Optimism is in the air along Lake Erie. The Cleveland Browns seem to be heading in the right direction, and for the first time in several years, it appears as if the right leadership is in place to make sure the organization continues moving forward.

After a very successful 2011 NFL Draft, second-year quarterback Colt McCoy continued to impress his teammates and fans by organizing the first set of unofficial players-only workouts. McCoy then kept the positive momentum going by facilitating a second session of voluntary workouts with his teammates this week at Baldwin-Wallace College in Barea. The primary objective of the workouts which ended today? Getting more comfortable with the Browns' new offensive system.

 "The West Coast offense takes time to learn and develop, but we're way ahead of the game by doing this,'' said McCoy after working out at B-W's Finnie Stadium. "You need coaches around while you're learning it, but aside from that, I feel really comfortable coaching it and talking about it.''

Attendees of the three-day event included Mohamed Massaquoi, Brian Robiskie, Josh Cribbs, Carlton Mitchell and Jordan Norwood, and tight ends Ben Watson and rookie Jordan Cameron, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. The biggest surprise participant was veteran Jake Delhomme. The consummate professional, Delhomme was told quite clearly he had lost the starting job to McCoy. But it's not in his nature to sit on the sidelines, pout and feel sorry for himself. The former Panthers QB is no stranger to running the west coast offense, so his input and knowledge was valuable to the younger guys.

"We're just trying to hear the language of it, we're hearing the calls as they would come in the huddle and we're familiarizing ourselves with it and hopefully we can just keep it going,'' said Robiskie. "We'll wrap it up and see what happens with this lockout and proceed accordingly.''

All very encouraging signs for one of the NFL's most storied franchises.