LG Joel Bitonio (12.14.23)
Joel, you have a number of teammates who are on IR. That room is always known for the closeness that exists. How do you kind of keep those guys in the loop, stay connected with them while they are on IR and away from the facility?
“Yeah, we still have our group texts, we still have our dinners when we do them and stuff like that. So we try and keep guys involved. It’s difficult, though, when so many guys keep going on our, they’re doing their rehab, their party meetings when they can be, but they have a lot of other things that they’re kind of focused on right now. But we have a good group and I think we have a good core. So just like whenever we bring someone in as part of the group, we’re pretty easygoing guys. So it’s not too hard in that aspect. But it does stink when you don’t know your full room. You lose a little bit of personality when a guy is having surgery and things of that nature.”
Why is Bill Callahan and Scott Peters, too. Why are they so good at keeping guys ready, getting guys ready to just step in and go?
“I think the way Coach Callahan coaches is so detailed in his process from day one till now that when you plug in a new piece, they kind of have to be caught up to speed to really understand what’s going on. And so his focus every week we have to put someone in like he puts in the extra time, he puts in the extra work. The guys are focused on getting extra work when they need to. And you have however many runs, you could really focus on those runs and the detail behind which formations we’re going to get, which defensive fronts we’re going to get. And it breaks it down for him. I think it just starts with how detailed he is and how focused he is on the little things and that allows guys to go out there and kind of play free.”
Do you think it helps a guy like Nick (Harris) or like Michael Dunn or James (Hudson), these guys kind of get some snap, even if it is a fullback, extra lineman? Do you think that helps keep them engaged throughout the year?
“Yeah, I mean, they’re super engaged. You never know when we’re going to call our jumbo package or our muscle packages when these guys get tons of reps. You look at Nick Harris who took tons of reps for JC (Jack Conklin) in practice. So he had all that prep time and then was going to be the starter, obviously got hurt, had a fight back from that, and then Po (Ethan Pocic) did a great job when he went in there. So he’s kind of getting these backup reps and he’s like, how can I get on the field? We need a fullback. We don’t have a fullback or we need a big tight end. And I think those guys just want to be part and want to help the team and they’re good football players. So anytime they get on the field, I think is a huge positive.”
You guys have talked a lot about how December football is different. When you’re plugging guys in at this point in the season with so many injuries, how hard is that and what are the biggest challenges you guys that have been through the season can help them in this process?
“Yeah, at this point I think these guys have been around the group and they understand like, hey, we’re playing for something, we got ourselves. I think Joe said that we played good enough earlier in the year to put us in the position to play meaningful games in December and they want to be a part of that. The mindset is they don’t want to let their guys down. They’re going out there to fight and to compete. You know, we still think we have the right guys to do what we want to do and so we’re focused on that. We have a good test. Chicago’s playing great this week, I mean this last like four games, so it’ll be a good challenge for us.”
You mentioned about how detailed Callahan is., so my question is does your blocking assignments change subtly week to week depending on your opponent and is that what you’re working out here?
“Yeah, it starts with what type of defense they run and then when we play Aaron Donald, we have a different plan for him than we do against different guys. Or if they have a great defensive end, then there’s going to be a different strategy on how we want to block him. So I think there’s a huge focus on who we’re playing against and our opponents and then what techniques you want to use. We have different types of double-team blocks. If we’re going to use our hands, our shoulders, our under strikes. There’s so much detail that goes into it and that is definitely why we’re practicing and meeting to learn those things.”
As you guys prep this week and look at Chicago, what is biggest challenge that their line presents?
“Yeah, since they’ve traded for (Montez) Sweat, they’ve been very good. They run, I think, the most games in the league, which is like – they’re a movement front. So even if they’re playing base defense, their guys are going to shift and go into different gaps. So there’s a lot and they come from that tree of play hard, relentless pursuit. So it’s a big challenge for us. But against the run, I mean, if you look at the stats, I think they’re one of the better teams against the run. And then their sack production has been out the last three or four games. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for us.”
Joel, you guys being better at home? Is that a science or is that how it’s worked?
