HC Kevin Stefanski (9.25.23)

Opening statement:

“I got to watch the tape. And really, what we saw live was true. I thought the guys played with outstanding effort, running to the football on defense, really just setting the tone early from the defensive side of the ball. Offensively, made some plays there. Moved the ball, came away with points when we needed to, and then played a field position game when it was necessary to play a field position game. But like I mentioned yesterday, proud of the effort across the board and then got to come back in here and have a great work week as you get ready for an AFC North game. And with that, I’ll take any questions.”

 

When I went back and looked at that flea flicker, it did go for 14 yards, but you had all five offensive linemen going against pretty much two defenders there for a while. It looked like it should have went for a lot longer. Why didn’t it? 

“That’s about the reaction I had, Tony (Grossi), when I watched. You know we’ve run that play before, so that’s not something that is new. The kid made a good play. We had blockers out in front, but all you’re trying to do is get our guys the ball in space. Various ways to do that, but, yeah, it did look like that one could have been bigger.”

 

Your play sheet was not color coded for this game. It looked like black and white. Was that not right? What was the significance of that? 

“No. There was color. Normal call sheet.”

 

Do you approach this game against the (Baltimore) Ravens any differently coming up, knowing that you have the bye week afterward? Do you leave it all out there on the field or what will be the mindset? 

“No, I don’t think you approach it any differently. I mean, the hope is you leave every game with everything out there on the field, and the truth is these are one game seasons. You pour everything you have into these games. So today is about putting a bow on this last one and making sure that we tie up anything – the loose ends and get a great workout and that type of thing. Then once we’re out the door, all the focus goes to Baltimore and putting everything we can into a game plan that we can have our guys go execute.”

 

I want to ask about your defense, which is, you know, starting to approach historical milestones here with the way they’ve played in the first three games. Has it been as simple as injecting Jim Schwartz into that room? Myles Garrett had mentioned yesterday that you know, Jim has really embraced the personalities on that side of the ball, and that is what is allowing these guys to give him their best. 

“Well, I think the credit goes to everybody. I think to play at the level that we’re playing at right now takes everybody, players, coaches. Obviously, Jim’s doing a great job. I think leading that defensive side, including with the defensive coaches. I think Jim does a great job of coaching the coaches, but I think it’s everybody. I think you can go up and down the list of really from each room the D line room, the linebacker room, the DB room of guys that are giving us great leadership, giving us great effort, obviously, on game day. But I think everybody should share that credit.”

 

And Deshaun Watson had mentioned after yesterday’s game he was able to control his emotions, not get caught up in too much, allow the game to really flow to him. Did you see that, number one? And number two, how do you get that from him week in and week out going forward? 

“Well, yeah, I think he did a great job on a number of fronts, but I think that’s part of playing the quarterback position. Sometimes you play with a linebacker’s mentality, obviously, because you want to be emotional and you want to bring that fire that you have. I mean, that’s necessary to play that position, because you’re a leader. Then there are times that you got to rein it back in. And I thought he did a really nice job. Saw it very clearly yesterday, delivered accurate throws, decision making was great. He was on point yesterday.”

 

Have you ever seen two tight ends follow a defensive end from side to side like that? 

“No, I haven’t. That was a first. I’ve seen one, but I’ve never seen two.”

 

You always talk about how teams try to take Myles out of the game first. Is that just an over-the-top example of that? 

“Yeah, I would say so. Maybe we’ll see three next time.”

 

And with Elijah (Moore), it looked like you guys made a real effort to get him the ball more. Are you still just trying to figure out the best ways to take advantage of what he does best? 

“Yeah, and I think with a lot of our players, you’re just trying to get them the ball any which way you can. I think Elijah has a unique skill set. We can line him up outside, inside, the backfield. So, all things that we’ll continue to explore as the season goes on. You may put different guys back there just to get a look, but he does a nice job of handling that package of plays and then again finding ways to get our good players ball.”

