Offensive line coach Bill Callahan (9.10.21)
On the state of the Browns OL, particularly with all five starters returning from last year:
“We are just starting from the bottom again. Everything we have done so far from training camp coming now to this point to game week is just the repetition and the monotony of doing the same fundamental techniques every day until they are bored with them (laughter). It has been good work. The guys have really bought in to the system of techniques that we are doing, and they are really dialed into the gameplan, as well. This is a great challenge for us. A lot of great challenges across the board going into Kansas City.”
On how much the Browns OL have talked about not playing in front of many fans last year and now returning to full stadiums, including Arrowhead Stadium this Sunday:
“It was loud in Arrowhead last year when we played. I think the preseason has given us a pretty good inkling of what the crowd noise is. When we went down to Atlanta, there was kind of a semblance of that. Through practice, which everybody does now, in terms of generating crowd noise or manufacturing crowd noise through the technological systems, it has been good. It actually feels louder sometimes because you are right on that noise system here at practice. You can never get enough work. Again, it is hard to simulate that, but we try to do the best we can. We have been doing it for years. I have done it all the way back when I was in college way back a long time ago.”
On T Jedrick Wills Jr.’s development:
“The maturation of a rookie to a first-year or second-year player, there is a huge difference. Having that time from the end of the season from the time to you begin anew, it really helps the players see the game in a different light. They know what to expect. Nothing is new anymore. They know the routine. They know what the techniques are. They can adjust to things that you do a little bit more easily or readily when you are in the meeting and you take it to the grass. I think that is the transition I see in his play. Just the overall growth mentally and physically, he did a lot of work in the offseason working on his legs and of course working his hand speed for pass protection. He is maturing into a really good pro, and that is great to see. He loves the game. He has a great passion for the game. We just want to elevate his performance as high as we can get it.”
On Gs Michael Dunn and Blake Hance building upon their contributions from last season:
“They worked hard, and they developed really nicely. I think I have mentioned this a couple of times, but I have two really quality assistant coaches in (assistant offensive line coach) Scott Peters and (offensive quality control coach) Jonathan Decoster. These guys work with them every day. Especially Scott, who is a hands expert, if you ever get time to just visit with him and talk about his background and what it brings into the offensive line room, it is really unique in the sense that there are not a lot of martial artists out there who can take that type of system into pro football. I think we are unique in that regard, and I think we are fortunate, as well, to have somebody like Scott who can bring a different perspective to line play because he has played offensive line, and he has studied all of these different techniques and leverages when he was working as a BJJ wrestler. He has all of that instinctively in him, and he kind of built his own system. We have kind of collaborated and made our own system now with the players. It is really interesting, and it is different. I am not saying it is better than anybody, but it is truly unique and it is a little bit different. If you get a chance to talk to the players about it, I am sure they would give you some insights, as well.”
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