BEREA, Ohio — Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone was ticked off about the back-to-back kick returns for touchdowns in the span of 36 seconds in the first quarter of Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Jets, and vowed to get it fixed.
“We’ve had too many issues with just dumb, dumb, dumb football — dumb mistakes,” Ventrone said Thursday. “But I will say this, we have a prideful group, and I expect these guys to respond, I really do. So, we made the corrections, and we’re moving on. It’s a new week, and we’re excited about the opportunity to play against the Ravens.”
Ventrone, who’s special teams also surrendered a punt return for a TD in the loss to the Lions and had a punt blocked in the Week 2 loss to the Ravens, explained what happened on the two returns, the 99-yard kickoff return that tied it at 7 after David Njoku’s touchdown catch, and the 74-yard punt return after a bad three-and-out by the Browns offense.
“First off, on the kickoff, we’ve got to do a better job of getting off blocks and then folding when necessary,” he said. “We practiced that play multiple times throughout the week, so we have to do a better job with our details, and our techniques and our fundamentals. And then on our punt, just not taking the easiest release in the coverage, getting outside the ball, and then we need a better ball with better hang (time) on that. We need to do a better job. We haven’t played near our capabilities.”
On the punt return, during which Grant Delpit had the first shot and took a bad angle, he explained, “it’s a left directional punt. So, we want those guys on the left side of the formation to get to the left side. We took too many like quote, easy releases, took the easiest release. The ball doesn’t hang that well and that’s a recipe for disaster. Our day one install for coverage is playing outside into the ball.”
On Monday, Kevin Stefanski gave Ventrone a vote of confidence, saying ‘I have a ton of faith’ in him and the special teams.
“Well, that’s good to hear,” Ventrone, in his third-year here, said. “I respect Kev a lot, and I’ll say this – I’ve been in the NFL a long time. I’ve played, I’ve coached for a long time. You know, there’s times when stuff does not go your way, and the game comes down to playing with great fundamentals and techniques.
“So, if you’re not doing those things, you’re going to get beat. Unfortunately, we’re learning the hard way right now. These young players and some of these vets that haven’t played as much on teams have to do a better job of doing their job, right? Doing what’s asked and what’s coached. So, I’ve got to get it out of them, so that’s what I look to do in the next eight games, or however many we have left.”
In the last two seasons, the Browns have surrendered five kicks for TDs — two kickoffs and three punts.
“I would say our first year we had a good group,” Ventrone said. “I’d say we definitely had issues the last two years. So, looking to get those addressed.”
The unit, filled with plenty of rookies and first-year players, partially atoned for the mistakes by executing a perfect 45-yard firedrill field goal at the end of the half to tie the game at 17. The field goal team sprinted onto the field with 10 seconds left, and Andre Szmyt pulled off the long kick.
“After the two mishaps in the first half for us, and then we got it back to even, I was like, ‘wow,’” Ventrone said. “I’m like, they really bailed us out. The O and D, they bailed us out, and unfortunately, we weren’t able to come up with the win. It was really good execution by the offensive line, everyone that was involved, the offense of getting off the field, getting on the field. We’ve repped that a lot this season in practice. So, credit to the head coach for giving us the time and then the players for executing.”
Ventrone made personnel changes on the coverage teams after the returns, and they helped.
“So that was a positive,” he said. “And honestly, you’ve just got to put it to bed. The games are so damn long, and it happened in the first quarter. So, just being able to put it to rest. Yeah, am I, like, (expletive) off that it happened? Of course. That’s the last thing I want to ever happen in a game. But at the same time, you’ve got to keep your cool, composure and lock in and, ‘okay, how do I fix the problem? What happened? What went wrong?’
“The best way to do it is to be able to make the correction as fast as you can, and I felt like at least we were able to do that on a kickoff.”
Delpit jumped to Ventrone’s defense after the game and again on Thursday.
“Obviously it’s not fun giving up plays,” he said. “It’s not fun losing. It’s not fun when your side of the ball is not playing well. Players have just got to do all they can do to help him out. I feel like coaching can only go so far. Special teams is an attitude, effort type of play. It’s not complicated. It’s pretty simple and the guys just have to buy into that.l feel like we have, it’s just, as we know, big plays is just small margins that could result in six points.”
Ventrone blocked out the calls for his job after the debacle.
“Yeah, I’m unfazed by that stuff,” he said. “It really does not bother me at all – I (couldn’t) care less.”
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