Coleman is frontrunner at LT, but needs work

The Browns offense is looking pretty good these days. There’s just that one little problem at left tackle, like a carpet stain Coach Hue Jackson would like to hide by moving a couch over it.

Of course, it’s impossible to hide a hole at left tackle in the NFL, so as the Browns head into their summer break with Shon Coleman as the tentative replacement for retired Joe Thomas, it is one position still unsettled after OTAs and minicamp.

“(Coleman) has the athleticism,” offensive line coach Bob Wylie said on June 14 at the Browns’ training complex in Berea. “I think the footwork — we need to keep working on the fundamentals and that stuff. Being an athlete, he gets himself in some pretty awkward positions and gets himself out of them.

“We have to keep working on his footwork and his hands to make sure I get him from Point A to Point B without any wasted motion. We have 83 days before we have to play the Pittsburgh Steelers (in the season opener). If we can’t get it done in 83 days, then it’s probably not going to get done.”

Coleman was the Browns’ starting right tackle last year. He was penalized 10 times — the most of any Browns’ offensive linemen and tied for fourth most in the NFL.

He will be even more susceptible to moving before the snap or getting a holding penalty when he goes against speedier pass rushing right defensive ends.

Video: Browns give Shon Coleman homework assignment

Browns’ right end Myles Garrett is an example of what Coleman will face every Sunday. Coleman and Garrett squared off in drills during OTAs and minicamp. The edge decidedly went to Garrett.

“He can’t touch me,” Garrett said before practice June 13.

Starting left guard Joel Bitonio, rookie Justin Corbett, starting right tackle Chris Hubbard and obscure rookie free agent Desmond Harrison from West Georgia are also candidates at left tackle. Wylie said Coleman is ahead of the others, but the gap is not wide.

“Desmond is probably the smoothest athlete we have out of 17 guys on the offensive line, doing it the way it should look with his feet and his hands and bending his knees and all that,” Wylie said. “His thing is he has do it mentally. He has to learn to play like a pro, learn how to see the defense, find your triggers, find the safeties. The last guy you look at is the guy you’re going to block.”

Wylie went on with a fascinating description of what a technician Thomas was at a 10-time Pro Bowl left

tackle. Wylie said Thomas would practice for hours working on his first step and hitting the defender he was blocking in a precise spot with his hands.

“In that position, you have to be willing to do that,” Wylie said. “Those little details made Joe great. Younger players need to emulate that.”

Following Thomas is no easy task. Coleman or whoever wins the job could be very good and it would still be a drop-off.

Doug Dieken, the Browns’ left tackle from 1972 to 1984 and the analyst on radio broadcasts since 1985, said Coleman is better suited to play left tackle than right tackle. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley is thinking positive.

“I’m happy we have a

training camp now to get to and put the pads on these guys and see what we really have,” Haley said. “You’re only going to see so much in shorts, especially at those positions up front. I’ve been encouraged with the growth of Shon. We do have a Plan B, Plan C and potentially a Plan D that we don’t even know about.

“Those guys up front have really done a good job of developing, understanding the protection schemes, the blocking schemes and working together. Especially in that front line group, you’ve seen very good growth.”

Wylie gave each of the players in his group has specific assignments to work on before training camp begins in late July.