Head Coach Todd Monken (5.8.26)
So what were your thoughts? Just, I mean, obviously it must be like drinking out of a fire, at least for a lot of those guys. But did you like how they took what you did in the morning into the afternoon practice?
“Oh, it was great. You know, we’ve been able to Zoom with the players that we had signed or drafted. So, there was probably half the group that was a little more advanced than the second group. So, some of the things we did this morning in a walk – meetings and walk [through] – then coming out was a little bit easier for that first group. But first and foremost, I thought the effort was outstanding, and we stayed off the ground for the most part, which is half the battle. Took the helmets off a couple of times just to slow them down a little bit. But I mean, it was great to get out here with the guys.”
What were your first impressions of Taylen Green out there?
“Oh, again, I think he’s carried over the Zoom meetings to this morning’s meetings and then walk[through]. He operated the offense pretty well, I mean, for someone who hadn’t been a part of it. Eyes weren’t always in the right spot, but you can see a couple of times some of the things he can do with his feet when plays break down.
So that’s exciting to see.”
Can you imagine having special packages for him during this season?
“Probably too early to tell that, but I could say that – anybody with that kind of athleticism, I think should he progress in certain areas of his game, I think there would be a possibility of him, whether it’s short yardage, you know, once you get in the low red zone, maybe some third down stuff that we could utilize.”
With 25 invitees, how hard is it to put together team drills in a week like this?
“Well, in order for us to function, we have to invite some guys in just to make sure we can practice without wearing down the other guys. But I think it’s awesome for them to get in here and have an opportunity to showcase their ability. And they’ve certainly got to get up to speed, but it is difficult in team settings with invited guys because for those guys, you’re not giving them iPads. We haven’t Zoomed with them, so really they come in a little bit blind. So, it is difficult from that end of it, but ultimately we expect that we just want to see them move around and see their skill set.”
Todd, I know we’ve talked about in these practices, it’s difficult to tell a lot about a line, but when you have as many rookies as you do, what’s important for Spencer (Fano) and Austin (Barber) and all those guys this week and Parker (Brailsford)?
“Well, first off, it’s unique in the fact that we’ve got like our first group that goes out there is you’re talking about three draft picks. And then one of our signees are undrafted, and then you have one of our veteran guys, Jack (Conley), that’s out there. So that allows you to function along with some of the older guys. We have a tight end at running back, but it’s great to get them in there. Obviously, they have a history of success, so it’s easy for them to get frustrated when things don’t go well, but it’s just the start – day one. And I was extremely pleased with everybody that was out there, especially those guys.”
Todd, when you look at the development of KC (Concepcion) and Denzel (Boston), what’s your kind of guiding principles when it comes to starting those rookie wide receivers off? Like, would you prefer to keep them at one position and just kind of develop that, or are you kind of throwing everything at them and putting them in different spots and kind of seeing how they take it?
“That’s a great question. I think you’re better off, at most putting them in two spots. If you can keep them in one spot, that helps their development, but I don’t think you can get away with that. They’re going to have to learn at least a couple of spots, but you want them to be able to play fast and be able to function without having to think. And that’s been difficult wherever I’ve been when you’ve got a rookie. [It] happened a few years ago at the place I was before, and you just got to be careful of putting too much on their plate. But I was awfully pleased with them today and how they functioned, got lined up. You can see their skill set; you certainly could today.”
With KC coming off the scope, I know he’s out there, but did you have to monitor his reps at all?
“We did, we monitored him a little bit, but he was clear. He was good to go. Knee looks great. We just want to make sure we get through basically this weekend and the first week. So, when the other guys get back and we’re able to go like we are today and see what we got.”
Is that why he was working on the side with Christian Jones during some of the individual special teams stuff?
“Some of that was because of that and others we just want to get during special teams. If you’re not involved in special teams, everybody has a role, so they get with their coaches.”
How about Spencer so far? How is he acclimating? I know it’s super early, but just your first impressions.
“He was fine. I mean, everything was fine. Again, I’ll have a better idea once, we watch the tape. But you can certainly see his diligence. I mean, I didn’t see anything that would have made me think any differently of him as a player.”
Todd, with Spencer, objectively, as a coach, when you look out there and you get to see him lined up against his brother, how cool is it to have that scenario out here at rookie minicamp – just two brothers playing on the same team for each other.
“Not as cool as it probably is for them. I mean, it’s pretty cool, but I’m sure it’s really cool for them. And they’ve been doing that for a few years now. And then to be able to carry it over now, I mean, hell, they’re back there jawing right now. So, I mean, it’s pretty cool for them.”
How important is that for a player to have a brother here? To kind of ease him into the NFL process and make things…
“You’ll have to ask them. I mean more times than not, you don’t have a brother here, so you got to figure it out. So, I mean, that’d be really cool if you could. I got a couple brothers, screw it, just bring them in. But, you know, it is what it is. I mean, I think it’s awesome for their parents, right? Like, I had a chance to hire my son. That’s awesome for my wife, for her to be here. And when I first started coaching, I coached at Grand Valley State where my brother was playing. And it’s always going to mean more to the parents. I’m sure it was cool when they were at Utah to be able to go to one place and get to see them after games. I mean, that’s really cool.”
Todd, you kind of talked about the tryout guys, the guys you brought in. One of them is Jalen Reagor. He’s, you know, former first round [pick]. A guy like that, how intrigued are you when you bring him in kind of looking for maybe that thing that kind of unlocked that and made him a first-round pick in the first place?
“I mean, certainly most of the tryout guys, you’re bringing in are younger players. But obviously we want to take a look at Jalen. He does have a skill set, and I thought he did a great job today.”
Todd, you talk about when the guys go to play fast, just how do you sort of balance – especially a rookie group, they’re learning on the fly, there’s a lot kind of going on – giving them a lot and sort of seeing how it goes, but then also not giving them too much.
“That’s hard. That’s the sweet spot you’re looking for. But early on in the next five weeks, after this weekend, it’s our job to throw a lot at them, see what they’re capable of processing. And certainly we can do it in terms of our system streamlining things that we do for them, because we’re going to have to get them on the field. So it’d be silly for us to put them in positions where they can’t showcase their skill set or where they can’t function and make plays. So got to throw a lot at them. And then once we come back for fall camp, really drill down as to where we want them.”
Todd, I know its Rookie Minicamp, but got the news today that Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was starting on the PUP list. What’s your mentality for that – losing him for the season and the support that you guys have for him as he continues his recovery?
“I don’t really get into medical. That’s for somebody other than me.”
In terms of Taylen (Green), have you been involved with quarterbacks where you felt you were seeking significantly able to elevate their passing? And I know Lamar’s (Jackson) passing looked really good when you were there with him, but do you feel like that’s… you sort of pride yourself on being able to take on sort of a raw talent like that and really well?
“I was lucky enough to get Lamar a lot later in his career, so we did some things with Lamar, but he was already further along. But you can see that with Tay (Taylen Green). You can see from when he was at Boise to then getting with Bobby Petrino and the guys at Arkansas, he’s come a long way. I mean, you can see that already, and there’s still a next jump that he can make. It’s exciting to have him out here and let him just play through some things. Obviously, this is the time for him to get reps. Once we get into OTAs, in another week, that’s really going to diminish. I mean, you’re not going to see as much of him because of the numbers. But I’m excited, excited for him. He’s a great kid, and everything we’d heard about him so far has been true.”
# # #
***Visit the for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***