Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.17.25)
Opening Statement:
“Good to be back home. You know, guys are off today, but coaches are meeting. Got to watch the tape from yesterday and then we’ll bring the players in tomorrow for a lift and a run and really get ready for this week. We’ll treat this week as a regular season schedule. We’ll give the guys a normal game plan as you would getting ready for the game on Saturday. We’ll treat each day like we would, now we will do more competitive periods than we would say in the regular season. So, we’ll do plenty of Browns versus Browns in practice as well as introducing carded periods where will be simulating the Rams offensive defense. So big week for the football team. Was pleased with how the guys handled last week, both the practices, the game itself yesterday. And like I told you guys, there’s so much to learn from in that game and that’s the part for us as coaches that we have to point out things that we have to get cleaned up even if you weren’t in there on that rep. And I think that’s a big part of learning, is seeing and doing and then correcting mistakes. But pleased with the effort and then looking forward to this week. With that, I’ll take any questions.”
You said that you wanted to get through yesterday. You said we have a little chat. What do you plan to do at quarterback or the dress rehearsal game and what is the timeline for naming the week one starter?
“Yeah, I want to get through the next couple of days, but certainly that’s something that we’re going to do here sooner than later.”
So, when you say sooner than later, do you think we should expect something by the end of this week?
“Yeah. I need to get the football team in here, talk to the players, those types of things. So, we’re working towards, obviously, week one, you know, that’s part of what this week is about, getting our football team ready. So, we’ll make all those types of determinations in the next couple days.”
Then similarly just roping in quarterbacks, do you have any health update on Kenny (Pickett) and Shedeur (Sanders)? Do you expect them to increase their level of participation in practice this week?
“I hope so. We really have to take those day by day, so I don’t know where that ends up towards the end of the week, but I’m hopeful.”
Hey, Kevin, how did Dillon’s (Gabriel) hamstring hold up after playing the half yesterday?
“Yeah, good. I don’t think he’s 100%, but I don’t know that anybody’s 100% even at this point, so. But I think he came out okay.”
And then when you went back and watched that, did you notice anything else about his performance that stood out to you?
“I think the guys did a nice job of playing on time. I think I mentioned to you guys yesterday that the third down conversions early were good, and the good part was it was versus multiple coverages. So, I thought the guys were where they’re supposed to be on a give and play protection was good and you know, we’re able to find completions, but those third down conversions were huge.”
Kevin, we saw K.J. Henry make that interception and return for a touchdown. What have you seen from him this camp?
“Well, you know, he’s a late arrival for us coming from Philly, so that was pretty cool for him to have that moment in the football game. But really a good scheme, fit, plays really hard, great length. And you know, I’ve mentioned to you guys before, I think that’s a really, really strong group, but those guys just play so hard and that’s really a lot of what our defense is built on.”
Hey, Kevin, just seeing if there’s any update on Quinshon (Judkins) or (Isaiah) Bond, whether you expect to see him in camp this week?
“Yeah, I do not have an update for you guys right this minute. I don’t.”
And just, you know, any player that you would bring in this week, with it being a dress rehearsal week and three, four weeks into camp, just how much of a learning curve would that be to kind of get up and running?
“Yeah, I think that’s kind of what we do, Joe (Reedy). That happens during the season, can happen in training camp where you got, you have to get players up to speed quickly. That happens sometimes you get a guy on a Wednesday and they have to play on a Sunday. So that’s part of our job as coaches, is to get them ready to roll.”
Kevin, I know that you talked about the importance of guys like Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash this season, how big they’re going to be for that room. Jamari (Thrash) had a really big game, so looking at what he was able to do in that second preseason game, what did you like about it and how do you see that maybe carrying into the regular season as you look to get the most out of him.
“Yeah, I think Jamari (Thrash) is a very dependable player. Gets open, catches the football. You know, the most important parts of the job he does. The quarterbacks have a lot of trust in him, and it was good to see him make those plays and make a couple, you know, extra yards out there. He’s done that in the first couple games as well.”
