Joel Bitonio Now Taking Reps at Left Tackle for Cleveland Browns

Joel Bitonio is paid like a left tackle, so why not play him there if you are the Cleveland Browns? Until day six of training camp, Bitonio taking snaps at left tackle was ‘Plan Z’ according to offensive line coach Bob Wylie.

The big news out of #BrownsCamp today is Joel Bitonio moving from LG to LT@NathanZegura gets you up to speed in the 2-Minute Drill: pic.twitter.com/AiXpgQtgMp

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 1, 2018

Following day six of training camp Wednesday afternoon, ‘Plan Z’ became ‘Plan A.’ The longest tenured member of the starting offensive line was moved over from left guard. It’s likely Bitonio will stay at left tackle for the foreseeable future.

“I kept telling you guys, I am going to put the best five players out there,” head coach Hue Jackson said Wednesday evening. “When we evaluated when we did not have practice, we took some time and really looked at the tape. We made the decision that maybe our best five right now is putting Joel out at left tackle.”

“I got a call on my off day so I was a little shocked. So I did not really know what was going on,” Bitonio said. “They said I was going to get the shot today to go and kind of see where it goes from there. So I studied up on a little bit on left tackle and tried to go out there and compete.”

Browns move Joel Bitonio to left tackle, confident in selfless veteran

📰 » https://t.co/ZWnv07kNuD#BrownsCamp pic.twitter.com/itXar1fC2W

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 2, 2018

It remains to be seen if Bitonio will start the regular season as the replacement to Joe Thomas.

“What I was told was right now it gives us the best five. He wants to stabilize the offensive line,” Bitonio said. “He said if I do have to play left tackle, he wants me to get as many reps as I can to be able to play that.”

The decision to move Bitonio was Jackson’s, not Wylie’s. There was a little concern about the move, but if it puts the best players on the field, the move had to be made.

“This guy is one of the best left guards in football,” Jackson said. “That is how he has earned his money and his reputation. I get it. The conversation was good. He got a chance to tell me how he felt. I told him how I felt. I am going to do everything that I can to continue to get us into a position where we continue to look for a left tackle, whether it is here or someplace else. Was he reluctant? Yeah, I would be, too. He plays a position, and he is really good at it. But for his teammates, for his coaching staff and for all involved, he knows that is the best place for him to be right now.”

In addition to Bitonio moving to left tackle, rookie Austin Corbett will go to left guard. The former Nevada Wolfpack lineman will now play the opposite positions of the ones they played in college.

“It is a transition for sure. It is one of those things where we are going to get him a bunch of reps, as well,” Bitonio said. “He gets to go in there and play left guard against the ones now, and he gets some reps. I kind of made that transition a little bit in college. I think it is definitely doable. Anything he needs to know, I can tell him. I have played left guard for a few years so I can kind of let him know what is going on.”

#LIVE: Joel Bitonio at the podium https://t.co/60pkggqGGE

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 1, 2018

The move will also allow Shon Coleman more time to continue his development as an NFL offensive lineman.

“Shon is still a young player,” Jackson said. “These guys are trying to replace one of the best guys who has ever played it. Shon needs time; it is time. I know that you are saying inconsistency. I think that there are a lot of things that Shon did well. When I look at it, overall for where we are, that position has to play better for us. So this is the decision that I made.”

Once Greg Robinson is cleared from the concussion protocol, he’ll get a chance to compete for the left tackle job or be a versatile interior lineman going forward.

Scott Piker is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Browns.