HC Freddie Kitchens (8.8.19)
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens:
Opening statement:
“It was good to finally get a chance to compete against other people, and I am very happy. Our guys felt excited. They were excited and did a god job of competing on an every play. It was not always pretty, but I thought they competed the whole game, even to the end.”
On the Browns’ first drive with the first team offense:
“I thought it was a good drive. We did not have a third down. We were working our two-minute offense. I thought that was what they were supposed to do. They are supposed to get completions and big chunk plays. When we hand the ball off, we are supposed to block for (RB) Nick (Chubb). I thought we did a good job outside, inside and everywhere. It was a really nice first drive.”
On if the Browns wanted to set the tone by receiving the opening kickoff:
“I think that so many things factor into that – weather, wind, your plan. Our plan was to open and get some work in the two-minute offense. We were trying to score. You can’t expect that – it just depends on game-to-game. I do not want to get into it too much.’
On if the Browns could conduct a no-huddle offense in various stages of the game:
“I am sure we could. We did it last year, too. At the end, last game of the year.”
On G Austin Corbett when playing C:
“We are trying to rotate guys in and out and see where they fit. I think (C Kyle) Kalis did a couple of nice things before he went out. (G Eric) Kush when he was in there with the first group did well. No pressures or anything like that in the first drive. We had a nice run on a sprint draw. All those guys, keep competing, and we will see where we are at. Even if we find a right guard, we still have other spots to fill. There is still a lot of competition going on up front, just like out wide – at receiver and running back. We have competition in several areas. Everybody likes to look at the first group and decide who that is. When you get into the season, you better have some depth and you better have some dependability, accountability and reliability on people that are backing these guys up. That is what we are looking for.”
On WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry not playing today:
“I did not think it was worth the risk. They have been trying to fight through a couple of minor things, nothing to write home about, per se. No reason.”
On DE Myles Garrett and DT Larry Ogunjobi playing some tonight:
“We discussed it. They wanted to play one series, and I am glad that they did. Myles had a good pressure on the quarterback and made him throw the ball away.”
On K Greg Joseph’s missed PAT and if the hold was good:
“I do not know yet about the hold. I just know it did not go through the uprights, and I am looking for them to go through the uprights. I do not want any excuses. I just want the ball through the uprights.”
On if Garrett seems faster, given Garrett’s talk about his physique:
“Yeah, I think him and (T) Greg (Robinson) have been going at it all of training camp. When he came off the ball today, yeah. I thought he was pretty quick last year too. I don’t know how fast you have to be, but he is fast enough.”
On LB Mack Wilson’s INTs tonight and during practice during the last few days:
“Yeah, he continues to get better. It is kind of one of those things where he is keeping his head down. It was not going good for him early in camp, but he kept his head down and kept working one day at a time and one rep at a time. Before you know it, he starts making plays, he is in better positions and his eyes are in better places and spots. He is getting other guys lined up. His communication is starting to get better with that group. Once you know how to get there and where to get there, the rest is just making plays.”
On if there was a miscommunication on defense with CB Greedy Williams on Redskins’ TD catch:
“I do not know if he thought he had safety help or he should have been deep himself so I will leave it for the masses to decide.”
On Williams coming back to intercept Redskins QB Dwayne Haskins Jr.:
“I have told you guys before about the front windshield and the rearview mirror. You are just playing the next play. I do not care what happened the play before, and I do no care what happens the next play. I just want you to play the current play, and he did a good job of that. He should have been in the deep third on the one where they ran right by him one, but what he did was he played the next play and he got a pick.”
On if he is glad the situation surrounding RB Duke Johnson Jr. has come to a resolution:
“Duke was a good football player. He is a good football player. It is hard to let good football players go, but we did what was best for the organization and the Cleveland Browns. What (General Manager) John (Dorsey) did felt like what we needed to do. It truly did. Duke was drafted in the third round so it was a good opportunity to help us out down the road in the future. We wish Duke nothing but the best. Well wishes.”
On RB Dontrell Hilliard’s fumble and penalties:
“He did, and we are going to get better at that. I would not push the panic button on Dontrell yet.”
On if he like’s Hilliard’s ability to fill the role planned for Johnson:
“I do like him to fill that role. Sure do.”
On if the Browns were frustrated with Johnson’s lingering hamstring injury:
“Do not question Duke’s professionalism. Duke had a pulled hamstring. As an organization, you do not want him come back on a pulled hamstring and he pulls it again he is out for a month. We were trying to get him ready for the season. We were not trying to get him ready to play tonight. I would not question Duke’s professionalism if I were you.”
On WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi’s punt return for a touchdown and the team’s celebration:
“It is good to see good people, hard-working good people succeed. He definitely fits the bill with being that. If you stick around after any practice, you will see him on the practice field getting extra running in and before practice getting extra work in. He is always at the office. He is a good kid.”
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