CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Browns new offensive coordinator Todd Haley grew up the son of a longtime Steelers personnel executive, and has talent evaluating in his blood.

So it's no wonder the Browns will rely heavily on his expertise when it comes to acquiring a veteran quarterback and drafting a rookie, presumably No. 1 overall. Haley's father, Dick, not only played cornerback for the Steelers from 1961-64, but was their Director of Player Personnel from 1971-90 before joining the Jets in that capacity.

It rubbed off on Haley, and at the Senior Bowl last month, Browns GM John Dorsey hailed him a "a great evaluator,'' indicating his input would be valuable.

"That's a big thing for me just because of the house I grew up in,'' Haley said at his introductory news conference Wednesday. "My dad was a scout, a personnel director for a long, long time. I went to college all-star games with him, missed school to go to bowl games, things like that. He's always been a great resource for me, and I started in that area, on the scouting side of it. It's something that I, even as a coach, believe in even more than some guys who have had that background.''

Haley also knows the Browns have to nail the No. 1 and No. 4 picks.

"When you've got a couple real high picks like we do, it's great opportunity,'' he said. "As my father always said to me, when you're picking in the top 10, you better be right most of the time. So that will be the challenge for everybody involved.''

He's coached Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, future Hall of Fame Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo and others but doesn't necessarily have a prototype. What's more, he won't rule out Baker Mayfield just because he's 6-foot-3/8.

"There's always going to be guys that break the rules,'' said Haley. "Kurt in Arizona was barely 6-2. Don't tell him I said that, but there's always going to be guys that break those standards or prototypes. You've got to go into all these with an open mind and really you're looking for really good football players. And the really good football players, they usually find a way to succeed."

So what is he looking for in a QB?

"You're looking for highly competitive guys with ability to weather the storms that are going to come up as a young quarterback in the league,'' he said. "You're looking for physical and mental toughness. Obviously you have to have an NFL-type arm. You have to have great feel and awareness, great leadership.

"It is a tough position to evaluate. It always has been and there's evidence of that year in and year out across the league. But like I said, that's one of the great challenges and I'm excited about that process.''

He will use his playbook

Quarterbacks such as Josh McCown have talked about the benefits of being in same offensive system for multiple years, especially for young players. Well, that won't be happening for the Browns this year.

They'll be running Haley's offense, and using his terminology. Young players will have to hit the new playbook hard, especially in that break between minicamp and training camp, and be ready to react during camp.

"I have a language and terminology I have used for a long time that I think works,'' Haley said. "The big change really will be that - really just terminology.''

It will be an adjustment, to be sure. But it's as good a time as any to start over, because the Browns will have two new quarterbacks and they'll likely be No. 1 and No. 2 on the depth chart, first the veteran and then the rookie. The only QB on the roster who would've been in Jackson's system for the second year is Kizer, and he will be fighting his way up the depth chart.

He won't give up on Kizer

Kizer has been compared to Roethlisberger in terms of his size and arm strength, and he made some throws last season that not every QB can make. But he struggled with accuracy and decision-making.

Haley cautioned that young QBs need time to develop, especially with most coming out of spread offenses.

"If you act or react too quickly making decisions, you could regret it,'' Haley said. "The key is to be patient and continue to develop and work with all guys playing that position because it does take time. Most of them, when I go to the (NFL) combine and you ask how to make a huddle call, they have not made a huddle call in grade school, high school, college, never got in a huddle and had to spit out a call, which the majority of the NFL is doing a good amount of time. There's a lot to learn. It's never going to happen overnight.''

A premium on player development

Job No. 1 for Haley is to teach and develop players, and that will be key for a young roster that could see an influx of 12 more draft picks. The Browns have some promising young players, especially on offense. They include 2016 first-round receiver Corey Coleman and 2017 first-round TE David Njoku.

"You have to develop players in this league,'' said Haley. "I brought up Antonio Brown. When I got there, Antonio Brown wasn't the Antonio Brown everybody knows. If you don't develop players, you're probably going to fail.

"I told all the coaches when we sat down and met for the first time that our job is to take the players we have and put them in the best possible chance to succeed and not worry about a lot else. So that's really what the focus is and will be.''

He's not a system guy

Haley will adjust his offensive scheme to the players. He'll build his offense around the style of quarterback the Browns acquire.

"What I believe in is playing to every player's strength as best you can,'' he said. "Putting players into position to succeed, playing to their skill set. Wherever I've been, that's what I've really tried to do.''

He'll also blend elements of his offense with head coach Hue Jackson's.

"Hue is a very strong offensive mind,'' he said. "I have a great amount of respect for him. He'll be an awesome source to get ideas and to lean on. I just want the best idea that gives us the best chance to succeed."