HC Kevin Stefanski (8.7.23)
Are you changing anything with practice today due to the weather?
“No. If it’s lightning, we’ll go inside, but otherwise, we’ll be out here.”
Kevin, three defensive linemen weren’t practicing yesterday. Any update on what their injury status is? Are there concerns?
“Yeah, Isaiah Thomas, Alex Wright are going to miss some time with knee injuries, separate knee injuries. Who’s the other one you were referring to?”
Mo (Maurice) Hurst (II)?
“He was poked in the eye. He should be back.”
Did they get hurt in the game?
“One guy got hurt in the game. One guy got hurt before.”
When did you say missing time? Does that lead into the season?
“It could.”
And then we saw JOK (Jeremiah Owusu-Okoronkwo) had his hand wrapped up?
“He’s fine.”
Do you offer any more clarity on quarterback playtime today?
“No. Well, I always like to talk to the team first about our playtime, so I’ll cover that with the guys when we get back in on Wednesday. We’ll play some guys in this game, but I’ll let you guys know as we get closer.”
It does look like the defense had another good day yesterday. Is there any frustration going on with the offense?
“No. Good days are good for the Browns. I think both sides are pushing each other. Again, when you’re at your best, somebody wins a period and the other side wins a period. And that’s just getting good at football, is really just pushing each other.”
It seems like there’s been some pressure on Deshaun (Watson) from the pass-run, so we know that he can escape play. So is it hard to exactly judge whether or not he’d be able to extend it or how to handle that when there’s pressure early?
” I think in the settings when you’re working against the defensive line and when the defensive lineman wins clean, it’s obviously going to be a sack. Now, you continue to play the place that you can get better in your coverage elements down the field, you can get better in your routes. So there are certainly some plays where the quarterback’s going to have to make them miss. When you get into games, when you get those real live reps, (that’s) when it’s real football.”
Kevin, Anthony (Walker) and Sione (Takitaki) both talk about kind of their bond kind of becoming stronger as they’ve kind of gone through this rehab process together. Can you speak to what you’ve seen out of those two, their relationship?
“Well, I mean, two guys that are big leaders in the linebacker room, on the defensive side of the ball and for our football team. They both play with great passion. They both are great workers in the weight room, in the meeting rooms, you name it. So not surprising that they bond together over those types of things.”
In terms of Alex (Wright) and Isaiah (Thomas), those guys are really kind of coming along. Nice development. And again, how unfortunate just to kind of see that?
“Yeah. As you know, Mary Kay (Cabot) injuries are our least favorite part about this game. Those guys will both be back, but they’re going to have to deal with these injuries and we’ll support them as they do.”
What’s Harrison’s (Bryant) injury?
“Yeah, it’s a medical condition. I can’t really comment on it.”
Kevin, I know you’ve talked about James Hudson a little bit. AVP (Alex Van Pelt) praised him last week, said he’s matured a lot in year three or whatever. How have you guys seen that?
“James has done a nice job. Gives us good reps at right and left. You love the way he practices and plays. Former defensive player, so he plays with an edge. But I thought he’s really taken to all the techniques that Coach (Scott) Peters and Coach (Bill) Callahan have been working with him constantly. I think you see him taking the technique from individual into the practice periods and into the game.”
We know Jim (Schwartz) wants to rotate a bunch of guys across that D line. So with those two injuries and I know you signed a guy today, but do you have enough there?
“I mean, you monitor every position, but feel comfortable with the guys that we have.”
We talked to Brandon (Lynch) yesterday and then Jason (Tarver) today. One of the things they like is the different body types of both rooms, the cornerback room and the linebacker room. How important is it to have guys who look different, play differently, just all those different types of guys?
“Yeah, I mean, they come in all shapes and sizes, and I think you’ve seen certainly at the linebacker position at DB, at corner – there are guys that have won with great size and length. I think back to my days growing up with Bobby Taylor at the Eagles. He was drafted to be a Michael Irvin stopper and then you had some smaller corners. I was around for Antoine Winfield, who was as tough as they come. So, there’s a variety of ways to win. So not surprised that our coaches feel that way. And I feel that same way, too. At linebacker, you can have some guys that are thumpers, that are big. Been around, some guys that are considered stand-up nose guards. Then you have guys that are a little bit more sideline to sideline and can win with speed and can win with power as well.”
Kevin, one of the one-on-one matchups that’s been somewhat entertaining to watch from the outside looking in has been Denzel (Ward) and Elijah Moore. Just the back-and-forth competition between them. How do you feel about that? And just how much better are they making each other?
“Yeah, these guys are so competitive. And those are two great players, and they knew that we always do that with our one ones, the last rep is for push-ups, and both those guys wanted to go. It wasn’t going to be those two guys and then Elijah and Denzel kind of demanded that they wanted one more rep. One guy’s going to win one day, the other guy’s going to win the next day. It’s just what you get with great players. But I think there’s a great message in there for all of our players, our young guys in particular, where iron sharpens iron. And you want to go good versus good as often as you can because it’s only going to make you better.”
Kevin, as far as practicing any concern whatsoever about a slippery track and what that brings?
“That’s football. You got to get used to playing in the conditions.”
Coach, from an identity standpoint, are you happy where you are right now, identity wise?
“Yeah, I think you’re building your identity throughout training camp and throughout the preseason. I think for us, we really focus on our work, we focus on today and I think that builds into our identity where we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves, but we want to make sure that we’re keeping the main thing the main thing. And for us, that’s practice today.”
From the point that you got Dawand Jones after the draft, to what you saw from him Thursday, how far do you feel like he’s come in this timespan?
“He’s a young player coming along, had some good moments, had some moments that he needs to get better at. So, I just see a young player who’s a work in progress, like all of our young players. But the nice part about Dawand, he works. And you have to when you’re getting coached by Coach Callahan and Coach Peters and Coach Decoster. With the offensive line that we have, you’re going to work. And he’s made sure that every day he shows up here and he’s putting in that work.”
Has there been, like, a certain phrase or catchy saying or motto that has been catching on in the afternoon to kind of add into that?
“Not that I know of. Those things do happen organically, but nothing jumps out.”
Kevin, being asked about the offense kind of winning, sometimes having ups and downs. How do you mentally help them mentally balance a day where they’re maybe up and then the next day they’re down? I feel like that’s a process, isn’t it?
“Yeah and that’s football. You’re going to have a good quarter followed by a tough quarter. You’re going to throw an interception, potentially. You got to bounce back. So, one of the things we talk about a lot is resiliency. And if you don’t have that, you’re not going to make it very long in football because you face tough times week in and week out, sometimes by quarters, sometimes it’s every third game. The tough times are coming. You really just have to have that mentality that we’re going to bounce back.”
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