BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur views Colt McCoy much the same way he did 2010 Rams No. 1 pick Sam Bradford last season.
"[McCoy's] a young player and in my mind almost a rookie," the Browns head coach said Tuesday. "And so his improvement can be great from practice to practice and game to game. I think [he can improve] a lot." 
Likewise, McCoy isn't looking at this season as an extension of 2010 -- when he went 2-6 -- because he had to start all over in a new scheme with no coaches all off-season.
"I don't think that much about last year because we're in such a new offense, new system, new coaches," he said. "I'm taught different things. I'm taught how to do things differently scheme-wise. I'm just focusing on this year and the four starts I've had. I think that's the way my coaches coach me. I think that's the way they see me."
McCoy was aware that Shurmur considers him almost a rookie.
"Right, exactly, and that's how it is," he said. "You look across the receiver room, nobody has been in the West Coast in that room. You look at the tight ends, nobody's been in the West Coast except Alex Smith in Tampa Bay. In a sense, we're all learning -- with a rookie quarterback. We've got a lot of room for improvement."
Heading into the bye weekend, McCoy carries a 78.7 QB rating -- No. 24 in the league. He's completed 100 of 172 attempts for 984 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions. He's been sacked only six times, but heading into the Titans game, he was tied for first with Chad Henne for most hits after the throw, at 21. He was knocked down another five or six times by the Titans.
His 984 yards are 17th in the NFL, his six TDs are 12th and his 58.1 percent completion percentage is 23rd.
"I'll be the first to tell you that there's a lot of things you can work on, improve on," he said. "It's a process. The guys are working very hard and I know our coaches are working really hard. We've just got to re-group, stay together and keep fighting."
McCoy said the offense is upbeat despite scoring only 13 points against the Titans.
"We're 2-2 going into the bye week," he said. "We've got a chance to make our season or let something slip by again. We'll get out of here after tomorrow and kind of rest, heal up and re-group. Nobody's head is down. We got beat. We didn't play like we wanted to. But the sun's out today and we had a good day."
After the first quarter of the season, the Browns' offense is 25th in scoring at 18.5 points per game. The pass offense is 18th, averaging 235.2 yards.
"I don't think anything has been a disappointment," McCoy said. "We're playing together for the first time. We practice hard. I believe in the guys, I know the receivers and the running backs and the linemen believe in me and the line's doing a nice job.
"When we put it all together, we give ourselves a great chance. But when you're playing a good team, we're not good enough to overcome [mistakes]."
Shurmur said he wouldn't describe McCoy's start in negative terms.
"He's very hard on himself ... but he's very confident as well and I think that's what pulls you through as you're trying to improve."
McCoy said the bye week is a good time for the offense to re-evaluate and adjust.
"What are some plays that we were kind of high on that haven't worked as well?" he said. "Who's the best receiver on what route? What's our best protection? What's our best run schemes? I think the ceiling is tremendously high. I believe that. We've just all got to continue to get to know each other and just move on."
Shurmur admitted he's concerned about the hits. "We focus on it and try to eliminate it," he said. "Let's hope I never have to call 61 passes again."
Left tackle Joe Thomas said McCoy has impressed with his ability to absorb punishment.
"He's a really tough kid," said Thomas. "There's a reason he played all those snaps in college and got all those wins. It's going to take a big hit to knock him out. He's been really impressive from that standpoint."
Thomas said he's already seen McCoy improve greatly in the new scheme.
"I feel like he really did make a nice jump already," said Thomas. "He's a natural leader. He's got all the intangibles and he's a great quarterback. He's got everything you need."
McCoy said he'll stick around here for a few days to study some things, "then I think it's always good in a bye week to get away for a couple days to clear your mind and obviously get a head start on Oakland."
Haden, Cribbs resting: Cornerback Joe Haden and receiver Josh Cribbs sat out Tuesday's practice with their sprained knees, but Shurmur said he's hopeful they'll be able to play Oct. 16 in Oakland. Linebacker Titus Brown (ankle) was idle.
Quick healer? Shurmur said one of the first things center Alex Mack asked for after his appendectomy on Monday was his grade sheet from Sunday's game. He said it's too early to speculate if Mack will be ready for Oakland.
Thomas wasn't that skeptical. "I think even if we didn't have a bye he would've played this weekend," said the lineman.
From: http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/10/cleveland_browns_coach_pat_shu_9.html
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