BEREA, Ohio -- Here's the confession: This is a feel-good story as the Browns rookies reported for the first day of training camp.

Not much happened at practice. No one was in pads and there weren't even enough guys to play 11-and-11 football. That will change when the veterans arrive this weekend.

But there was a new quarterback. A new running back. A new right tackle. A new receiver. Make that two new receivers. A new offensive coordinator.

All of that is just on offense, something fans can't hear enough about.

For all the sweat and gnashing of teeth over contract talks, first-rounders Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden were signed and in camp. They are the running back and quarterback of the present and future.

If you think a team that may start as many four rookies on offense will make the playoffs out of the demanding AFC North, you're wrong. But if you are hoping for a more watchable and likeable team, that may very well be the case.

The one sure thing seems to be Richardson. Just write 1,000 yards needs to the rookie's name, and see if he runs for even more. He should be that good, and that good right away.

Taking gambles

There are risks. Weeden is a 28-year-old rookie who played in a system "where we threw it 50-60 times" at Oklahoma State. He admitted that early in minicamps, his head "was spinning so fast." But he caught on quickly. That's not just his opinion, but his coaches'.

Regardless when Pat Shurmur finally announces it, Weeden will be the starting quarterback. Fans attending training camp will be impressed by his arm strength and accuracy, assuming that he continues to throw as he did in earlier camps.

Rookie Mitchell Schwartz should be an upgrade over the ragged group that tried to hold down right tackle last season. Which brings us to the receiver, especially Josh Gordon.

If there was any reason for caution on this sweltering afternoon in Berea, it was that Gordon admitted that he flunked a third drug test when he was a redshirt at Utah last season. He flunked two at Baylor, and then had to leave the Waco school after the 2010 season.

All three were for marijuana. He said all the right things to the media, admitting he has a "spotty background" and adding that it made "no sense" to risk his spot in the NFL by smoking marijuana.

Of course, it made no sense for him to flunk a third test at Utah, after failing twice at Baylor.

So both Gordon and the Browns are counting on him telling the truth when insisting he's a "changed person." The Browns wouldn't draft him unless they believe he can stay straight and have accountability mechanisms in place to keep him focused on what matters the most. They invested a 2013 second-round pick in grabbing Gordon in the supplemental draft.

Gordon is an impressive physical specimen at 6-3 and 225 pounds, displaying the reliable hands the Browns saw when they scouted him on tape during his 2010 season. He comes across as sincere and determined to make the most of this opportunity.

The other rookie receiver is fourth-rounder Travis Benjamin, one of the fastest players on the team. The Browns are working on his ball-catching technique -- he had some drops in the minicamps and Wednesday.

The Browns passed up on some veteran receivers, believing their additions of Gordon, the speedy Benjamin and the sure-handed Josh Cooper (an undrafted free agent who played at Oklahoma State with Weeden) can support Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi.

Weeden said it was imperative for a quarterback "to take shots downfield," and he believes that can be done with this group of receivers.

Getting better

In the last four years, the Browns are 18-46. They have had one playoff appearance since returning in 1999.

To dig out of that ditch of despair, they believed some gambles were in order. So they went with Weeden, supposedly too old. They took Gordon, supposedly too risky. Some said they picked Schwartz (second round) and defensive tackle John Hughes (third round) too high. They traded up to grab Richardson despite a new school of draft wisdom that says never to select a running back in the top 10 because they tend to have short careers.

Those decisions will be validated or debated by what happens on the field. But have no doubt, the Browns have almost an entirely new offense.

That includes former Vikings head coach Brad Childress. He is the offensive coordinator, something Shurmur desperately needed during his 4-12 rookie season in 2011. Veteran assistant Nolan Cromwell was hired to work with the receivers and the passing game.

Will they be right about everything? Probably not. But the coaching staff has been improved. Talent has been added, even if it's very young.

The Browns will better than what we've been watching the last few seasons.