BEREA — Deshaun Watson has been in this version of the Matrix before.

It's the revamped offense Browns coach Kevin Stefanski chose to adopt when he hired Ken Dorsey as his new offensive coordinator in January.

The system has New England roots because Dorsey learned under Brian Daboll when they worked together for three seasons (2019-21) on the Buffalo Bills coaching staff. Daboll entered the NFL coaching ranks in 2000 as a Patriots assistant and spent 11 combined seasons in two stints as a Bill Belichick lieutenant.

Cleveland's $230 million starting quarterback coming back from major shoulder surgery, Watson has experience in an offense like the one being installed at Browns headquarters. He played three-plus seasons (2017-20) for coach Bill O'Brien as a member of the Houston Texans. Before O'Brien ascended to the helm of the Texans in 2014, he had five seasons with the Patriots (2007-11) on his resume. He was New England's offensive coordinator in 2011 prior to coaching Penn State for two seasons.

All of this history translates to Watson being ahead of the learning curve as the Browns assimilate to an overhauled offense.

“There's definitely new things that the guys have to study, have to work at,” Stefanski said Tuesday after the first practice of mandatory minicamp. “We're adding to certain areas of our offense. This offseason is really designed to bring them up to speed. I wish there was a way to plug it into the back of your head like 'The Matrix,' but there's not.”

It isn't the first time Watson, 28, has called this Matrix his football home. The last time he operated an offense featuring this many shotgun snaps, spread concepts and run-pass option plays, he was "The One" for the Texans.

The Browns are catering to Watson, and they really have no other choice. If team brass doesn't try everything in its power to salvage the gargantuan trade it made for him in March 2022 and the record-setting fully guaranteed contract it gave him, it isn't doing its job.

“For us, it's focusing in on the plays that make the most sense for our roster, and obviously your quarterback is front of mind,” Stefanski said. “So there's definitely things that we've taken from Deshaun's days in Houston, definitely things that Dorse has done over his time with Coach Dabes that maybe are cousins to what we're doing now.”

What is Deshaun Watson saying about the direction of the Cleveland Browns offense with Ken Dorsey aboard?

Watson could use help from the “cousins” of his Houston schemes or anyone else willing to assist.

“[Dorsey is] doing a heck of a job of putting the offense together with Kevin and all the other staff members,” Watson said. “[They're] doing stuff that we love to do and that we're comfortable doing.”

If you read “we love” and “we're comfortable” as “I love” and “I'm comfortable,” it's a reasonable interpretation. Sure, other players might be gaga about the system, but it's being implemented because of Watson.

What did quarterback Deshaun Watson do in his first two seasons with the Cleveland Browns?

Season one with Watson was a total bust. He served an 11-game suspension connected to more than two dozen women accusing him of sexual misconduct or sexual assault during massage appointments when he played for the Texans. He went 3-3 as a starter, completing 58.2% of his passes for 1,102 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions for a passer rating of 79.1.

Season two with Watson was derailed by a fractured glenoid and other problems in his throwing shoulder. He went 5-1 as a starter, completing 61.4% of his passes for 1,115 yards and seven touchdowns with four interceptions for a rating of 84.3.

Going 14-of-14 passing in the second half of his most recent game Nov. 12 against the Baltimore Ravens was encouraging, yet the Pro Bowl edition of Watson hasn't been seen on a consistent basis since 2020.

The Cleveland Browns offensive coaching staff underwent a makeover this offseason

It's the main reason Stefanski shook up the offensive coaching staff coming off an 11-6 regular season and a 45-14 wild-card playoff loss to the Texans in Houston.

Cleveland has a new offensive coordinator, running backs coach (Duce Staley) and tight ends coach (Tommy Rees). It also has a new offensive line coach (Andy Dickerson) because Bill Callahan left to coach with son Brian, who's now in charge of the Tennessee Titans. It retained wide receivers coach Chad O'Shea, another former longtime Patriots assistant whose knowledge of choice routes is vital to Dorsey's pages in the playbook.

The Browns would have a new play caller if Stefanski were to cede the role to Dorsey. They have been alternating those duties this offseason, with Dorsey handling them in Tuesday's practice.

Either way, this is a fresh Browns offense. Its principles and talented supporting cast should position Watson for success. No. 1 wide receiver Amari Cooper held out of minicamp Tuesday as he readies for the final season of his contract and projected slot receiver Jerry Jeudy was idle with an undisclosed injury, yet panicking about June absences would be premature. Watson revealed he plans to train with teammates prior to training camp in late July.

Deshaun Watson is not expected to throw in 11-on-11 periods until Cleveland Browns training camp

Watson overcoming the issues he encountered last year with his right shoulder remains the most significant short-term hurdle for the entire franchise. The glass-half-full view is he continues to look like a player poised to pass all of the requisite physical tests in the buildup to the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Although Watson is still on a pitch count, he took another positive step Tuesday by throwing in seven-on-seven sessions for the first time this offseason. The passes were short to intermediate in length during the four series in which Watson threw, but he fired two lasers to tight end David Njoku and receiver Elijah Moore.

More Cleveland Browns coverage: Why former Glenville football standout Justin Hardee Sr. believes it's 'perfect timing' to join his hometown NFL team

Instead of throwing during 11-on-11 drills, Watson took the first-team snaps, went through his progressions and pointed to where he would pass. During individual drills late in practice, he continued the pointing routine rather than delivering the ball to a throwing net along with fellow quarterbacks Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Watson is scheduled to give his arm a break Wednesday and resume throwing Thursday.

Watson passing in an 11-on-11 setting will be delayed until training camp, and he said he doesn't know how hard or how far he can throw right now. When Watson was asked whether he has felt any pain in his right shoulder since he began throwing again, he said, “I've been feeling really well.” It's not a definitive “no,” though Watson has looked good this offseason whenever he hasn't been colliding with a teammate in the David Njoku Celebrity Softball Game. He said he's "very, very comfortable" with his progress.

Of course, how Watson's shoulder responds to wear and tear and non-softball contact will be crucial. Everything appears to be in place for him to thrive, so the Browns need him to hold up his end of the bargain. If he doesn't reward them for their faith under these circumstances and at the controls of this offense, he probably never will.

Browns news: 'Any opportunity is opportunity': Devin Bush looks to regain top-10 pick form in Cleveland

Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Deshaun Watson comfortable throwing and with Browns offense