Cleveland Browns quarterback Cody Kessler was a college player just six months ago. He is now in the mix for the starting position with an NFL team. Since arriving in Cleveland, he has been adjusting to his new coaches, the new playbook, the weather, the city and more. He is blending in to his new environment and is fortunate for the opportunity.

“It’s been obviously a learning process. I feel like I am very fortunate to come from a pro-style offense at USC. When (former Southern California Head Coach Lane) Kiffin was there, it was more tradition huddle-up, call the play, break the huddle. With (Head) Coach (Hue) Jackson’s offense, it is more similar to what we were doing with Coach Sark (former Southern California Head Coach Steve Sarkisian) the past couple of years with the no-huddle. Still pro-style, West Coast concepts. I think it has been a big advantage to come into a new system and already have an understanding of the system, whether it is the concepts," Kessler explained.

"The terminology is different for me, and I am learning that day-by-day. The language they speak here is a lot different than at USC, the way you talk about things, but that is expected. Like I said, the concepts have been really easy for me to be, ‘OK, this is what we call here. This is what we said at USC, and this is what we did.’ I compare them and it helps me get a little bit of a jump start when we do new installs because I have already familiarized myself with it before.”

With the expectation that Kessler would be adapting to his new surroundings, Jackson and associate head coach-offense Pep Hamilton have tried to make the transition as easy as possible.

“The language of the offense that he uses – Coach Pep Hamilton does the same thing – he talks about just talk to me and tell me how it is, eliminate distracting words and just talk to me in the most basic way so I understand it and we speak the same language. I’m learning that language – the way he talks and he describes things. The biggest thing for me is just the mindset that he has about the position, the way he wants you to play it, the way there is no hesitation, no confusion. You should go in knowing exactly what you’re doing. If it’s a catch and get the ball out, catch and three-step [drop], whatever the situation may be, you have to know that every play. This is something he has been doing for a really long time so he has a really good grasp of it. I’m trying to learn to get to his level the way that we can speak the same language and continue to do that. He has been great with me and trying to help me out. He’s been slowing it down and breaking it down, but also at the same time treating me like how he does the older guys and getting on me if I don’t do it the right way, which for me has always pushed me. I like that.”

Following the third round selection of the USC product, Jackson was beaming with compliments for the quarterback that he had been targeting. After seeing him practice over the past month and a half, the coach is not ready to change his opinion.

“I think until you play a game… I stand behind that statement. I don’t think right now is the time to evaluate the statement. I made a statement that I feel very good about. I think this young man’s future is still out in front of him and he’s working hard. He can throw the ball. He makes good decisions. He is learning the pro game. It’s a faster game, and I think he is learning that, but he has all the talent and the ability that I thought he had when we drafted him. That phrase that I used, I guess, will go down in the history of me being here at the Cleveland Browns, but I think that will be evaluated as we go. I don’t think we have to answer that one right today," Jackson said.

Kessler has put in the time to learn the new Browns offense and terminology. He is on a mission to prove Jackson's faith in him was correct. The California native takes the first shuttle to team headquarters in the morning. He's inside by 6:30 AM. His roommate, tight end Seth Devalve, has been a good influence on him as well. His preparation has not gone unnoticed by his head coach.

“First of all, that’s very encouraging. That’s what you want out of your quarterback. You want a guy that’s totally committed to the process because that is what this is truly about, a winning process. That’s what gives you a chance to have success. I don’t know too many quarterbacks that it’s not a seven-day job. It’s an everyday grind. These guys are some of the best in the world at what they do. That being said, they get paid pretty hefty to do what they do. You should expect the most out of that position. You would want that position to do the most, and I think our guys get that. To a man, I think a lot of that goes on within that group, maybe some more publicized than others, but I think they're all working at it. I think they are all using every resource available to them to get better. We have an expectation of how that position should play, and I truly believe we will get there. Like anything, it is still a work in progress. Nobody needs to master the test right this second, but I think we are getting there and that is all you can ask for.”

The Browns players will not be called back to Berea, Ohio until training camp in July. The quarterback plans to make the most of his time away from the facility, however.

“I’m going to go back to Los Angeles. I am going to get back to work and work with Tom House, and Coach Jackson set me up with him. Now, I get to go get some work with him and train. The biggest part for me is obviously there area always thing you can work on throwing wise and mechanics, but I want to come into camp and act like I have been in this offense for 10 years. I want to be completely understanding of everything. I want to know how to read defenses in the NFL. However many looks there are, I want to know what to do so that eliminates hesitation for me going into camp because at the NFL, you have to play at a high level and at a fast pace. I’ve gotten a little bit of a taste of that at OTAs and now going into minicamp. For me, I want to stay comfortable. I don't want to go a month away and lose everything. I want to get further ahead and keep jumping ahead. That’s always just been me with my work ethic. This next month is going to be crucial for me," Kessler finished.

The decision to name a starting quarterback will leak in to training camp. The work that Robert Griffin III, Josh McCown, Austin Davis, Connor Shaw and Kessler put in this summer will go a long way in determining who starts during Week One against the Philadelphia Eagles.