wide receivers coach Bob Saunders and head coach Hue Jackson along with his determination and hard work, which included more offseason training with former six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss.
“I look at the film, and it amazes me,” Pryor said of his improvement.
The former Ohio State standout made several catches in team drills during the most recent practice. He caught a touchdown pass from quarterback Connor Shaw with defensive back Eric Patterson covering him in the end zone.
“I feel great out there,” Pryor said. “It’s definitely like second-nature now. ... Obviously, there’s things I want to keep on working on, and I will. And I’ll get a lot better at it.”
Pryor said he’s able to work on the details of route running instead of the basics, and he hasn’t been catching himself thinking too much on the field instead of simply reacting.
“I don’t think at all,” he said. “I stare down the corner, stare down the ball. When the ball is snapped, I’m coming at you full speed. I’m getting open every time. That’s just my mentality. I truly believe that. When I see the ball in the air, I go get it.”
The receiving corps represents the Browns’ youth movement more than any other position. The team cut Brian Hartline on Monday, and the other veteran receivers were put on notice when it drafted four players at the position last month.
“I’ve been in competitive battles my whole life,” Pryor said. “... Just from knowing Hue and being around him and him drafting me [in Oakland in 2011], I know nothing’s given. You have to go take it.”
Pryor plans on taking a roster spot, then his opponents’ pride.
“I just really want to go beat up on some corners,” he said.
Gilbert adjusts
Defensive coordinator Ray Horton revealed cornerback Justin Gilbert needed just one practice to change his defensive stance upon the request of the coaching staff.
“It was too elongated, and I wanted it more balanced, more centered,” Horton said. “I’ll equate it to a golfer trying to change his golf swing or his setup or his grip. ... It feels uncomfortable. ... We were all really amazed that it was like no big deal. We asked him to do it, and he did it.”
Gilbert, the eighth overall pick in 2014, struggled mightily in his first two seasons. Horton conceded he’s a work in progress, but the coach has hope for Gilbert because he’s responding well to the staff and giving his best effort.
“Some people get a little more rope, if you will, and some people need to be prodded, but they all need to have a little tender love and care at some point. With Justin, he’s a talented young man,” Horton said. “We’ve got to get the talent from inside of him to the football field. So are we treating him differently? We’re probably really on him a little bit more, but that’s part of the process because he has a little bit more [talent].”
Horton said the players support Gilbert, too, despite some veterans publicly criticizing him last year. Horton recalled how Gilbert missed the first few days of the offseason workout program because of a tragedy in his family and was consoled by teammates upon returning.
“The room lit up,” Horton said. “I mean they genuinely care.”
Griffin’s to lose
The Browns haven’t named a starting quarterback, but left tackle Joe Thomas and Pryor spoke as if it’s Robert Griffin III’s job to lose. With Griffin signing a two-year, $15 million deal in March and taking the vast majority of the first-team reps, it certainly looks that way so far.
“With Robert, he’s very intelligent,” Thomas said. “It’s obviously very important to him. You see him here late at night during the week working on the plays, going through the script, so he’s giving it everything he’s got, and I think we’re behind him 100 percent.”
Pryor alluded to Griffin’s downfall in Washington, where friction with coaches and teammates led to him not playing last season, but insisted he has displayed “amazing” leadership.
“It’s nothing what you’ve heard in the past,” Pryor said.
Associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton maintained the company line about Griffin vying for the starting job with incumbent Josh McCown and rookie third-round pick Cody Kessler.
“He’s been accurate and consistent in his ability to manage our offense,” Hamilton said of Griffin. “We’re good with where he is at right now.”
Hamilton added McCown “has been a tremendous resource” because of his experience and Kessler is “ ahead of the curve” for a rookie “from a mental standpoint.”