“I think a little bit of both. I think our fans bring the energy, especially our defense, I think thrives on that. And they get excited and it gets loud, and it’s pretty cool to see every once in a while it’ll get loud on the sideline. I’m like, ‘All right, this is cool. It’s getting loud in here.’ And I think it’s a tough place to play. You’re down in the lake, you get some wind, you get some conditions. It’s definitely a different atmosphere than a lot of teams are used to playing in. So, we love playing our home games, and then I’m sure there’s some luck that gets thrown in there as well.”
So your quarterback has officially been signed to the active roster. Coop (Amari Cooper) was saying that he’s surprised how quickly Joe has picked this out, despite it being 15 years in the league. His poise and stuff back there. You feel the same way, Joel, has it been a little bit surprising to see how well he’s done in such a short period of time?
“Yeah, because any team you go to, not that I’ve been to a lot. Any offensive coordinator has different terminologies than others. So in his head, a certain route could be called something else and stuff. He’s been through enough where he’s probably seen it all, but to categorize it and put it into one catalog for the Browns I think is very impressive. The first time I saw him throw seven on seven, he was doing like the scouting quarterback. I was like, he’s throwing the ball pretty good. I don’t know much, but there’s some pop on the ball, so I knew that was still there. But then you got to give him the game, the cadence, the understanding, the feel, and I feel like you see it and you’re like, he still got that. And so hopefully it’s like a bike for him. He just gets back on and he keeps riding.”
Wyatt (Teller) was saying at the end of the game last week, everything that he was saying was happening. Like they scored, here’s what we’re going to do. How important is to have that extra voice along with coaches and everybody else, but that guy saying those kinds of things?
“Yeah, I think experience-wise, he’s seen it all, been a part of it all. So, he was just focused on talking about the clock, where it’s going to be. If we get the ball back under two, we’re going to be able to take a knee. If not, we have to get a first down. All these different aspects, I just think it comes with experience, and it’s one of those things where we appreciate that and hopefully, we can keep rolling with it.”
Two more should get you guys in. Has that been a discussion point at all?
“No. We’re trying to go 1-0 this week. We’ll see what happens after that, but our focus has been very exact on the week ahead and we’ll kind of see what happens.”
Kevin (Stefanski) will be proud of that answer.
“He’s teaching us something, you know?”
From the outside looking in, people, look at the discrepancy from the last couple of weeks and see the road in the past. Throwing it almost 50 times, running it 20 or a little more than that. Is that more so, like, with just the game plan going in, what is it calling for just based on what they see, or is it more like the feel of the game in that moment?
“I think we’re trying to take what the defense gives to us. We had a stretch there where every team was putting one more big guy than we had on the field. So, it was kind of asking us that we had to throw the ball. Denver did that, the Rams did that. And then this week, I think if you look at Jacksonville, they were number one against the defense, but probably bottom half against the pass. So I think just the game plan and what we wanted to accomplish and how we could attack the defense was kind of more of that. But it’s really whatever it takes. We got to run the ball 50 times or run the ball 50 times, pass the ball 50 times. We’ll do that, too. So, whatever it takes.”
Which do you prefer?
“Whatever gets us a win.”
You guys went through a December like this in 2020 where you had to kind of finish and get in the playoffs. Do you take anything from that or the lessons? Do we learn from that?
“Yeah. Any way, I mean, the resilience, I think, comes from that as well. I mean, we didn’t know who was going to play then, and there were weeks where we didn’t get to practice at all, and it was very up and down with COVID and everything, and it’s kind of similar. We have some injuries, unfortunate injuries and different things. So, I think the group has gained resilience over the years, and I think that’s something that definitely helps us.”
How is (Geron) Christian? Has he improved or has he came in here with a level of play?
“No, G’s done a good job. He’s really focused. I think he comes in and he’s been a few different places, and he started his career with Bill in Washington, but he’s really come in and focused on his craft. And I think if you look at it like his technique and everything has improved over the last few weeks, and I think he’s been doing a great job for us. Like, come in and have to play left tackle. It’s not like a receiver or D line, where you get, you know, 20 plays a game. Like, you have to get in there and you’re thrown into the fire. And then I think he’s come in and he’s really fought hard, and he’s really working to keep improving every week.”
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