Editor's note: Tony Grossi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN 850 WKNR.

Where it all starts: There are some interesting -- even fascinating -- possibilities on the Browns’ offense this year.

There’s quarterback Robert Griffin III, and his attempt to be a relevant player again.

There’s rookie receiver Corey Coleman, the most dynamic player in camp.

There’s Terrelle Pryor, undergoing a remarkable career transformation as a receiver.

There’s Josh Gordon, the most physically talented player in modern Browns history trying to take advantage of a fourth career mulligan.

There’s the running back tandem of Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson, attempting to impersonate the Cincinnati Bengals one-two punch of Jeremy Hill and Gio Bernard.

And there’s the mastermind of it all, coach Hue Jackson, trying to defy all the skeptics that he can resurrect Griffin’s career.

But the key to everything just may be the player whose hand clenches the football before anyone else’s -- center Cam Erving.

A tall challenge: Erving was drafted 19th overall in 2015 to replace Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, whose departure in free agency was inevitable after the Browns tagged him their transition player in 2014 and inherited an opt-out clause after two years in a contract negotiated by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Mack signed with the Atlanta Falcons in March and returns to FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday night.

In Mack’s lame-duck season, the Browns messed up Erving in his rookie training camp by playing him at every position on the offensive line. In his second season, he is focused only on center, and the reviews after one preseason game were mixed.

Everyone agrees Erving is smart, earnest, diligent and energetic, and possesses a rare nasty attitude for a lineman. But there are concerns about his natural strength. And he had a few hiccups on shotgun snaps one day in practice.

And there’s his height.

At 6-5 ½, Erving is the third-tallest starting center in the NFL – surpassed only by 6-6 Brandon Linder of Jacksonville and 6-6 Justin Britt of Seattle.

If a center plays high, he will get beat all the time. Erving must compensate by bending low to maintain the leverage against short, squatty nose tackles.

“Yeah, I’m sure it is [a challenge],” Jackson said of Erving’s height. “There is no question. That’s a great question, but I also think he’s very athletic.

“He can bend. There is no doubt he needs to make himself smaller at times when we play different type of nose guards or 3-techniques or whatever that is, but I think he has the characteristics to get that done.”

The thing to remember about Erving is that at Florida State, he played 37 games at left tackle, where height is desirable, and only five – the last five of his career – at center.

“Pads down” is a common command to Erving given by coaches.

“Pad level is something you always think about,” Erving said. “But that type of thing comes natural for me. I definitely have to hone it and lock in and make sure I’m doing it at all times because it’s easy to revert to tackle habits and play a little bit higher. But as a center I don’t feel I’m having any problems with leverage. I just have to go out and be consistent with it.”

Erving also is learning to make the calls at the line of scrimmage after identifying the defensive alignment opposing the Browns’ line.

Left guard Joel Bitonio said, “Me and John [Greco, right guard] are both trying to help with the center calls. Usually [the center is] responsible for a lot of it, but I think we're breaking it down a little bit more. We'll help him find what defense they're in and other fronts, just help him make some of the calls that a more veteran guy could probably make on his own.”

Murderers row: The good news is that Erving is receiving daily tutorials on technique and preparation from All-Pro left tackle Joe Thomas.

And Jackson is exhibiting patience with Erving.

“I think Cam has all of the characteristics that we’re looking for,” the coach said. “This is his first year in the National Football League playing center. That was our first preseason game [Friday in Green Bay].

“We’re chasing perfection, but I didn’t expect perfection in the first night. From Cam to everyone across our line and everyone across our team, we need to get better. We need to get better as the Cleveland Browns football team. There are some things he did well and there are some things he’s got to clean up.”

The bad news is that Erving will be challenged on the Browns’ schedule by some of the NFL’s finest defensive tackles – Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox, Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins, Miami’s Ndamukong Suh, Buffalo’s Marcell Dareus, San Diego’s Corey Liuget, and Baltimore’s Brandon Williams.

Griffin’s ability to stay injury-free would be a concern even with an All-Pro center in front of him. A novice like Erving is going to make it very interesting.