Dorsey worked closely with Watson during the offseason and training camp and was often seen talking with the quarterback between reps.

One point Dorsey addressed Thursday was the delicate balance between a quarterback’s ability to make plays with his feet and the importance of protecting himself from hard hits.

Watson’s style of play is defined by his ability to run the ball, and he has rushed for over 400 yards in each of his three Pro Bowl seasons. But with the quarterback’s shoulder increasingly in need of protection, situational awareness is key to keeping Watson healthy and helping the Browns win as many games as possible.

“When you have a quarterback with his skill set, it’s a constant battle and a constant balance,” Dorsey said. “There’s a time and a place to go out there and try to make that play and everything like that, but there’s also a time and a place to hunker down.”

The Browns’ first-year offensive coordinator can understand Watson better than most, having worn the Browns uniform in two of his four seasons as an NFL quarterback. Dorsey — a former Heisman finalist and national champion at the University of Miami — may not have been as agile as Watson, but he understands the desire to take risks if it means giving the team a chance to win.

As he continues to build his partnership with Watson, Dorsey will get the chance to do something he hasn’t done in several years: coach from the sidelines. Dorsey was the offensive coordinator in Buffalo last season and spent game days in the coaching box. He said Thursday that he will be on the sidelines for games this season.

“It was fun to be back down there,” Dorsey said. “I think just having the energy and the juice on the field and having that feeling down there, it’s like you feel like you’re part of the game. And I think it’s important for me to be down there, to be with Deshaun, to be with the quarterbacks, and it’s a good way for me to help in terms of that line of communication and make sure everyone’s on the same page.”