HC Kevin Stefanski (10.25.23)
Opening statement:
“Ready to go on the road. Four-win football team just like us at Seattle, a place I’ve been before. We’ve coached in games there before. It’s a great, great atmosphere in our league. It’s a challenge dealing with that crowd noise and it’s a good football team. It’s a Pete Carroll football team so you know they’re well coached, play with great energy. Offensively, I think they’re doing a really nice job. Geno (Smith) does a really good job in Coach (Shane) Waldron’s offense. He’s taking care of the ball, they run it really well. I think (Kenneth) Walker is a really, really talented running back. We’ve seen some good ones so far and he’s right up there. He makes you miss at an incredible rate. Good tight end, very good wide receivers, a ton of keepers, boots and play action so you have to be on point. Defensively, again, Coach Carroll, Coach (Clint) Hurtt – it’s a lot of what they’ve done for a long time which is play sound defense, play physical up front. Bringing Bobby Wagner back I think makes a huge difference, as you can imagine. Just a great, great player, physical on the back end. So, really good defense. [We] got to be about our business. And then special teams, well coached, good return game, good coverage game. So, we really have to have a good week of practice to get ready for what I think is a really, really good football team, so we’re excited about that challenge. With Deshaun (Watson) – P.J. (Walker) is going to start this week. Deshaun’s going to focus on his rehab. I just feel like with what happened in the game, landing on his shoulder, there’s residual swelling that’s affecting his throwing. I think it’s the best thing for him to rest this week and focus on the rehab. As I’ve told you guys, I will always make what I think are the best decisions for our football team, for Deshaun, and I feel like this is the best decision for this week. But with that, I’ll take any questions.”
It’s now being described as a four to six week injury, shouldn’t you guys have put him on IR at the start?
“I would just tell you Tony (Grossi), as you know, we make decisions based on the information that you have every day. You guys have heard me say, day-to-day, and I think that’s just based on the player, how he’s feeling, the information with the injury. all those things. But you’re just trying to make the best decision you can.”
Has there been a setback then? Did he have more damage?
“There’s no structural damage, Tom (Withers), based on the MRI. There is, like I mentioned, residual swelling. But that’s why it’s just important for him to focus on rehab this week.”
Has the clock reset or are we still in that four to six timeframe, with this being week five?
“I’m really just focused on this week. He’s trying like crazy. This is not for lack of effort. He’s making every effort he can to be out there. But with the hit he took I just felt like – and with the swelling, it makes the most sense to focus on rehab this week. And then he’ll be out there as soon as he’s ready.”
Was there a misdiagnosis from the very beginning, because up until now, he’s been day-to-day for quite a long time?
“Every injury, you take in information every single day. So, in that way, you’re day-to-day. He’s going to focus on rehab this week, but throughout his rehab, you’re going to continually find out every single day how he’s feeling, how he’s progressing through it.”
Prior to the hit, did he look like himself to you? It didn’t look like the same Deshaun before that.
“Yeah, he was progressing in the right direction, was able to practice last week. I felt like with that hit, I didn’t like that – right on the shoulder. And then coming out of it with swelling, I just did not feel like that would put him in his best spot to practice this week.”
So, without that hit, he would’ve finished the game and he’d still be playing?
“Yeah.”
How was the conversation (with Deshaun) to just rest this week?
“I talk to Deshaun every day, like I’ve mentioned to you guys. He wants to play very badly. He also knows that rehab is the decision this week, but he’s going to do everything he can to support his teammates. He’s a captain of the team and provides great leadership. So, he wants very badly today, but just this week it makes sense to focus on the rehab.”
How is it to have P.J. know that he’s the starter from Wednesday, when you get out there for the first moment of practice and making sure he’s getting his timing and everything down?
“Yeah, we’ve talked about this before, Mary Kay (Cabot). Sometimes as a backup you get that amount of lead time, sometimes you don’t. That’s just life in the big city when it comes to backup quarterbacks. He’ll prepare like he always does. Dorian (Thompson-Robinson) will prepare like he always does. But P.J. will start this week.”
Will you say there are residuals that’s affecting the mobility and his ability to make normal throws? Is that the biggest issue with what’s going on?
“I don’t have my doctors hat on, but yes. That’s affecting how he’s throwing the ball with that swelling.”
Deshaun won’t practice this week, but could practice next week?
“Yeah, I’m focused on this week. So today, he won’t practice.”
This week he will not practice?
“He will continue his rehab throwing this week.”
When Andrew (Berry) talked to us on the bye week, it seemed like everything was optimistic. No one thought that this would be a long-term thing. I guess, like when has that changed? When did this become a longer-term thing than anyone anticipated?
“I just think these are injuries. This is our quarterback, it’s a shoulder injury. So, you’re taking in information every single day. Again, I can’t tell you how much time Deshaun has spent trying to get back. But we’ll continue to just make the smart decisions for our football team for him. But that’s injuries. You just have to go with the information that you have.”
Has surgery ever been discussed? Has that been an option? There’s nothing in there that needs to be repaired?
“Correct.”
Will Deshaun work with P.J. Walker, and even Dorian, when he’s going through this rehab process? And how much of an impact does that have on the game prep?
“That quarterback room, Cam (Justice), I’m so impressed with those guys. I’ve been in a lot of those rooms. This one, they really support each other. They push each other, game day they’re there for each other. I think that’s the point of playing football, playing offensive football, defensive, you name it. You need each other, you need your coaches in that room. You need that support and I think Deshaun provides a great amount of it to those guys.”
