Browns notebook: OC Alex Van Pelt expects Jedrick Wills to be team’s mainstay at left tackle

While all in the Browns organization have spoken positively about 10th overall pick Jedrick Wills, new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt didn’t hide his great expectations for the rookie left tackle from Alabama.

Van Pelt seemed confident that Wills can move to the left side after spending his entire high school and college career on the right, the blind side of Crimson Tide left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

“Jed going over to the left side, I think the sky’s the limit for him,” Van Pelt said during a Wednesday Zoom call with local media. “Expect him to be a left tackle for a long time in this league for the Browns. We’re excited to have him.”

Van Pelt said he believes Wills being tutored by offensive line coach Bill Callahan, considered one of the best in the league at that position, and assistant Scott Peters, who played center and guard for seven seasons in the NFL, will accelerate Wills’ growth.

During a Zoom call Tuesday, left guard Joel Bitonio said Wills was “dialed in” during the virtual offseason program.

Hunt’s role

Van Pelt is eager to work with running back Kareem Hunt, the NFL rushing leader in 2017 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Suspended by the league for the first eight games with the Browns in 2019, Hunt rushed for 179 yards (4.2 average) and two touchdowns and caught 37 passes for 285 yards (7.7) and another score.

Van Pelt said he and coach Kevin Stefanski have an idea for Hunt’s role in the offense.

“I think that’s something we have to keep growing,” Van Pelt said. “Kareem’s an extremely talented runner, he’s exceptional out of the backfield as well, and he’s fearless. The selflessness of him blocking and lead blocking, he’s just a football player that loves to play. You’ve got to find ways to get him involved.”

Pushing for change

The Browns discussed the tragic death of George Floyd and the issue of racial injustice during a team Zoom meeting Monday and Bitonio said receiver Jarvis Landry spoke for about 10 minutes. Van Pelt said talking about the “horrific event” helps.

“It starts the healing process or starts the process of change,” Van Pelt said. “I think Kevin did an excellent job in the team meeting of letting the guys know that we need more than just words, we need actions and he’s there to help us, help these guys put those words into action. Provided a lot of different ways for them to help and support right away. I thought it was excellent.

“Jarvis speaking from the heart of how he feels and having the opportunity to listen to him explain what it’s like for him, it was very powerful and very moving. I stand with the organization that there needs to be change, ultimately, and we can’t just say that, we have to go out and show it by actions.”

Browns defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi tweeted on his 26th birthday Wednesday about the continuing deaths of African Americans.

“Today is my birthday, but my heart is heavy man,” Ogunjobi said on Twitter. “Everyone in this picture will never get another opportunity to celebrate theirs again. Why? For reasons such as going on a jog, walking down the street with an Arizona tea and some skittles, or most recently, using a ‘bad $20’.”

Ogunjobi’s tweet included a Black Lives Matter banner surrounded by a montage of those who have died.

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., Landry’s close friend, used Instagram Wednesday night to lobby for “serious consequences” for the Minneapolis police officers involved in Floyd’s death.

“Recent events in our country have highlighted the social injustice that has occurred for too long,” Beckham wrote. “We all feel the pain of the victims lost who were sons, daughters, spouses, parents, family members, and friends to many. The unconscionable murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery along with the unanswered questions surrounding the deaths of Breonna Taylor and David McAtee have outraged us. Racism, police brutality and other abuses of power can no longer be tolerated. We demand that justice be served.

“The police officers who were involved in the murder of George Floyd should be prosecuted and held accountable for their actions. Adequate and consistent training for all officers on proper use of force should be required. We are “suppose” to depend on police officers to protect us. When an officer abuses their authority to harm someone, the good officers (I kno there’s plenty of em) have a duty to intervene to protect that person whose being apprehended.

“If we want to deter the senseless killing of our people, there must be serious consequences for the actions of the officers involved, both through their actions and the others who failed to act in these situations. We need those in power to take action. It’s begins with you all. Only then and ONLY then, can we even begin to heal as a country.”

Defensive end Myles Garrett tweeted Wednesday night he wanted to offer assistance to the family of David Dorn, a retired police captain who was fatally shot by looters early Tuesday morning in St. Louis.

Garrett commented on a video apparently showing Dorn bleeding on a sidewalk in front of a pawn shop that his wife told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he had been trying to protect.

“This is heartbreaking to watch,” Garrett tweeted. “It’s not Blacks Vs Police. We are fighting for equality and justice and anyone who supports that should be accepted and respected, Cop or not. He didn’t deserve to die like that and I’d like to reach out to help his family. #DavidDorn.”

Play calling

Stefanski reiterated at the NFL Combine in February that he planned to have Van Pelt call the plays in the preseason and then would decide whether he or Van Pelt would handle it in the regular season. Since they haven’t been able to get to know each other as they work remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, Van Pelt doesn’t know if that’s changed.

“It’s actually something that we haven’t even discussed, to be honest with you,” Van Pelt said. “I think it is still a fluid situation. Until we get together and feel more comfortable with each other, him with me more so, on the field in live action when there is no script and you are just calling offense against the defense. Ultimately, until he feels comfortable with that, I think we’re in the same spot as we have been.”

Fresh start

Stefanski’s offensive sets will sometimes include three tight ends and David Njoku wants to make sure he plays a big part in the new system, with Van Pelt saying Njoku has been very interactive in Zoom meetings.

Suffering a fractured wrist in the second game last season and undergoing surgery, the former first-round pick was inactive in two of the final four games after he came off injured reserve, falling out of favor with former coach Freddie Kitchens.

“I'm excited to get to know him, I know he’s a talented guy,” Van Pelt said of Njoku. “Got in the doghouse a little bit last year it sounds like from the old staff, but it’s a fresh, clean slate for him.

“With the ability he has athletically to play in line or get him out in space and get some matchup issues with safeties or linebackers covering him, I’m excited to see what he has to offer.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/browns. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.