G Wyatt Teller (9.25.23)
In the video of Kevin (Stefanski) after the game, handing out the game balls, looked like you had a pretty shocked reaction when you heard the defense only let up 94 yards. Just what was going through your head when you heard that?
“Yeah, that was genuine. I was not expecting to be filmed during that, but, no, I mean, it’s impressive. Our defense is playing really well, and it gives us an attitude on offense, too, when they’re playing well.”
What has impressed you the most from these first three games of the defense?
“I’m trying to go over plays and mistakes on the sideline, so I don’t get to watch as much as I wish. But seeing the line of scrimmage, the way they’re playing fast, they’re playing sound. It’s fun to watch. Whenever you see a team that runs the ball as much as Tennessee does and hold them to those numbers, I mean, it’s pretty impressive.”
Wyatt, with the offense yesterday and the success that you rarely had, did anything feel different as that game went on, especially considering how that first quarter went where it got a little bumpy, but Deshaun (Watson) and you guys were really able to settle in?
“You know, it’s hard to score in the NFL. That’s a really stout team. Defensive front – that front seven is, you know, unbelievable. Even though I wish we had a couple more yards on the ground, you know, to be able to pass the ball like we did was good. Deshaun played really well. We protected well. Amari Cooper is unbelievable. So a testament to them firing on good cylinders. We just got to keep it going.”
You’ve become famous for your down the field pancake blocks, especially in the run game. What’s different, though, when you’re blocking for a quarterback like Deshaun, who’s extending those plays?
“You got to go forever. You got to block for affinity. I think there was one play yesterday, we were on a slide side. I was just blocking (Denico) Autry, and I’m like, oh, okay, four seconds, about five seconds, I’m feeling it’s been a little bit of time, and all of a sudden, you still see him running and making a play. And he’s strong. He’s a big quarterback, so one arm usually won’t take him down. So, he’s fun to block for. Sometimes you don’t know where he’s going. So you’re like, which way do I block my guy? I got to go to the side. But you always try to use your feet to stay in front of the block.”
Obviously, the last week was an emotional one for you guys with Nick (Chubb) going down and everything. I mean, number one to get the win, but also just what’s it been like kind of inserting Jerome (Ford) in there and to see him have success still?
“Yeah. No, Jerome. Kareem (Hunt), Pierre (Strong). It’s awesome. It’s sad that we lose Nick, but awesome that they stepped up. Like I said, I wish we had about 100 yards more rushing. That would have been really nice. I know Coach (Bill) Callahan would have been really happy about that. But no, were able to execute when we needed to, especially later on. There’s a couple of plays that I know, all the offensive line, wish they had back when we had a chance to go into victory formation the last two minutes, we got to be able to do that. We took time off the clock when we needed to. We scored when we needed to. So, the execution was there. Third down was good, but to be able to really close it out. But again, that’s a really good defensive front. And when you’re blocking your one-on-one, there’s a chance that not everybody’s going to be perfect. So they stepped up. We just got to continue. No TFLs, but we’re able to be resilient. If we did have a bad play, we were able to kind of pick it up and make a big play the next play or later that drive. So that was good.”
And I know we’re obviously early in the week here before you guys play Baltimore, but just what you’ve seen from their defensive front so far and just ending this stretch where you see all three division opponents in the first four weeks.
“Yeah, no, it’s a lot of fun whenever you play the best of the best. And for some odd reason, we have the best defensive lines in football in one division, so our work is cut out for us. We have a really good offensive line and they have a really good defensive line. We just got to be able to, like I kind of said, execute. That’s a big thing that we have to be able to do and get the run game going because that makes everything else work.”
What are some of the intricate things that you go through working next to a new right tackle in Dawand Jones?
“Yeah, I mean, I feel like just the past couple of weeks, getting that Ohio State jargon out of there and getting that Cleveland Browns jargon in, it’s not easy. I could not imagine coming from college and playing. I did start, but I think it was like the ninth game or something like that. So I had a lot of time to learn the playbook, learn the communication, code words, all this different stuff. But he’s working his butt off. He’s smart, he’s playing hard. That’s all you can really ask for. You just got to be able to sometimes – I’ll say something, he’ll say something else, and I’m like, that must be something from Ohio State. I don’t know what that call is but kind of just be able to play off each other and play at a high level.”