Hey, Kevin, I know you said yesterday when you got asked about Dawand (Jones) playing that it was an individual decision for every player when you were deciding who to sit, who to play. But specifically, why did you want to see him play some snaps and play some snaps then yesterday?
“Yeah. Like you said, Ashley (Bastock), trying to be intentional about the specific players. Ced (Cedric Tillman) missed a lot of time at the end of last season, so felt like he should get some work out there. Dawand (Jones), obviously playing left tackle has not had as much work as playing right tackle, so felt like he should get some work. And we’ll continue to get work throughout these. Throughout practice and the games. As you know, you’re also getting a ton of work in those joint practices. So, all of it is valuable and all of it is in, you know, with the goal in mind of getting those guys ready September 7th and then.”
Like, along those lines, then why sit Mason (Graham), Carson (Schwesinger), Dylan (Sampson), Harold (Fannin Jr.), like just being rookies, what was the rationale with them? Was it just the work in joint practices?
“Well, yeah, those guys played in the first game, so playing in the first game, the practice versus Carolina, the practices in Philly, felt like they got a lot of good work, a lot of plays. You know, were intentional about how many plays they got in Philly, knowing that would be the plan. But those are all guys that you’ll see out there this week.”
Okay, Kevin, when you talk to the team today and tell them who your opening day starter is at quarterback, will you also set the pecking order following, meaning quarterback two, three and four. Will there be a competition right through Cincinnati week?
“Yeah. Well, I’ll talk to the – we’ll have the team in tomorrow, so I’ll be able to talk through a bunch of different things with our players. But in terms of, you know, where people are, first string, second string, those types of things. Not really thinking about that right this minute, Tony (Grossi). That’s more stuff that we’ll get ready for week one.”
Even playing the regulars in this third game is different from last year in previous years that you’ve done, why did you decide to play regulars in game three?
“I believe we played regulars last year in game three, Tony (Grossi).”
Your quarterback didn’t play.
“Last year?”
(Deshaun) Watson.
“Yeah. What year is this? Yeah, I think typically, Tony (Grossi), I have had the – we’ve usually had the joint practice in week two, so we’ve played our guys sometimes a little bit in week one and then a good bit in week three, with week two being the joint practices. Obviously, the difference this year will be that joint practice in week one, and then this year just feel like that’s what this team needs to get ready. I try to every single year make decisions based on what the guys need. So that’s what we’ll do.”
Yeah, Kevin, is everyone still in play to a certain extent for the week one start, or is that not realistic anymore to think that all four quarterbacks could have any kind of a shot to start week one?
“You know, honestly, Mary Kay (Cabot) just so focused on our guys’ development and practice and doing what they’re supposed to do when they get in these games. Obviously, we will name a starter. It’s going to come this week. We still anticipate all of our players, whether you’re a starter or not, to prepare like you’re the starter. And knowing all of our players in that room, that’s exactly what they’ll do.”
And how do you feel like they all did? I know that the competition was interrupted by injuries to the three of those guys, but just how do you think it kind of went?
“Well, you know, and we’ve talked about this. We take this all the way back to April with our player development and getting these guys up to speed. And I’ve been really, really pleased with that group and how hard they’ve worked, how they’ve pushed each other, and I think they’re all getting better. I think you see all moments in practice, you see moments in games where these guys are getting better. Obviously, like you mentioned, injuries are the worst part of this game and it keeps a guy out of a practice or a game. That’s not ideal. But I go all the way back to April with the work that these guys have put in.”
Along those lines, Kevin, obviously with the injuries, you haven’t gotten a chance to evaluate all these guys, probably as fully as you wanted to. But Andrew (Berry) did mention earlier in camp that keeping four is something you guys will consider. Is that something you think is still on the menu to support despite how some of these injuries have sort of played out and derailed some of the evaluation.
