Browns high on Montario Hardesty

Ever since the Cleveland Browns drafted former University of Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty, they have been giving him more and more responsibility.

He has run with the first-team offense a lot this offseason, especially with the frequent absences of restricted free agent running back Jerome Harrison.

And he has made the most out of those opportunities, on and off the field.

"In the meeting, I just had him name all of the defensive guys and he blew through it like he had known them all their lives," Browns coach Eric Mangini told reporters in remarks distributed by the team. "Pretty impressive for a young guy.”

So, what's next for the downhill power back?

"I like a lot of things about him," Mangini said. "I like the fact that I don’t notice him on tape and he’s been running with the first group and what I mean by that is missing an assignment, lining up in the wrong spot those type of things where often times you look out and some rookie is suppose to be in one spot and he’s just not even in the right galaxy.

"That hasn’t been the case and he’s gotten a lot of reps with the ones and he just seems comfortable there. It doesn’t faze him. He’s got a great approach. All of those things I like and I think are going to serve him well.”

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