 

Back to Myles on that split sack that he had, Ogbo Okoronkwo got in there and was holding (Ryan) Tannehill while allowing Myles to get in there. How important have guys like Ogbo and Za’Darius (Smith) been to allow Myles Garrett to kind of resurge this year and have this kind of performance he’s had so far? 

“Yeah, I think it’s a good point Cam (Camryn Justice). You know, Myles is a great player. I think everybody knows that and I know that. But I think when you add really, really good players, great players around him, it only frees him up to make more plays. And it works both ways. Myles gets a ton of attention that’s going to give other guys one-on-ones. So, I just think when you’re talking about a rush plan, it really does take everybody to execute that. And sometimes one guy will get the glory of the sack, another guy will get it the next time. And really, the pressure is what we’re looking for. The sacks are great, and we want sacks that turn into sack fumbles, but the pressure is really what we’re looking for.”

 

And then with Deshaun, you mentioned him and his accuracy, his decision making was a little better. When you look back at it, was there something that stood out to you from yesterday that was maybe a little different than weeks one and two? 

“No, they’re all different games. I thought he played, like we talked about, played great. And I mentioned to you guys yesterday the pass protection was outstanding. He had a lot of time back there, could get through his progressions, could step into throws. So that factors into it considerably.”

 

The defense has been unquestionably dominant for three games, but is it any heartening knowing that takeaways come in bunches? They’ve been able to do that. Jim Schwartz said points allowed and takeaways are the two primary, with only two takeaways in three games. 

“Yeah, I do think that they come in bunches, Fred (Greetham). We stress it, we coach it, we work it at practice. We got to continue to play sound football, and when the opportunities come, whether via interceptions or fumbles, we have to be ready. But I really think the focus continues just to be do your job on defense. Whether it’s fitting a run or being in the right spot in a pass drop, that’s really where our focus is.”

 

I wanted to ask about Alex Wright with him getting his first career sack yesterday. I mean, it just seems like he’s had to obviously, mentally kind of recalibrate being in a different spot on the depth chart with everyone you guys brought in, but just how you think he’s handled that and to see him make a play like that yesterday.

“Yeah, Ashley (Bastock), I’m glad you brought him up. He made some really impactful plays in not a lot of plays. I want to say he was in there for maybe 16 plays or so, but he got his sack. He was playing the run well, running after the quarterback. So, he’s doing a nice job. A young player in a talented room, and I think he’s only going to grow because of that. I think he’s going to learn from all those veterans that he has in there. And obviously, coming off the injury as well, missed some time. But yeah, really excited about Alex, where his trajectory is going.”

 

And then just with your secondary, I mean, I know the pass rush has obviously gotten so much attention, but it just seems like they’re playing really well. And does that just kind of allow Jim than to do all the moving and be super aggressive up front the way he has been? 

“Yeah, I think that’s a good point. I think you look at some of the success that we’re having rush and coverage work together when you’re able to put pressure on the quarterback and maybe the ball comes out sooner than they want. And if you’re sticky in coverage, you’re around your guy. You’re aware in zones, I think they both work together.”

 

We saw that you were going to give Nick Chubb a game ball. Were you able to deliver that? 

“I was. I drove out there yesterday, hand-delivered him his ball.”

 

How’s Nick doing? 

“He’s doing great. He’s excited for the team. He’s rehabbing every day.”

 

You mentioned yesterday about wanting to get those perimeter plays early on. Do you think that helped Deshaun kind of settle in just because kind of guys were flying around and it maybe gave him a chance to see the whole field right away? 

“First play, didn’t intend for him to clip heels with Jerome (Ford). We added a degree of difficulty there. Yeah, I think every game calls for a different game plan. Obviously just felt like the perimeter early was going to be the play. That’s a very stout front, as everybody knows. It’s hard to run against them. And we just felt like moving the pocket, moving the ball where it was going, whether via handoff or throw was important.”

 

I’m not saying he was not confident before, but how have you seen Jerome Ford’s confidence grow now that he has this bigger role? 