“Yeah, I think we’ll let it play out as we get closer to the cut down. Those are all conversations that we are always having, but those are tough decisions. You know, I’d like to keep everybody, but not realistic.”
And then Ahmani Marshall, in each of these preseason games, he had the really nice block on the one touchdown pass to Shedeur (Sanders), obviously, had the touchdown yesterday. He’s really flashed, it seems like in some of these moments. Just how have you sort of seen him grow and develop throughout this camp?
“Yeah, Ahmani’s (Marshall) done a very good job for us. Smart, dependable, runs hard, has some position flex for us. So excited about his development.”
Kevin, continuing with the run game, what did you see from Pierre (Strong Jr.) yesterday? He had that 54-yard gain, but overall, just his growth in the run game. What did you see from him yesterday specifically?
“Yeah, obviously good to get Pierre (Strong Jr.) out there coming off of his injury, but I thought the run game, there were good moments for us up front. A couple times were mis-IDed and had unblocked guys in the hole when we blocked it clean. And then you saw Pierre (Strong Jr.) and certainly the other guys put their foot in the ground and were able to make some yards. But that’s, you know, the run game really does take all 11, and I think you saw that at times when it was good. We had receivers blocking, safeties getting us in and out of the right plays. So, it’s just so important that everybody’s on the same page in the run game.”
Hey, Kevin, I don’t think you got asked about it yesterday. Is Dustin Hopkins your guy for week one or is that still to be determined?
“Yeah, I think week one is coming soon enough, but all of our guys are doing a great job. Dustin’s doing a great job. Excited for Andre (Szmyt) to make those kicks in that game, but, yeah, we’ll save week one for week one.”
I mean, was there a, I’m sure there was a reason. Why did you decide to have Dustin (Hopkins) kick early and then go to Andre (Szmyt) yesterday?
“That was always the plan. Want to give Andre, you know, a good shot at some live game reps.”
Two other questions about the kicking operation. First off, was it a snap that was the problem or a hold on that PAT?
“Yeah, the snap wasn’t where we needed to be.”
Second of all, it seems in both games so far, there have been PATs that look to be no good, but they call them good, so it doesn’t matter on the scoreboard. But seeing those on video, are you a little concerned? That looks like three PAT misses actually in two games.
“Yeah. I can only go off whether they call it good or not good, Tony (Grossi). But I’m very pleased with the work that these guys are getting in, both in practice and in the games.”
Yeah. Kevin, I don’t know if you can answer this or not, but would you say that both of the route runners on that levels concept that turned into the pick six, did both of them kind of run the wrong route?
“I’m gonna protect the identities, Mary Kay (Cabot), but we did not do what we were supposed to do on that play, and we will get that coached up. That’s like I mentioned to you guys yesterday, you really should never have an interception on a play like that. At point, some should be a safe throw away run, but we have to do a better job of coaching that and executing that.”
Kevin, I know Alex Wright, Julian Okwara, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, they’ve made plays on that edge. Isaiah McGuire in that room, too. What else do you need to see from that group in these last practices, that final preseason game, as you shape out that starting role opposite of Myles (Garrett)?
“Just continue on the path, Cam (Camryn Justice). I’ve been really pleased with the effort of those guys, really pleased with the development of those guys. Like we talked about, you want to keep everybody. I want to have a 90-man roster, but you can’t. So those are tough decisions to make. But that’s a really, really competitive group.”
Does it feel like a situation that you could go through that rotation, like maybe in the past, or is it, are you guys looking more towards having a solid starter, specifically in that position?
“Yeah, I think depth is so important, and it’s the name of the game in a lot of ways. And I mentioned you guys before, the way we play defensively, we do wave our defensive line. So, it’s really important that those guys that go in with our second group, that there’s no drop off and they’re fresh. But those, the guys that you mentioned are giving us some very good, real reps both in practice and in the games.”
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