BEREA, Ohio -- Cody Kessler may not be the Cleveland Browns' starting quarterback this season, but it won't be for lack of commitment.

Kessler has blown the lid off the rookie expectation box with his work ethic since he was drafted in the third round out of USC.

He picked up the playbook as soon as he could after the draft. He arises with roommate Seth DeValve (fourth round out of Princeton) at 5:45 a.m. and takes the first shuttle to the team facility at 6:15. He has used FaceTime to talk routes and plays with first-round pick Corey Coleman.

Rookie quarterback Cody Kessler throws during the Browns' mini-camp on Tuesday. AP Photo/Ron Schwane

And he has surprised team security at bed check in the hotel by having the rookie receivers in his room into the late hours, going over plays, routes and calls. And all that took place before rookie minicamp.

"There were some long days because we were doing installs," Kessler said. "Rashard [Higgins] and Corey [Coleman] and Jordan [Payton] and Ricardo [Louis], they'd come over to my room at night and we'd be up until 11 or 11:30. Even after bed check. They'd come in and let us go a little bit longer because we were learning the playbook."

While it's tempting to say that this rookie quarterback is approaching things differently from a previous highly drafted quarterback, it's best to merely say that Kessler is showing some of his strengths. He's smart, prepared and driven to learn.

"For me," Kessler said, "it's always been that I don't ever want to have an excuse to why I didn't grasp the offense or anything. If I have the opportunity to have the film room open, if I can stay here as long as I can, I want to take advantage of that."

"I think that's what you want out of a quarterback," coach Hue Jackson said. "You want a guy totally committed to the process."

Off-the-field work does not erase on-the-field concerns. Kessler still has to show he can read and throw accurately in the NFL, and that criticism of his arm as not strong enough is off-base.

To help his throwing, Kessler will spend some time between now and the start of training camp with throwing mechanics coach Tom House, a former baseball pitcher who breaks down the throwing motion for better function.

Kessler will be joined at House's 3DQB facility by Robert Griffin III, who spent time with House after the Browns signed him. Jackson knows House and appreciates his work, so he set up the sessions.

"I think [House is] one of the best at what he does, at teaching rhythm and timing and making sure a guy's body is in the proper throwing mechanics position," Jackson said. "It's another opportunity for a player to get better."

Kessler will spend his time at his home in California, where he also will continue to work to understand all he can about the offense.

"I want to come into camp," Kessler said, "and act like I've been in this offense for 10 years."