OC Alex Van Pelt (9.15.23)
So, we heard you designed a 13-yard TD play?
“That’s overkill. That’s a result of our offseason studies. So, hats off to the coaching staff. We talked through different ways to exploit different looks, and that was one of them. So that’s some stuff we did in probably early March that carried over.”
But it was your idea to add it to the game plan Saturday?
“I mean, we talk about it, all the situations that come up, especially Saturday. The good news is the game planning is never done. To be able to go in and install something on a Saturday morning with the guys and have it show up Sunday in the game, hats off to all the guys. But, yeah, it was just something we’ve seen from them and tried to take advantage of the situation.”
How did you think Deshaun (Watson) handled and overcame the elements?
“Man, it was rough, Mary Kay (Cabot). It wasn’t a hard rain, but it was an everywhere rain. It was just that mist. It was all over everything. He missed some throws he normally wouldn’t miss because of the elements, so that’s the positive. We had some guys that were open. I feel like we’d have more production had it not been such bad conditions, but both sides had to play under them. I thought he played admirably, considering the conditions.”
Those deep throws early that you weren’t able to act on a lot of it because of the conditions, though, when you go back in the film room and look at that, though, do you get excited knowing that those plays were there to be made? Marquise (Goodwin) was able to get separation, same thing with Amari (Cooper) and DPJ (Donovan Peoples-Jones).
“For sure, we’re doing good things schematically I feel like, and had a good feel going into that game. Know that opponent really well. Good defense, obviously, but to be able to see the separation in the guys that were open, feel confident that under good conditions we’ll be able to hit a few of those.”
Cam’s (Heyward), obviously a big loss for their defense. Can you quantify just what it means to not have him on that defensive front for them?
“He’s a perennial all-pro. I mean, just to take one of those guys off the field is tough for them, but obviously good for us. They’ll have guys to step in and take that role over. But when you’re talking about one of the elite defensive players in the league, that’s not going to be there, I’m not upset about it. Unfortunately, I know obviously you don’t want to see guys get hurt, but I would rather not play Cam. I’d rather not play TJ (Watt), you know those are just the realisms of the game. They’re great players, and to take one of them off the field is going to be tough for them, obviously.”
What have you seen out of Dawand (Jones) that makes you think he’s ready for the starting role? And then this matchup?
“What a matchup he gets right first draw out as a starter. But the guy has played a lot of football at a high level, at a quality school, and played in big games before. We got to make sure we’re not just leaving them out on an island. We’ll take care of him. I think one of Dawand’s strengths is his pass protection, being so large, it’s tough to get around him. So, it’ll be exciting to watch. It’ll be a great matchup. And I know Dawand will be up for the challenge and it is a challenge.”
Alex, he’s one of the biggest humans I’ve ever seen. Is there another tackle you’ve played with or coached that (size)?
“I mean, just guys that were around when I came. Like Lincoln Kennedy was a guy that he reminds me of just a massive man. Jason Peters, as he got older, grew into that body. He was bigger. But Dawand, he is a mountain of a man.”
When you’re scheming defenses, how many edge rushers in the NFL or just rushers in general have a Euro step in their arsenal the way Myles (Garret)? Seriously, is that a move you’ve see?
“Yeah. I mean, the great ones do. They have the full gamut of moves and the counter moves off of that. I haven’t studied the pass rush much like Scott Peters and those guys have, but I know he gets home. I know that the San Francisco game, when he wasn’t affected by an edge, whether they’re chipping or at least getting in his way, he hit the quarterback and caused sack fumbles, he had three sacks. So obviously he’s a great, great player and we have to make sure we account for him at all times that.”
That versatility you guys have been working on this summer with Nick Chubb in the passing game, Elijah Moore in the backfield. How much can that change week by week now that you’ve seen it in practice?
“Yeah, always evolving. Just trying to find good matchups, trying to find plays where we know give the defense a different look, do different things, hand it off to Elijah a few times and put Nick out wide and throw him the ball. So, it’s multiple and versatile. That’s part of our identity as an offense and we’ll continue to grow that.”
What about that duo of TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith? And is that the thing that’s going to keep you up at night between now and Monday?
“It’s definitely a number one priority for us, is to make sure we take care of the edge. As you know, you can talk about TJ all you want, but Highsmith on the other side is a Pro Bowler also and is an extremely good pass rusher. So not just one side. We have to be on point on, it’s really both sides.”
