Nine games into the 2015 season, Erving time has finally arrived.
The Cleveland Browns selected offensive lineman Cameron Erving with the team's second pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft. After six months of hype, it's time to see the kid in action.
Both general manager Ray Farmer and head coach Mike Pettine have given Erving rave reviews since his arrival. However, the Florida State product has largely been relegated to the bench due to a stout offensive line boasting the likes of Joe Thomas and Alex Mack.
Following an injury to left guard Joel Bitonio, Erving has finally been granted a starting spot. The rookie will fill in for Bitonio on Sunday against the Steelers.
The move should both excite and worry Browns fans.
As draftniks universally agreed, Erving's potential is sky-high. The 6'5, 315 pound youngster has great size and ability. However, his technique, particularly at left guard, is still raw.
Erving received a total of nine snaps against the Bengals last Thursday, some at left guard. The results were not pretty. Observe for yourself:
Cam Erving getting some snaps at LG on Thursday.. Not sure he was ready for @Gilberry92 pic.twitter.com/QRC3EO45sn
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 9, 2015
As you can see in the video, Erving displays poor form, particularly in regards to his stance. The rookie does not fire out of his stance, leading to a high block and an ugly play. As Erving told the media on Tuesday, "[Left guard] is probably the spot that I've taken the least amount of reps at."
The Browns' coaching staff will obviously have time to work with Erving on his flaws this week, but time is limited.
Either way, it will be nice to see how the Browns' second first round pick performs against the Steelers.