Cameron Erving

Browns' rookie Cameron Erving was benched on Sunday against the Bengals. He's endured a challenging rookie season.

(Joshua Gunter, Cleveland.com)

CLEVELAND, Ohio - As Joe Thomas told a group of reporters Sunday that adverse times reveal character, fellow offensive lineman Cam Erving quietly dressed a few stalls away.

On the most humbling day of his brief pro career, the first-round draft pick slipped into a garnet Florida State jacket and walked out of the FirstEnergy Stadium locker room.

Nobody must remind Erving he's not in the ACC anymore. His All-American status means nothing at a time his Browns are losers of seven straight and he's struggling to maintain blocks.

His physical strength is lacking - that's apparent to anyone who's watched him play - but it's his mental fortitude that's going to be severely tested in the coming weeks and months.

The Browns benched the No. 19 overall pick during the fourth quarter of the Browns' 37-3 loss to the Bengals. He was summoned to the sideline in mid series after taking a holding penalty and replaced by journeyman Austin Pasztor. It ended a disastrous afternoon in which he subbed for an injured Joel Bitonio after six snaps and yielded five hurries and a third-quarter sack.

With Bitonio (ankle) lost for the season, coach Mike Pettine would not commit to playing the 6-foot-5, 313 pounder against the Niners. These are tough times for Erving, who Sunday was called out on social media by ESPN analyst and former two-time Pro Bowler Mark Schlereth.

"He is as weak as a kitten," wrote Schlereth in a Twitter response regarding Erving's benching. That's a shot as pointed as any Merrill Hoge has delivered at Johnny Manziel. It also comes with the territory when you get pancaked by the Steelers' Cam Heyward and driven into the lap of Isaiah Crowell for a 5-yard loss.

He is as weak as a kitten. https://t.co/0h46jWSIop — mark schlereth (@markschlereth) December 6, 2015

The knee-jerk reaction is to label Erving the latest draft bust of general manager Ray Farmer. The organization is in free fall and benefits of the doubt are in short supply. In his first stretch of extended playing time Erving has proven more willing than able while working out of position at guard.

His technique is sloppy. His pad level is poor. Opponents are feasting on his rawness and his quarterbacks are paying a heavy price.

Erving either needs to call Aaron Rodgers and get the number of Hans and Franz or find a strength coach who can mentor him in the offseason. Not all the blame, however, falls on the shoulders of a college graduate who helped the Seminoles win a national title and earn all-ACC honors at two positions (center, left tackle).

The Browns erred in thinking Erving was versatile enough to play any position along the line. They selected him as insurance in case Alex Mack opted out at season's end and cluttered his mind by teaching him five positions. Mack, a Pro Bowl center, is likely gone and the Browns need Erving to compete at his best position next summer.

The 23-year-old had not played guard before arriving in Berea. In fact, he's a converted defensive lineman who has just three years of service in the offensive trenches. He also was never a weight-room junkie in high school and had to be prodded by his former prep coach, the legendary Rush Propst.

"I'll tell you, son, we had some wars, him and I, and they got heated at times," said the Colquitt County High coach from rural southern Georgia. "But when you gain his trust he'll do anything you ask of him. He's that kind of kid."

Some high-round picks never experience failure until they reach the NFL and don't know how to react. Erving has stumbled several times along his journey. The good news is he has a history of picking himself up and enduring.

"I was always told as a kid, 'I don't care if you make a mistake. Just make it going 100 miles per hour," Erving said recently. "That is how I have modeled my play my whole life. I may not know everything, I may not know every adjustment but I am going to go in and play hard."

The Browns (2-10) are bracing for another organizational makeover. The front office and coaching staff are likely gone. There figures to be plenty of roster changes, as well.

Beyond Mack's possible departure, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is a free agent. Thomas was nearly dealt at the trade deadline and you would be naive to think that option won't at least be explored again in the offseason.

You can't just rebuild an offensive line in one year, that's why Erving's development should be prioritized. The September release of line coach Andy Moeller for off-field issues put the entire group in a tough spot, particularly a youngster who, as Propst noted, needs to build a level of trust with his coaches.

Erving is an athletic lineman and he possesses a love for the game, which sadly has not always been a given with a few other recent first-round picks here.

Pettine has made it clear it's not a lack of "want-to" or effort.

The Browns must keep playing Erving over the final four weeks in some capacity. Let him work through his miscues, sharpen his technique and test his mettle. He's hardly the only member of the line who's underachieved. The club leads the NFL in sacks allowed (41), a byproduct of playing so often from behind and not being able to run the ball.

Will Erving evolve into a reliable lineman? The early returns aren't encouraging, but let's see what he does with a full offseason and a chance to compete at his best position, center.

He needs to live in the weight room during the offseason, remaking his upper-body. Erving also should keep that Schlereth tweet handy when he thinks he's done enough for the day.

There's nothing wrong with showing your college pride in an NFL locker room, but Erving is no longer the big man on campus.