Strange returned to practice on Wednesday.
Back during his time with the Cleveland Browns, then assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters came across Cole Strange in his preparation for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Despite Strange primarily playing guard throughout college, Peters liked what he saw from his limited reps at center.
“I knew about him coming out in the draft. When we were in Cleveland, we liked him and thought he had some good traits for center. He played in the Senior Bowl and did a nice job there,” Peters said. “Obviously, he can play guard. It was good to see him come back. He’s an athletic kid. It’s impressive the work he’s put in to getting to return to the field after the injury.”
Alex Van Pelt, who worked alongside Peters as the Browns offensive coordinator that year, shared on Thursday that he as well saw “center traits” in Strange. To Peters, that all starts with the former first-round picks athletic profile.
“He’s quick. He’s a good athlete. He’s got good initial movement, like I said quickness, and he’s strong. He’s good in space and I think he’s smart,” he said.
Returning to practice this week from the torn patellar injury he suffered last Dec., Van Pelt left the possibility open of Strange playing any spot along the interior offensive line. But with all of Strange’s NFL experience coming at guard, Peters shared the focus since his return has been at the center position.
“For right now just kind of working him at center because it’s a new progression for him,” Peters said. “But absolutely he’ll play both. The thought was to kind of get a ball in his hand and see how he looks.”
Strange’s return to the practice field has just included conditioning and individual drills as he works through an acclimation process to return to game action. What he’s shown so far, however, has impressed his coaches.
“Cole has really just been out there doing the individual drills and conditioning. I will say he looks good,” head coach Jerod Mayo noted Friday morning. “We ran some cross fields the other day and he was out front, so he’s definitely in shape. Maybe it’s the fresh legs, I don’t know. It’s exciting to have him out there.”