Browns rookie Terrance West 'shocked' coaches with skills; could push to start

Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine says he was "a little shocked" by the smooth pass-catching skills rookie running back Terrance West showed off on the practice field this week, per Cleveland.com.

West, a third-round pick in May's draft, also impressed in pass protection - an area where rookies typically struggle. 

"I think [Ben Tate] is probably going to be a little bit ahead of him just naturally in the protection part of it, but Terrance isn’t far behind," Pettine told reporters. 

Tate was the recipient of a two-year, $6.2-million contract in free agency and is the Browns' presumed starter. There's a growing buzz that West could overtake him before the Browns take the field in Week 1, however. 

But if West continues leaving his coaches' mouth agape, it will be nearly impossible to leave him on the bench. 

[H/T Rotoworld]