How has he (Dawand Jones) played? How have you seen him improve in these two and a half games?
“Yeah, the last three weeks, obviously, we lost to the Steelers, but that was a weird, crazy play at the end of the game. As bad as we played as a group, I gave up a sack early on, which I know gets in the quarterback’s head, gets in my head. We’re all human, but be able to handle that front, that team. And then it was just a crazy play at the end of the game that kind of lost us that game. But at the same time, we had a chance to win in the fourth quarter. We just got to take advantage of that. And he’s playing hard. He’s learning all the stuff. I would say that this is not an easy job to do, especially against TJ (Watt). And now he’s played really good D ends. Everybody has a good D end, and this week is no different. So as long as he’s willing to study, be ready to go and everything, that’s all I can ask.”
You mentioned it earlier, but I wanted to ask about that attitude you talked about. We know Jim Schwartz says he wants the defense to play with passion and swag. Yesterday we saw Deshaun (Watson) and Kevin Stefanski’s chest bump. Amari Cooper, celebrating in the end zone. Is playing with that same passion and swag that defense is kind of preaching something that’s important to you guys on the offense as well?
“Yeah, Coach Stefanski chest bumped someone? That’s crazy. I would never guess that one (joking). But no. Yeah, no. It’s seeing the defense do what they’re doing. We go against them every day in practice, so we know. I can tell you how good that defensive line is. Linebackers, the DBs, it’s a stout team to be able to do what they’ve been doing. Like I said, they gave us every opportunity, if we don’t spot the Steelers seven points, I think that really it’s not even close in the fourth quarter. But they hold them to three and outs, and you got to be able to run the ball. You got to be able to run action, play action. If you got to drop back and go into empty whatever it takes to win the game. And that’s kind of that swag. I wouldn’t say as offensive linemen, we have swag, but whenever you’re sharpening that iron, you’re beating the other guys up. There is a little bit of swag there, and obviously, you see the defensive line doing that to other teams, and you’re like, alright, if we have to deal with that in practice, we can handle the best of them.”
Obviously, Kareem Hunt back in the game. How fun was it to see him kind of out there running like the old Kareem Hunt, trying to hurdle guys and all of that?
“Yeah, with reckless abandon. No, he was good. Kareem runs extremely hard. He plays passionately. He’s going to be talking smack to the guy that’s lining up on you. It’s awesome. It’s such a good time. When he’s firing up the defensive line, you’re like, ‘Hey, I got to block that guy. So can you not yell at him, please?’ But no, he’s a ball of energy and when it comes to the game, he’s all about winning and being a good teammate. So, I’m thankful for that. It’s sad what happened to Nick (Chubb), but for him to come back and he made a joke. He was like, those hits, you don’t feel as bad when you’re watching the game from the couch. You don’t hurt as bad the next day. I was like, yeah, I bet that would be so. But he’s focused. He’s locked in once, not playing for a little bit and then getting back into it. I know that he’s rearing to go.”
And then I know you guys probably haven’t really started a whole lot on Baltimore yet, but your locker was real close to Jadeveon Clowney. So, is there some excitement to kind of get to go against him this week?
“Yeah. JD’s my guy. He’s a hell of a player. I know that he’s going to show up and play a little bit harder just because we’re a past team with revenge game for him, but respect to that team, they’re a hell of a team. We just got to play well, execute, and if we can do that, we’re a hard team to beat.”
I’m just curious. Deshaun (Watson) had kind of a shaky first quarter a little bit there and then really blew up in the second, third, and of course, in the second half. What did you see in his demeanor and into the flow of the game in the huddle on the line that really excelled Deshaun to what we’re hoping to see out of him? Was there a particular moment that changed that you saw or what made him or what changed in his progression yesterday?
“Yeah, I mean, I don’t know if I’m not a very aware person, but usually I’m so focused on who I’m blocking and the scheme of what we’re doing. I’m not really noticing that stuff. I’m more focused on the nitty gritty, where the linebackers are, what personnel we’re in. But he was rearing to go. He was ready to go. Making passes, Amari (Cooper), making catches, drawing fouls. There was a little bit of energy that came to it and then our defense playing really well. I guess that’s that swag we talk about but kind of having that little bit of energy and being ready to go, I don’t really notice if he’s like, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ You know what I mean? To me, it’s like he says that every time, so I don’t know. But when we do start executing, it’s a good feeling.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***