CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters Sunday after the game with regard to the loss to the Bengals, Joe Flacco’s interceptions, Ja’Marr Chase, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
Opening Statement:
“Injury front, Jack Conklin got poked in the eye. We’ll see how that responds tomorrow. You know, very, very disappointing to come away with a loss in that game. Can’t be minus 2 (on turnovers) versus a good football team. That’s the story of this football game. Tip balls, and we gotta play cleaner. There are a thousand things that we can do better from a coaching staff, from a player standpoint, but we have to do a better job securing that rock. We obviously missed a field goal, missed an extra point. Those are points, and in these types of games, you have to come away with (points). So, it hurts when you feel like you’re doing some good things. Now having said that, you we have a position, where we have a division game next week, right back at it. So if this team understands that these hurt, but we’ll learn from it. We’ll watch the tape, recommit to those things and understand that we have to do a better job in a bunch of different areas. But really proud of a lot of the performance from these guys. Proud of effort from these guys. But man, it’s just frustrating not to come out with a win.”
Kevin, I mean you mentioned like a lot of miscues in that game, but the missed extra point and the missed field goal really enlarged. I know it’s Andre’s (Szymt) first game, but will you consider bringing in competition, making a change after?
“I’m not there. You know, like most type of things. You know, points are at premium obviously. So that’s frustrating. Andre’s (Szymt) had a really good camp. He’s done a nice job for us. So I’m not there.”
Can you talk about how Joe (Flacco) played for you and just kind of kept coming back at it.
“I thought he saw it well, got the ball to the correct people a lot of the time, Mary Kay (Cabot). (He) gave guys the opportunity to catch and run, but yeah, frustrated for him and for everyone.”
Those deflected passes, do you think both of those should have been caught by the receivers?
“Listen, if you ask those guys, they’re going to say yes. Jerry (Jeudy) and Ced (Cedric Tillman) are two of our best receivers. We are counting on them. We will always be counting on them and they will come through for this football team, I have zero doubt about that.”
Kevin, you also had what looked like back-to-back drops. On one, you were kind of on the edge of field goal range in third and fourth down. So when you talk about squandering points, is that part of it?
“It’s part of it. It’s the frustrating part. And again we are not going to play perfect. We’re not going to coach perfect. There’s going to be times that we don’t do it exactly how we want it to be done. So we’ll clean those things up. Again, those are frustrating moments because you feel like you’re moving the ball.”
Kevin on a positive note, Harold (Fannin Jr.) Dylan (Sampson), obviously their first starts and contributed in a big way to you guys ended up being the two leading receivers on the team. Just what did you think about their efforts out there?
“Yeah, I think our young guys were as I told you guys and told them, we’re counting on them. So the idea that we have rookies really just isn’t true. They’re not rookies, they’re guys that we’re counting on. So I thought they both had some good moments.”
The field goal drive at the end of the first half. Do you think he showed enough urgency that it seemed like there was time squandered?
“Yeah, we didn’t want to leave too much time for them, (that) was the idea.”
The defense gave up only seven yards I think in the second half and just kept…
“Really good, how many yards passing. So it was really good effort. That’s the frustrating part for us as a team. Now we’re a football team. We win together, we lose together. So we all get to share in this one. But yes, it doesn’t change the fact, that’s there’s some really good things happening.”
How tough is that? Your defense has all three sacks put together and then you squandered a field goal.
“Yeah, it’s tough but it’s just football. You’re gonna get kicked in the teeth every once in a while. That’s how this game goes. It’s about how you respond.”
Myles (Garrett) blew up one drive with a nice play on third down and came back with the back to back sacks. Just Myles (Garrett) really came through for you.
“Yeah, you know a couple times there he was getting double-teamed. Not a couple times, most of the time he was getting double teamed, getting slides, getting shifts and still finding a way to impact the game.”
We talked so much about the run game coming in. How did you think it was and then did you think it was going to be a game where you had to possess the ball? I think all three scoring drives were 10-plus play drives…
“Yeah, I think we left some yards out there in the run game. I think we can absolutely be better in the run game. So that would be a point of emphasis for us. There’s some things that we can help our guys with as coaches but ultimately I think that we certainly can be better.”
I know you have to watch the film on this but how do you think the Dawand (Jones) held up for you at left tackle?
“Yeah, hard to say, Mary Kay (Cabot) without watching it. I thought protection by and large was pretty good. Couple play actions that got a little loose, if you will, but I’ll have to watch it.”
Was there any sign during practice week that (Andre) Szmyt was uncertain about things?
“No.”
Did you find like you lost the impact a little bit, without Quinshon Judkins, do you feel like could have helped out there?
“Not on my mind.”
How about (Dylan) Sampson? Just how involved he was in passing game and for a rookie, had an amazing game…
“Yeah, he’s a guy that we’re counting on Mary Kay (Cabot). We trust him. I know he’s a rookie, but he’s very mature. He’s very intelligent. Doesn’t carry himself like a rookie. He’s a good football player, we’re going to need him.”
Kevin, very creative and short yardage plays today. Did you empty out your playbook or do you still have a lot there?
“Yeah, still have plenty left. That’s our job, you know, to constantly give our guys an opportunity. Tony (Grossi), if we can give them an advantage any which way, we will. So back to the drawing board.”
What do you think of (Carson) Schwesinger’s performance?
“Would have to look at it. But just based on how we played as a defense and just the few glimpses I had of him, I thought he ran to the ball, ran the show well. He will only get better.”
Seemed like they were keeping Ja’Marr (Chase) away from Denzel (Ward) a lot and when Greg (Newsome II) performed against a guy like that…
“Yeah, they moved their guys around a good bit. That may have been part of their equation. But we trust our guys. I thought there was some really good moments from our back end.”
Especially tough, obviously because you guys want to defend your own home turf and for these fans who are full force for you guys.
“Yeah, frustrating. You know, you start at home Mary Kay (Cabot) in front of a great crowd with a division game. So we didn’t get it done. We know the reason we didn’t get it done and give credit to Coach (Zac) Taylor and those guys. We didn’t get it done and they did. But we got another division game next week.”
Kevin, on the drive that ended in the missed field goal, you were first and 10 at the 13. Did you have in your mind you would settle for a field goal there and wasn’t going to take any shots in the end zone.
“I have to go back Tony (Grossi).”
There was a sack on third down.
“Yeah, I can’t, sorry.”
Football Insider newsletter free trial: Take a minute and sign up for a free trial of our Football Insider newsletter, featuring exclusive content from cleveland.com's Browns reporters.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.