Pass Game Coordinator/ Wide Receivers Coach Chad O’Shea (7.28.25)
Chad (O’Shea), how much of a difference have you noticed in Jerry (Jeudy) this year compared to last year? In terms of being vocal?
“Jerry Jeudy’s been outstanding for us, and one of the areas that he’s really done a great job is leadership. He’s provided that room with leadership, he’s provided our offense with leadership. I think that comes with having some production on the field. He stands for all the things that we want our players to stand for. He’s had an exceptional work ethic, he’s a great teammate, he’s always putting the team first, and he goes out there and tries to do what we ask him to do as coaches. So, Jerry, in his second year, working with him, I can’t say enough great things about what he’s done. It’s been very positive. But the one area that Jerry (Jeudy) has really emerged in is his leadership role for the team.”
Chad (O’Shea), having this many quarterbacks competing for the starting job, what’s most important for your position group?
“What we’ve tried to emphasize with the receivers is, regardless of who’s playing quarterback, let’s just focus in on what we need to do to be successful on that play. We really do try to stay in the present, regardless of who steps in the huddle. That doesn’t change our job. As I tell the receivers all the time, your job is really easy here: It is to get open, catch the ball, and when we have the opportunity to compete in the run game, we’ll do that. But we have so many things to focus on, so many details that are so necessary in the passing game to be successful, that it really doesn’t matter who steps in the huddle or who throws it to us. It doesn’t change our job as a receiver.”
What can you tell us about Diontae (Johnson) after four days?
“Yeah, Diontae Johnson, just like all of our players right now, are going through the process of training camp, which is, let’s learn the playbook, get to know our teammates, establish our conditioning level, go out and really work on the fundamentals that are important for every successful play. So, Diontae (Johnson) has been one of those guys. He’s come in and he’s working very hard. We have an opportunity, the way Coach (Kevin) Stefanski has done a great job of setting up practice with what you guys see, we’re maximizing reps. We’re getting a lot of reps. So, it allows 1 through 10 in our receiver room, number wise, to go out there and get reps, which is very advantageous for all of our players right now.”
It seems like Jerry (Jeudy) has sort of embraced being that number one guy and everything that comes with it. The leadership, the responsibility. Have you seen that from him too?
“I have. Jerry Jeudy, again I can’t say enough about him as a person. It starts with that. Jerry (Jeudy) is a tremendous person, who does everything he can to put the team first. Jerry (Jeudy) had a tremendous year last year, statistically, and he would be the first to say that he wants to win and wants to put the team first in order to win. Part of Jerry’s (Jeudy) leadership is, you know, he’s not a very vocal guy. So, he really goes and leads by example. If he works hard and he’s at the front of the pack, then everybody files in the receiver room. So again, very positive on all the things I’m going to say about Jerry Jeudy and he’s deserving of that.”
How about Mike Woods (II)? We know he has a hand injury. How is Mike (Woods II) doing and what do you think the outlook is?
“Yeah, I’m not going to leave Coach (Kevin) Stefanski to speak of the injuries, but in terms of Mike Woods, the player, he’s a player that has a multiple position value. The reason he brings that is because he’s got very strong mental and he also has a physical skill set where we can put him in multiple positions along the formation. So, that’s what we tell our players: The more you can do, the more value you’re going to have for this football team. Mike (Woods II), along with a lot of players in our receiver room, the young guys included, have done a great job of establishing a role based on their ability to play in a multiple position role. It starts with their mental capacity to learn the offense. I mean, the rookie receiver group that we have is a tremendous group. They’ve worked extremely hard, they have learned the playbook, exceeded expectations in what they’ve learned, and they’ve allowed themselves to go and play any position when an opportunity presents itself and that will give them opportunities. So, I’m using that group as an example of what we want out of our players. Learn what to do and you’ll have a chance to go out there and maximize your opportunities.”
You said the job doesn’t change regardless of who’s playing quarterback. But with Jerry’s (Jeudy) breakout year, was that a reminder that receiver production can be environment dependent as well?
“Yeah, I mean, I agree. Jerry (Jeudy) did a great job of coming in here and ignoring any noise that was out there. So, he did a tremendous job of ignoring the noise and focusing in on what we wanted him to do to be successful in that play. Jerry’s (Jeudy) very coachable. Guys ask me, are these guys coachable? We have a coachable group and it starts with Jerry Jeudy. So, if he accepts coaching and works hard, good things are going to happen.
What do you think of this general notion that receivers are mercurial or emotional?
“I’ll say I’m very fortunate right now with the Cleveland Browns’ receivers. We have a great group. We have a group that is unselfish. I enjoy coaching those guys. I come in the room every day in a great mood because the group I’m going to stand in front of is tremendous in terms of their work ethic and their humility. Jerry (Jeudy) is at the front helping the younger guys out. It’s been a lot of fun to see that group and the chemistry that we have in the room.
