Pat Shurmur: 'We'll just try to do the best we can'

Eager to get started and finally get to coach his football team, Cleveland Browns rookie head coach Pat Shurmur can't wait for the NFL lockout to end.

For new coaches like Shurmur, the labor dispute has created an obvious disadvantage.

“I’m excited because this is the time of year when you get to start bringing the players back and training camp starts and you’re preparing for the season,” Shurmur told the Chronicle-Telegram. “So that’s the excitement as coaches you’re used to. So naturally that’s what our thoughts are. ..

“When we’re back up and running again, then obviously we bring the players in. It’s been really a non-traditional offseason, so we’ll just try to do the best we can to, with the time available, get the team up and running. I think we’ve made arrangements to handle it no matter how much time we have.”

The Browns are hoping to work in a trio of talented rookies in big defensive tackle Phil Taylor, pass-rushing defensive end Jabaal Sheard and imposing wide receiver Greg Little.

“I don’t know about the rookies being hurt by it,” Shurmur said. “I think there’s got to be concentration on everybody’s part and we have to be careful about what we teach and how much we teach, because it’s been a little bit of a non-traditional offseason. That’ll be the fun part about it, reacting to what’s happened and putting the team on the field.”

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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for the Carroll County Times.