CLEVELAND, Ohio — Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski took questions from reporters on Wednesday with regard to looking ahead to hosting the Miami Dolphins, Dillon Gabriel, Jerry Jeudy, and more.
Below is the transcript as provided by the Browns media relations department:
Opening Statement:
“Okay, (Miami) Dolphins week. They’re a team that presents a lot of challenges to you schematically, from a personnel standpoint as well, a ton of respect for what they do down there schematically. Offensively, it’s built on speed, tons of shifts and motions – a huge challenge to slow that offense down. Defensively, they can do a lot in the pressure game and the coverage game, really keep you on your toes in terms of changing the look. Really good players on all three levels of the defense. Special teams, speed, fast returners, but really well coached group that I have a ton of respect for. We have to play our best, so we’re going to focus on our preparation, focus on how we work this week to go play our best on Sunday. But with that, I’ll take any questions.”
With (David) Njoku, giving it a couple of days?
“Yeah. Truly day-to-day. We’ll have to see how he feels tomorrow and the next day.”
So, Cam Robinson’s okay?
“He’s progressing. He’ll practice some today. So, he’s progressing.”
We talked about Jerry (Jeudy), how he’s struggled to start the season. Last week Tommy (Rees) said he’s got a big “give a blank” factor. Do you see him pressing at all as the start of the season hasn’t gone like he wanted?
“I don’t. I think, to Tommy’s point, Jerry wants to provide for this football team in any way he can. Obviously, he’s a leader – we put a lot on his plate, we ask him to do a lot. So, he just needs to do what he’s capable of doing. I’ve seen it many, many times.”
Kevin, along those lines, Jerry on Sunday was talking about some of the drops occurring when you guys are trailing, and guys not fully catching or watching the ball come in and they’re trying to make a play. When you watch it back, are you seeing that, is it something more technical in terms of some of the drops on Sunday?
“I think you can learn from every play. It’s not a coaching point just to say, ‘hey, catch the ball’ – you got to tell your guys whatever it is, technique wise, there’s all sorts of tricks to trade in terms of looking it in and finishing the catch, the elements of the catch first before you turn, all those types of things. So, I think Coach (Chad) O’ Shea does a great job with our guys on a day-to-day basis working those things.”
Switching quarterbacks – is that difficult for a receiver?
“Our guys have caught from all of our quarterbacks throughout the spring. So, I don’t think that’s an issue.”
Now that you’re getting ready for Dillon’s (Gabriel) third start here? What did you see different from his first start to last week in Pittsburgh, and where can he take it to the next level and be a little better?
“I think, like any young player, you’re looking to make improvement from game-to-game in a ton of different areas. Obviously first home game this time, so, in front of our fans, you’re not on the silent count, those types of things. So, operationally, different than a road environment, but no different than any young player to just build on the things that you’re doing well. And our job as coaches is to identify some of the things that we can help them with. But incremental improvements our young players is what’s most important.”
Kevin, you talked about self-scouting. When you self-scouted yourself, what did you come away with in doing that?
“Well, I think, self-scout happens after every game. You spend time thinking about the game. I think then you get, typically, into four game blocks- where you look at your schemes, offense, defense and special teams, so that’s ongoing. But there’s a ton of areas that we need to be better. Like I told you guys earlier, we, the collective we, share in that. That’s coaches, players, you name it.”
As far as Quinshon (Judkins) is concerned, this is a game where you guys should be able to rely on him a little bit more heavily. Do you see it that way heading into this game, and do you also in retrospect feel like you should have run him a little bit more in Pittsburgh?
“Yeah, I think it’s no secret to anyone that Q is a big part of our offense. Obviously, a ton of trust in him. You know, game script sometimes determines usage, I would say, but he’s a huge part of what we do.”
When you look at that Miami scheme you mentioned offensively, do they run a bunch of the wide zones though?
“They do.”
And it feels like you guys used to do that a ton and have gotten away from it some. Just explain why you don’t run that as much?
“Yeah, I think I’d have to look at the numbers and say we’ve gotten away. It’s still a core part of what we do, but there’s certainly gap elements to what we do as well, or more downhill type things. But you try to just have enough variety in your schemes, but it’s something they do. They also have the ability to pull guards, those types of things as well.”
Is Bill Callahan someone that you would think about calling back up and bringing him up this way again?
“You know, obviously, I hate to see that news down there in Tennessee. I talked to Brian (Callahan), I have not talked to Bill, but obviously I hate that news.”
Well, would you be interested in bringing them back?
“Yeah, like I said, I haven’t talked to Bill. So, obviously I think very highly of them, but I’m disappointed for them with that issue.”
Kevin, the offense, going back to last season, hasn’t scored more than 17 points 11 straight games, 19 of last 22-23. How do you as a coach though, keep the locker room together and make sure that frustrations on either side of the ball don’t boil over into finger pointing and a division of the team when you’re trying to get things going offensively?
“Yeah, I understand the question, Daryl (Ruiter). I think we have a group of guys on this football team, leaders on the offense, defense, special teams that understand what’s in front of us, understand that when you go through tough times, you have to show that resilience together, you got to show that resolve. And really all we can do is focus on what we have in front of us.”
Kevin, for two years now, the (Cleveland) Browns have led the league in pass attempts. Does that bother you?