You mentioned the rookie group of receivers. One of those guys we’ve seen is Luke (Floriea). What have you seen out of him the first four days of camp?
“Yeah, Luke (Floriea), similar to our other three rookie receivers we have, has done a great job of learning the offense, coming into camp in great condition. We say your job here is to get open and catch the ball, and he has certainly put that on tape and it has been displayed on the field so far. He’s got a unique skill set to separate tight man coverage, particularly in the slot alignment. So, we’re really excited, as we are with a lot of our players right now, because it’s such an exciting time to see these guys develop and improve. Luke (Floriea) has done a great job of working hard, but certainly has a long way to go, just like all of our players, to include Jerry Jeudy, you know, we have a long way to go. They acknowledge that and just we’re excited about how hard they work to include Luke (Floriea). Luke’s (Floriea) done a great job.”
What does a jump for Cedric Tillman look like this year, and what does he need to do on these fields during training camp in order to do so?
“Yeah, to take the next step for Cedric (Tillman), we talk with all of our players about taking the next step, not just one particular player, this guy’s not the only one to take the next step right? We all have to. I think to take the next step, it’s just consistency. Cedric (Tillman) has proven that he can do it at a high level. He had some real good production prior to his injury last year. We’re really excited about his development, still are. Time on task is what’s critical. He needs to be out here, available. We’re very fortunate that he’s come back, he’s healthy. He had to come out of practice the other day, but we’re moving forward. He’s healthy and has done a great job, and his availability, it starts with that and th just overall, consistency is what’s most important with Cedric (Tillman) right now.”
How grateful were you that you dodged that bullet with Ced the other day?
“Yeah, I mean, as a coach, when you step on the field, the most important thing is the health of your team, especially your guys. Selfishly, the guys you coach, you’re like family with those guys. So, I think we were really excited, obviously, that Cedric (Tillman) popped up and was able to practice yesterday. Moving forward, he’s a full participant, and we expect him to come out here and do what he’s done, and that’s improve and work hard.”
From last year to this point, have you seen Jerry Jeudy kind of take that next step in his leadership?
“Yeah, I mean, Jerry’s (Jeudy) done a great job of leadership, and I think leadership is not just what you say, but it’s what you do, and that’s what Jerry’s (Jeudy) done. He’s put a product on tape that has been very good at a high level. He’s played at a high level, and that’s allowed him to go out there and show the way. He’s done it through his actions, and I’ve been really excited about Jerry (Jeudy) and where he is. Jerry’s (Jeudy) done a great job of managing expectations. So, we’re not looking to make any comparisons to last year. Last year is done. We’re just trying to do the best we can for the team to win, and that’s what Jerry’s (Jeudy) done.”
Kevin (Stefanski) has praised guys in the past for their versatility. Jerry’s (Jeudy) one of those guys. How important is it to have guys that can line up anywhere in a formation?
“I think it’s one of the most important traits of a player within our offense. Versatility is so important. If you can do more than just one role, it increases your chances to play and earn a role for the team. So, I think we’ve challenged each of these guys to do something beyond what their normal role is and the only thing that prevents somebody from doing that sometimes is the mental ability to learn. So, we are fortunate that we have a bunch of smart guys in the receiver room that will allow them to play in a multiple position role.”
Pads, come on today. I know we talk about, like the offensive and defensive line, how that impacts them but for your group, what does that do for you guys? How does that impact training camp?
“Yes, super excited, as a receiver coach that the pads are on because we get to compete in the run game, and that’s such a part of playing the receiver position. We take a lot of pride in it. I think if you’re a great running football team, you have receivers that are unselfish, that are going to block in the run game. So, I am very excited to go out on the field today and see who will compete in the run game. We challenged the guys just 10 minutes ago in the meeting. As I stand here right now, we’re looking forward to getting in the pads. I know our whole team is looking forward to being in pads, but certainly the receivers are too.”
How does the Kenny Pickett injury impact your group right now?
“Regardless of who’s stepping in the huddle, now there’s one less, but it doesn’t affect us at all as far as our job. Our job is to focus in on the details and the assignment of that play. Again, we have so much on our plate, from route-running details to the assignment of the play, that regardless of who’s in the huddle, who’s throwing the ball. I always joke that I could be out there playing quarterback, and really it doesn’t change, their job doesn’t change. Obviously, the completion percentage would probably decrease significantly if I was playing, right? But their job doesn’t change. Their job is to get open and catch the ball. We have so many things to focus in on, so it doesn’t affect us at all.”
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