BEREA: Terrelle Pryor is a phenomenal success story, albeit one in its infancy.
After switching from quarterback to wide receiver in the summer of 2015, Pryor is the most dangerous weapon the Browns have on offense. He’s also one of the most formidable playmakers in the entire NFL.
Yet Pryor realizes he’s far from complete.
“I could be so much better it’s not even funny,” Pryor said Tuesday. “Some plays that I’ve missed or some plays that I could’ve made off of that inexperience, I would say, my numbers, I may be over 1,000 [receiving yards] already, way beyond.”
Instead Pryor has 62 catches for 855 yards and four touchdowns. He ranks 12th in the NFL in catches and eighth in receiving yards. He’s done it despite the 0-12 Browns using five quarterbacks this season and lacking other major threats to divert the attention of defenses.
The praise Pryor has received from Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant, New York Jets receiver Brandon Marshall and Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis lets him know his hard work isn’t going unnoticed. New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. approached him after Sunday’s 27-13 loss, said he’s a fan of Pryor and asked to swap jerseys. A Giants defensive lineman also went out of his way to compliment him.
But Pryor isn’t complacent as he prepares to take a break this week during the team’s bye.
“Am I happy about the little success I’m having? Yeah. I mean that’s everybody. You’d be stupid for somebody to sit up here and say they don’t care about them being successful or doing something well,” Pryor said. “But I feel there’s so much more that I could do well that I feel like I’m part of the reason we’re 0-12. That’s how I think of it. That’s what pushes me every day to try to have a perfect game. ... That’s what I’m chasing.”
Wide receivers coach Al Saunders pointed out that Pryor, 27, has only scratched the surface at his new position.
“He would be the first to tell you he’s not a ready-made pyramid yet,” Saunders said. “We’ve got the base and it takes awhile to get that whole thing built. But he’s sure got a good foundation, and he’s starting the right way and he’s got the kind of character and quality you like to see in a football player in terms of his passion and dedication.”
Pryor is aware of the weaknesses he must improve to become an elite receiver.
He explained he must take better angles while blocking and lamented a Browns running back being tackled for a loss because he failed to do so.
He said he must gain more yards after the catch by running forward instead of laterally.
“Terrelle has no lack of confidence in his ability, and he thinks he can make guys miss all over the place and that’s what he’s attempting to do,” Saunders said. “Now he’s going to understand that when he catches the football maybe going north and south and trying to split [defenders] would probably be more advantageous to his success.”
Saunders also wants Pryor to better control his emotions, which he oftentimes wears on his sleeve while standing on the sideline during games. The coach thinks it’s been difficult for Pryor to accept having the ball in his hands once in a while because he became accustomed to having it every play as a quarterback.
“Guys that want to make plays and want to make big-time plays want the ball. Period,” Pryor said. “So that’s something I’ll have to keep on building, working with and talking to coach about, and I’ll get through that.”
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.