“I think winning and losing is what’s most important, Tony (Grossi), that’s the thing that we focus on. Obviously, we want to be able to run the ball effectively in games, when you have the lead, and you can run the ball and keep the lead, quote, unquote. But that’s certainly something that we keep in mind as you go into games, yes.”
We got the news of David Bell announcing his retirement. What can you tell us about David the player and David the person?
“Yeah, talked to Dave yesterday. He’s a favorite of this building, he’s a favorite of the coaches, of the staff. He’s just a guy that, from the moment he got here, he always did it the right way. Super dependable. You know, I think back to that game where he was injured, and I’m making it up, but he played like 15 plays or something and was so impactful in those 15 plays. He had a big catch off play action, had a great scramble, drill catch, was making plays, doing dirty work for us in the run game. So, think very highly of the person. He’ll do great, whatever is next for him, but also, just a guy that was fun to coach because he was just the consummate professional.”
When you look at that Miami running back (De’Von Achane), does he have special speed and what jumps out about him?
“Speed, yeah. He’s a great runner, he’s a great receiver. They can line him up everywhere. They do a great job of using all 53 and a third of the field and making you defend all of it. So, he gets your attention very quickly, that speed’s legit.”
Are you guys getting any closer to opening Deshaun’s (Watson) practice window?
“Yeah, no real update there, other than he’s doing a great job rehabbing, doing a good job at meetings.”
What do you see when you watch Tua (Tagovailoa) on film right now?
“Good player. Again, it’s a really nice marriage of the scheme and his skill set, with how quickly he gets the ball out, how accurate he is when he gets the ball out. I think he sees it really, really clearly, can get the ball to all areas of the field and get the ball in the hands of the playmakers.”
Kevin, I know you don’t listen to the media a lot, but outside noise, pressure on you, how do you deal with that?
“I don’t listen to it. It’s probably the easiest way. I grew up in Philly, I was a longtime listener of 610 WIP, so I understand the media role, and I understand that for our fans, it’s an important part of our interest in this game. But I also know in my chair that I’m currently sitting in, that you can’t listen to that stuff.”
And then how does your family deal with that? What’s that like for your kids?
“I respect the question, but I won’t elaborate.”
Kevin, when you talk about the speed that the Dolphins have, is that an element that you would like to incorporate more in your own offense if you have it on the roster, and if so, can you use it more?
“Without a doubt. I mean, speed is something that defenses respond to, obviously, Mary Kay (Cabot), and the more ways you can get the ball in the hands of guys that can go. I think that’s the important piece of playmakers, is getting the ball where they can put the foot in the ground and get vertical and make yards. And with speed, when you block things cleanly, it can really be an explosive swing.”
How have they adjusted to the loss of Tyreek (Hill)?
“Yeah, I think obviously they’re adjusting a little bit, just personnel wise, and some of those plays. He’s a great, great player, as everybody knows, but they continue to be explosive in the ways they get all of their playmakers involved.”
How much of a challenge is Achane in that running game? Because he had another explosive run last week.
“Yeah, I mean, again, it’s an impressive scheme, because they can turn and hand it to him. And whether it’s wide zone, or gap schemes, toss schemes, they can line him up at receiver and throw it to him, they can throw screens to him. He’s…in a lot of ways, can line up everywhere. I know he’s a running back by nature, but he can line up anywhere that can get him the ball to him in anyway.”
Kevin in recent weeks, it seems like teams, especially Steelers and the (Minnesota) Vikings, have been neutralizing the pass rush by getting the ball out quickly, and the Dolphins are no different with their average depth of target and how quickly Tua gets the ball out. As a defense, how do you guys counteract that to still be effective?
“I think if you look, definitely over the last couple years, Daniel (Oyefusi), every team that plays us gets the ball out quickly. That’s by design, obviously, with Myles (Garrett) being on our roster. So, there’s ways that we try to mitigate that, with rush end coverage involved. And then when you can get offenses into those down and distances, where they have to hold the ball third and longer, call it third and seven plus, where there are longer development plays, potentially, that’s when you can play to your strengths. But understand that all teams come in versus us trying to get the ball out quickly.”
Is Mike Hall (Jr.) any closer to playing?
“Yeah, he’s doing a great job – getting closer every day.”
Kevin, it’s been a while since you’ve been home for a game. It’s been a while since you’ve won a game. So, what kind of reception are you expecting and what kind of reception would you like to hear?
“Yeah, we’ve gotten unbelievable support from our fans over the years. We’re excited to be back in front of them, we’re excited for the opportunity to go against the Dolphins. We think it’s a privilege, playing in front of our fans and we’re excited about it.”
How much of a red zone threat is (Darren) Waller? Maybe on third down, too, because both of those percentages are high.
“Yeah, he’s a great player for them. You can see the element that he’s added to their offense from, like you mentioned Joe (Reedy), in the red zone with his size, and he can run – he’s always been a player that can get down the field. A lot of these tight ends that are so big but can cover ground and can separate vertically as much as horizontally, and he’s certainly one of those guys.”
Kind of surprised with his career resurgence?
“No, I mean, he’s back feeling healthy, he looks good. So, obviously he has plenty more to give.”
It’s been tough to have a lead this year, and you acknowledge that it changes the game. Might that encourage you to take the ball first on occasion?
“Yeah, we always think about it by game, Tony, in terms of what you’re trying to do. I think weather always plays a factor. If weather is going to be an issue, where you want to have the wind in the fourth quarter, that certainly comes into play.”
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