Can you speak to Dawand’s demeanor and development, like getting put in last week on notice and just how he’s come along?
“He’s rolled with the punches, you know. He really has. He’s just gone with the flow. I see him this morning sitting up in front of the meeting room in our protection meetings and he’s ready to roll. I think he’s ready for the challenge. It’s a huge opportunity for him to step in and play as a starter as a rookie, so everything I’ve seen has been positive.”
How much did the game plan have to change because of the weather? When you started in three wides and then wind up going to a lot of three tight ends, is that strictly because of the weather?
“It had a lot to do with it. As we built the lead also, we wanted to lean a little bit on the run game, which we had success with, but it definitely affected the pass game early. We were waiting for that break after halftime, and it never really came, but were both playing under those conditions.”
You guys really want to hit a lot of those big plays and make those explosives this year, seems like that’s the point of emphasis. If they don’t hit the way that you want them to, you just have to keep going with that and know that you might miss two and get one or what’s your philosophy?
“Yeah, they’re really low percentage if you look at the overall completions, but they’re huge explosives when you do hit them. We’ll take misses, we’re going to stretch the field. We want to be explosive. The other part of that is if it’s not there, it’s one of the things we talk about in the quarterback room. If the shot’s not there, find a completion at the checkdown. So can’t get greedy in those situations. Just have to take what they give you and just keep dialing them up.”
Did you know Coach (Jim) Schwartz before he got here?
“Just played against him. Mainly my time in Green Bay when he was in Detroit. But nothing on a personal level.”
What have you thought of what he’s done with this defense so far?
“Very impressive. Obviously, it was an unbelievable performance by them. Their efficiency rating, I forget it was in the high 70s, which is unheard of. So, they dominated on that side of the ball, and that’s great to see when you’re an offense and you have a few three and outs and you feel like, okay, our defense is going to get us the ball back. That’s a good feeling. So really happy for those guys, the success they had in that game and continue moving forward to be a dominant defense.”
What was in your head when Wyatt Teller finished a guy off 25 yards away from the line of scrimmage?
“My first initial thought was, ‘Oh, God, we’re going to get a penalty’, because when he tends to do that, whether it’s legal or illegal – and generally it’s legal – it’s just such a violent act that it gets called. So, I was glad to see that the ref didn’t call it. I mean, he’s had many dominant blocks like that have been called. Unfortunately, when you send them in, they come back as well. It really wasn’t a hold. So, my first fear was, ‘Oh, shoot, he’s going to get a flag’, but didn’t see the flag, was very happy. I mean, he’s a strong, strong guy. His finish is really good, so he’s going to have those opportunities. He’s got to be smart when we pancake guys.”
How do you think Dawand’s quick feet will help him in this game?
“He’s going to have to use every tool in his toolbox to block that guy on the right side, there’s no doubt, but his foot speed will help him in that regard, along with his size.”
What were the 49ers able to do to get (Christian) McCaffrey the yards he was able to get last week?
“I thought they were persistent with the run. I thought they stuck with it. They got some looks of some one, two, three-yard gains, and then they just kept running. And you hang your head on the run game and eventually you’re going to get some of those to pop. He had the big run, obviously, 65 yards, whatever it was, but then they started creasing them as they got going a little bit in the second half. Again, when you take an All-Pro defensive tackle out, it’s tough to replace that body.”
Talking about your guy’s run game on Sunday. I know Nick too, caught all four of his targets early in the past game. I guess how big that was given the weather, and then considering that’s been a discussion point with Nick and how involved he was going to be in that?
“Sure. I mean, anytime you could take the ball and basically hand it to Nick Chubb five yards past the line of scrimmage is a good thing for us, right? Doesn’t have to get through the line, doesn’t have to be blocked perfectly. So, checkdown emphasis is a big part of the production that Nick can bring us.”
I know you guys put a lot of faith into Deshaun Watson at the line, and when you play tempo, things like that. How good is he at the line of scrimmage at diagnosing things?
“Really good. He sees as well as anybody I’ve been around. He could tell you exactly what happens on the play, where each defender was. He’ll see stuff that I might not catch on the sideline, and I’ll say, ‘No, the safety was there.’ And you’re like, ‘Oh, shoot, he was there.’ So (he) sees it extremely well. That’s one of his strengths, his ability to see and read defense.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***