Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.1.24)
Any particular reason for the schedule change?
“Get you out of bed a little early, Tony (Grossi). No, there is, was some rain in the forecast around noon. I didn’t want to mess with that. It looked gorgeous this morning, so just figured we’d move it up a little bit.”
Can you just talk a little bit about what you are hoping to get out of this full padded practice today?
“Yeah, it’s a continuation of what we’ve been doing. A ramp up into getting ready for the season. So now a second day in pads for us, a few more team drills going against each other. So, you expect just with naturally expect these to be competitive and push each other. But there’s still a lot that both sides, offense, defense, special teams that we’re continuing to install. So, we’re still in the infancy of putting really all the systems in.”
How do you get into like two-minute game situations? When does that start?
“Yeah, tomorrow we’ll do some two-minute. And really throughout we’re introducing different situations in meetings, in practice, in walkthroughs. So, it’s really, it’s been going on, I guess, as you start camp. But we try very hard to mix in situations throughout.”
How have you seen the players respond to the schedule changes while they’ve been down here?
“Yeah, that’s, again, that doesn’t bother me from the standpoint of it’s good for your players and coaches and staff to be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice. And that’s, we just have to be used to those type of things. Again, I would point out that the hard work is our equipment staff, our video staff, our trainers. Those are the people that get impacted the most by schedule changes, and they’ve done a great job.”
Do you have anybody back in practice today that hasn’t been practicing? Like, we haven’t seen Z (Za’Darius Smith) for a little bit, Shelby (Harris) hasn’t been out there…
“Z will be out there. (Shelby) will not.”
(Jerry) Jeudy, how close is he to returning??
“Getting really close. Very close.”
How about like Myles (Garrett)? Is he still not ready to play?
“He’s very close. Yeah.”
Even in OTA’s that and at minicamp. We haven’t seen Jeudy. Are you getting a little impatient about that? Isn’t it time for him to start?
“When you’re dealing with any medical type things, Tony, I just trust what the doctors and the medical staff say. When the player’s ready, he’ll be ready. He’s done a great job in walkthroughs and meetings. Very, very in tune, very intelligent football player. So of course, you want your players out there ASAP and throw everybody out there. But the reality is you have to trust in the medical staff here and just be out there when he’s ready.”
Is his ailment from last season in Denver?
“No, I don’t know the exact date, but he’s working through it and he’s getting very, very close.”
We see Myles jump out there without a helmet for a couple of reps. We’ve seen Jeudy on the other day, he caught a couple of balls. Just what was behind that and is that just an indication that both guys are so close?
“Exactly. And they’re not on PUP, they’re not on a list. So, when you’re on those lists, can’t jump in there. So those guys are rehabbing, getting really close and they can get any of those walkthrough reps. Jog through reps, if you will.”
Kevin, your linebacker room looks a little different this year. (Sione Taki)Taki, Anthony (Walker Jr.) gone, Jordan Hicks and a couple other guys. How’s that room taking shape over these last few months?
“Yeah, I’ve been very impressed with coach (Jason) Tarver and that whole group. It’s like a lot of our rooms, a good mix of young and old and guys that have been here and some newer guys. I think Jordan Hicks is a very impressive pro to me. Awesome off the field. A leader, has been in a bunch of different situations, has been in this system before. So, certainly, somebody that we are really excited to add to our group.”
Have you seen JOK (Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah) take on more of like a leadership role in that group?
“Absolutely. I mean, I see Jeremiah maturing and growing and like all of our young players do, and growing certainly into his football role, but also growing into a leadership role as well.”
From a veteran standpoint, what does Jordan provide for that group in his leadership and experience?
“I think that’s a big piece of this. I think this is year ten for him, if I’m not mistaken. So that doesn’t happen by accident. That’s somebody who really takes care of his body, plays well, has been in a bunch of different systems. So he can impart a ton of wisdom on those young players just by his sheer numbers of years in this league.”
Two new offensive line coaches. How much of the (Bill) Callahan system is still here? What percentage is new to this team?
“This from a schematic standpoint, Tony? That’s a good question. I think it’s hard. I go back to February-March is when you have so many of those conversations and how you want to teach things. There are certain things that we’ve done here that will do exactly the same. And there are other things that maybe you tinker with and you add a little bit of nuance and then there are things that we’re going to implement and install that we haven’t done and I think that’s the nature of year-to-year football that you better be updating. But certainly, when you bring in, like you mentioned, Andy (Dickerson) and Roy (Istvan) with different backgrounds, specifically in the run game, there are obviously things that we’ll do that are different, but I can’t put a percentage on it.”
Do you feel pretty good about getting Jed (Wills Jr.) or Jack (Conklin) back at left tackle by the start of the season?
“I do, I do.”
Kevin, the Broncos are coming (to Greenbrier) next month. You get a consultant’s fee for that.
“Oh! I didn’t know that.”
Oh, you didn’t?
“Yeah. When are they coming?”
Between road trips.
“Oh, okay.”
I was just curious.
“They didn’t call me. Yeah. I’m happy to share some tips to them.”
Will you do one-on-one receiver vs. cornerback?
“We will, today and tomorrow.”
What will be some of those tips about practicing here? Dealing with the weather.
“Oh, can’t predict the weather. Yeah, it’s again, the nice part of being here and under one roof is you can make quick adjustments. It’s not a big deal to say, ‘Hey, we’re moving practice up or moving practice back’ because everybody’s here and a shuttle ride away from the practice facility. So, the ability to adjust is certainly helpful being here.”
Do you think it helps Jordan to be as experienced as it is to walk into a number of defenses that has almost everybody else back? I mean, like, he kind of walks into an established unit and maybe a young guy would struggle more than guys been around as long as he has.
“I think the biggest part of it, Scott (Petrak), would be it’s a system that he’s played in being with Coach (Jim) Schwartz. So, he knows this system. Obviously, there are differences and calling things different and some new things that we’re doing, I’m sure that they weren’t doing back in Philly, but the foundation, the core is similar. So, I think that eases the transition. And I think Jordan, he’s a pro. He’s a pros pro. Ten years in this league. He fits in really well with us, and culturally fits in well with the players. So, I think that’s been an easy transition.”
Last year, the last day, he was pretty much a full practice. Is that still the plan for tomorrow?
“It is, weather permitting.”
Kevin, right before this, The Browns placed Charlie (Thomas III) on IR and resigned Caleb (Johnson). What have you just seen from Caleb as he’s gone through ups and downs?
“He’s here already. He’s on the practice field. He was with us all spring, so he won’t miss a beat. Very athletic player. Excited about what he brings to the room. Tough kid, smart. So excited that he’s back.”
Kevin, the LA trip last year, did you consider doing something like that again, or was that just the circumstance?
“I think you always look at the schedule if there’s something that would make sense. I didn’t see anything that would make sense for staying anywhere for a week. But that was based more on the schedule itself.”
What did you guys do yesterday?
“We worked.”
(Bill) Callahan had a big influence in the running game for four years. Is Roy (Istvan) now kind of the running game line coach? You mentioned specifically the run game. He brings something.
“Andy and Roy, yeah. I mean, Andy’s the line coach. Roy’s the assistant line coach. But together they bring really interesting backgrounds. So, when you talk about putting a run game or a pass game together, you’re really pulling from all of your coaches. And even in all previous years, it was a group effort when you put it together.”
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