G Joel Bitonio, WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr., RB Kareem Hunt, LB Joe Schobert, DT Sheldon Richardson and S Damarious Randall (11.24.19)
BROWNS PLAYERS
G Joel Bitonio:
On how the team responded from the adversity of last week’s game against the Steelers:
“It was good. A quick start for the offense, I think the defense played great in the first half, and we finished it. It got a little sketchy in the third quarter, but the team responded and came together. I thought the defensive line did a good job of generating a pass rush and putting some pressure on them. We got the win so that was all that really matters.”
On how affective both the WRs and RBs were:
“Yeah, (WR) Jarvis (Landry) was making plays left and right. (WR) Odell (Beckham Jr.) had a big touchdown and was catching those quick passes. (RB Nick) Chubb and (RB Kareem) Hunt just run the ball hard as heck. It was a good week of practice, and we just have to keep building on it.”
On the fast starts that have attributed to scoring on opening drives:
“We are real focused. We have been really trying to focus on the first 10-15 plays, make sure we have those down so there is no mental errors or anything like that. We are doing our best to get something going and it’s worked for us.”
On his anticipation of the success of Chubb’s screens:
“We were hoping so. We only ran it once in practice. You don’t get that many plays in practice so we were hoping it looked good. He made a couple guys miss and it was awesome.”
WRs Odell Beckham Jr. & Jarvis Landry:
On the feeling of today’s game:
Landry: “It feels great to get a win and to finish the game on a positive after everything that has been going on. I think for us it is great to help the team out, and obviously, get a win.”
Beckham: “Without getting to into it, we had a talk on Friday night. He came over, we sat by the fire and we were just talking, saying how we were going to give everything that we have to each other, knowing that these moments are so special. Today was one of those days where I could just look at him and know that we were going to give everything we had. To be able to come out with a win is a great feeling.”
On if he felt he was going to catch every ball that came his way:
Landry: “Yeah, that was the plan. That was my mindset of course.”
On the success of the quick starts:
Landry: “I don’t know. I know that’s been one of the things that has allowed us to be successful and put points up early in the game. Today I think it carried over the second quarter and second half. We were able to at least be in positions to score point whether it’s field goals or touchdowns. We have to keep that momentum going.”
On if this is the type of game they envisioned when Beckham came to Cleveland:
Beckham: “Definitely. We’ve played together and this is what we expect. Not to sound like that’s not a surprise to us, it was just a good day at work. It’s what we work hard for every single week to be able to do this. To see it happen, it was great. To be able to look up and know that every pass coming our way we were going to make a play on it, and that was a lot of fun.”
On how this sets the tone for next week against the Steelers:
Beckham: “I don’t think it sets up anything. The Browns and Pittsburgh has been a rivalry for a long time so it’s always going to be that. It’s a division game and a big game for both of us. We both need a win, and like we have been saying for the past couple weeks, it’s just 1-0. That’s the mentality.”
On the Twitter celebration featuring rapper DaBaby’s song:
Landry: “We liked the song, we saw the video and we got a group text with all the receivers. Someone sent it in the group text and we were like we have to do it.”
On if today’s win meant something extra being against Landry’s old team:
Landry: “No, it didn’t mean extra, but it was fun. Definitely was fun.”
On Beckham’s prediction of Landry’s yards for today’s game:
Beckham: “Just a few yards off and one touchdown short. I told you what was going to happen today. I just know him. It’s not just this game. It can be every game. I was just happy to see it. I get fired up when I see him make plays. I get fired up when I see him fired up. It was a special day and a good birthday gift.”
On if Beckham’s prediction on stats is a future career:
Beckham: “It’s just a little something that I have. I just know when I feel it. We were close to what I said so I was happy to see it.”
On if the team has recovered from the adversity last week:
Landry: “The biggest thing for us was trying to refocus and not let what we were going through distract us. I think everyone had a great mindset coming into the game. Once they stepped in between the white lines, it’s about that game and going 1-0. We did that today.”
RB Kareem Hunt:
On his confidence in the offense:
“Very comfortable. It’s really starting to click. I’m fitting in really. I enjoy running the ball and fitting with this offense.”
On the expectations going into Pittsburgh next week:
“We are going to be ready to play. They’re going to be ready to play. That’s it.”
On RB Nick Chubb being targeted in the pass game this week:
“(RB) Nick’s (Chubb) a good back. He can do it all too. He definitely made some big-time plays.”
On getting back to playing football after last week:
“It’s a beautiful thing. I know how it is going through all that and that situation. It just feels good to be able to go out there and compete.”
LB Joe Schobert:
On if he’s ever had back-to-back games with even one interception:
“Not since high school, probably. It feels great. The hard work pays off and you have to be in the right spot at the right time sometimes.”
On if he knew he had hands like that:
“Yeah, I played receiver in high school and I started college as a receiver, so I’ve been catching the ball for a while now.”
On a tremendous defensive effort considering who wasn’t playing today:
“I wouldn’t say it was tremendous. I think the guys on the field understood what our role was and what their role was. We preached the whole week to be hyper-focused and do your job, and we should be able to accomplish what we need to on defense. I think you saw that today.”
On it feeling good to be able to go out and just play football:
“Yeah. Obviously, there has been a little bit of a circus around here recently. I think we did a good job. I think (Head Coach) Freddie (Kitchens) did a great job of just kind of making sure everybody gets hyper-focused on what we need to do. We have a game of football to play. We’re playing football on a football field. The stuff in the media and all the talking that happens throughout the week isn’t our job. We have to obviously deal with it because you have to get it out to the fans, but everybody could lock in and focus on the game. I think everybody did that obviously, and it showed on the field.”
S Damarious Randall:
On the win:
“It’s just one win. That’s what we’ve been preaching since we lost to Denver. We know we have our backs against the wall and we have to win out.”
On if the Browns are a team that others wouldn’t want to face in the playoffs:
“If we end up making the playoffs, that would be 10 straight weeks that we’ve been in playoff mode. I think we would be very very well equipped for the playoffs.”
On if Pittsburgh will be an emotional setting next week:
“We are there for one thing and one thing only, and that’s to win the game.”
On taking the emotion out of the game next week:
“I just look at is as football. It’s a game. At the end of the day, we have one job. We get paid to do one thing and that’s win games. That’s definitely our goal going into next week.”
DT Sheldon Richardson:
On what the win says about this team and how they dealt with the controversy this past week:
“There was only controversy in the media, not in our locker room.”
On how he liked playing at DE:
“It was fun. They had a few trick plays for me on the end. Turned out to be pass rush for me.”
On if next week’s game in Pittsburgh will be an emotional setting:
“Whatever it may be, we’re ready for it.”
On the key to recent success and three consecutive victories:
“Playing as a team. Complementary football.”
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