“Yeah, I would just say, young player, Jeff (Schudel), that until you are in that position, until you get those carries and those touches, there’s always going to be a part of you that is unsure. So, I think for Jerome, put him out there in practice, he does it and he does it well. And see the same thing in game. So I just think it’s like any young player, until you’ve done it, you haven’t done it. And I think now he’s really entrenched himself in a big part of this offense.”

 

You mentioned yesterday after the game that you saw look in your player’s eyes on Tuesday of last week, the day after the game in Pittsburgh, and that you knew from that moment on that these guys were locked in quickly. The confidence was there. I’m curious, in your entire NFL career as an assistant coach and even your time here in Cleveland and your time in Minnesota as an assistant, have you ever seen a team respond that quickly and locked in focus after such a heartbreaking loss and losing a guy like Nick? 

“I can’t – I have a very short-term memory, so I’m sure there are other examples. Now, everything’s different. Obviously, losing Nick is different. I was in Minnesota when Teddy Bridgewater was injured, so it’s tough. The injuries are tough, part of this game. Any type of injury is a tough part of this game, but unfortunately, it is part of the game. And really, the only thing we can control in those situations is how we handle it moving forward and how we handle our mentality moving forward. So, I make that point only to say it’s not a surprise to me because I know the people that are on this team. I know the coaches, I know the players, and I know that we have a determined bunch.”

 

And, Coach, do you believe in momentum with these big wins at home and moving forward as you approach another big divisional game? 

“You know, you don’t take the win with you. You don’t take the loss with you. You got to get rid of it.”

 

Going back to Elijah, how have you just seen him sort of handle through these first couple of games, just sort of figuring out those different places when he is in more of a receiving role versus more of a running back role? 

“He’s done a very nice job, Kelsey (Russo). I think when you move a player around, like we do with Elijah, it requires a lot of study time. And obviously, out on the practice field, we’re moving them around and walkthroughs and practice, but you have to spend a lot of time with it outside this building. And I know he does, and I know Coach (Chad) O’Shea and Coach (Callie) Brownson spend extra time with him to make sure he’s on point with every one of his roles. And then from a coach’s perspective, when you see a guy that is so diligent about it, you feel like you can put more on his plate as well.”

 

It feels like during the course of that fleas and we see players kind of hit that transitional game where they turn some things around. Do you think yesterday for Deshaun was one of those games? Do you expect that type of play moving forward? 

“Yeah, I look at it a little bit differently. I think every game stands on its own. I think the work you put in is what’s most important. So, for Deshaun and for all of our players, the focus is going to be on our work week, is going to be on our process. And I think when we have a good week of practice, we put everything we have into it. That sets you up to have success on Sundays.”

 

I guess it was reported during the broadcast that Deshaun has kind of been urging more empty formations. If that’s true, the benefit of doing that, do you feel is what? And also is it an easier concession now with Nick not being on the field, like your best back in the backfield, but now that he’s not there, is it a little easier to go that way? 

“Yeah, I would say we’ve been in empty a lot over the course of time, especially in the last couple of years. That’s a big part of what we do. Every game is going to call for a different game plan. So not giving away trade secrets. But empty is a big part of what we do, yes.”

 

Why?

“Well, for various reasons. Obviously, when you’re in empty you know you’re passing. But trying to find completions clears the vision up a lot for the quarterback. Clears up who’s maybe blitzing. It’s easier to see when you spread it out, because the nickel, for instance, can’t disguise as much when you’re maybe in a tighter formation with backs in the backfield.”

 

If you wouldn’t mind, can you just maybe elaborate a little bit on taking that ball out to Nick Chubb? I mean, did you go by yourself? Did you bring anybody with you? How did Nick respond to that? And can you maybe just share a little bit about that sort of special moment with us? 

“No, I don’t think so, Mary Kay (Cabot). And I say that – listen, Nick’s a special person to this group, but I’ll keep that one between me and him.”

 

 

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