Last year, when Jacoby (Brissett) was here, you had to play a different style of offense with him than with Deshaun. This year, do you feel that with P.J. you’re still able to play the same style of offense or do you feel like you have to kind of do a little bit of what you did Jacoby last year and peel some things back?
“I think every quarterback’s different. If you’re worth your salt as a coach, you do what your quarterback does best. So, we always talk about that based on who’s in there and that type of thing. That’s really what you have to do, but to say that you have a huge departure either way, that’s why you hope to have enough offense so you can pivot in-game, so to speak.”
How comfortable are you with P.J. and DTR (Dorian Thompson-Robinson) as your backups or do you feel like now with some of this uncertainty perhaps a veteran quarterback might be good as a backup?
“No, I’m comfortable with the guys we have.”
Why was the running back released on Monday after you guys signed him knowing that Jerome Ford was going to be injured?
“Yeah, those are all things that you do Tony (Grossi) with your roster. You have to manage it based on injuries, people that are coming back, so.”
Do you anticipate having three running backs?
“I do.”
Are you auditioning now on the practice squad or do you know who it’ll be?
“Yeah, I do know, but you’ll see later in the week.”
Seattle on tape. When they’re at their best to you what does that look like to you and what’s concerning?
“Yeah, they are really good. The tape is impressive. I think from, when you’re playing them at Seattle, their defense feeds plays off their crowd. I think Carolina had eight false start penalties in that game, so you have to have a great road operation. But as an NFL team, you love going on the road, you love the challenge that presents. But Seattle is really sound within what they do. Coach (Shane) Waldron does a really nice job marrying the run game and the pass game on offense. Like I mentioned, they have guys on the perimeter that can really hurt you, they have tight ends that can get down the seams, and I think, (Kenneth) Walker is as good as there is in that game. He’s really playing at that high of a high level. And then defensively, sound.. Sound. They play a bunch of coverages, they play them well. They have incredible length in the back end. Incredible length really at linebacker with Bobby Wagner. They tackle well. They tackle the passer. They get off the defensive line, they . They penetrate. So, it’s a huge challenge. It’s one that week- to- week they change and maybe they play a coverage that’s a little bit different than what we saw last week so you have to make a couple of alterations to certain concepts that you do but that’s the fun part in our business.”
The pre snap penalties there and how that can happen in that environment. The pre- snap penalties there and how that can happen in that environment. I know you don’t want to coach the aggressiveness out of somebody like Myles (Garrett) for example but what’s the threshold for you where maybe you’re comfortable with yea we had maybe an offsides or two because we’re trying to be aggressive. Where’s that threshold for you with what’s acceptable?
“Yeah, it’s tough. I mean you want to get off the ball and that’s what we do. You don’t want to give them free plays. You don’t.””
Is DTR your PJ (Walker), you’re backup this game and will Deshaun (Watson) just sit?
“Yes.””
Why is it so hard winning in Seattle? Even before you were a coach. It was hard for anybody.
“I can’t speak to the kingdom. What’s the name of this one now? Lumen. I remember Safeco. Was it Safeco? It’s a really interesting thing because it’s an open- air stadium, but somehow they keep the noise in there. So we’ll have it having blaring out there for us this week. We’ve played in loud places before and this is at the top of the list. I think about New Orleans, think about Minnesota over the years. Places where it can be deafening. You just have to have a plan. You focus on your operation really throughout the week. We’ll work hard to make sure everybody knows the plan and can go operate.”.
P.J. Walker not starting as hot as you would like. Did that go into to making this announcement early?
“No. Just doing what’s best for the team.”
Will he (Deshaun Watson) go to Seattle or stay here and rehab?
“He will. He’ll go with us.”
How long do you expect to be without Jerome Ford?
“We’ll see. I’ll see how he progresses through this week, but we’ll. We’ll see.”
Kareem (Hunt) is not practicing today but are you optimistic he’ll be ready to go Sunday?
“I am.”
With P.J. (Walker), what do you like about him? What do you think he needs to do a better job with?
“I think operating, getting us in and out of plays and has made some big plays when we need them. Every single one of his games we’ve had to make a play and he’s made them.”
We’ve talked a lot about Myles (Garrett) and Dustin (Hopkins). But for them both to be player of the week in the AFC and it’s the first time since 94 the Browns have had two in one week. Just talk about that.
“Very well deserved. Whoever votes on that got this one right. Dustin’s been awesome. I enjoy having him around. Good person fits really well with our team. He was a game captain last week, the. The guys made him a game captain and he came through and played like that, kicked. Kicked like that. And then Myles. I’m running out of – you guys are the wordsmiths. He’s doing things that not many humans can do.”
How much is Dustin (Hopkins) showing that he can consistently make those 50+, especially beyond 54. How much has that altered your play calling, your approach to drives?
“A couple of those I wish he wasn’t attempting 50- yarders. I wish we moved the ball a little bit better. Particularly after Myles (Garrett) get the block, that comes to mind. Obviously, it factors in. He’s been very trustworthy. He’s come through for us. Not to say that he’s going to be perfect. I understand how hard that is. But it does factor into our decision making, yes.”
The Colts owner tweeted that the NFL acknowledged a couple of missed calls in that game. Did you get that same memo?
“Yeah, I’m not sure what memo. You turn in plays each week to the NFL. I think you can turn in up to ten and they get back to you with what they felt wasn’t a correct call, but not going to share that.”
Without getting in trouble. Have you ever been notified or gotten a missed call?
“Yes, all the time. You know that. They are human. We’ve been on both sides of it. That’s never going to change. You just play the game.
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