Select Browns Players (9.27.26)
G Austin Barber
Third quarter not good, fourth quarter really good. Did something change from where you saw other than the results?
“We went out there and just played, and I feel like we did things well in the fourth quarter. It’s part of football, it’s gonna happen. There’s gonna be things like that. I’m just really proud of this team, how we competed and how we battled for 60 minutes.”
It was an insane last four minutes, what was it like in the huddle?
“Yeah you dream for those moments, especially in the NFL. Just super cool to do it with the guys on the field and even the guys on the sideline that are out there cheering for us. It’s awesome.”
What did you think of the run game today?
“I think we did some good things. There’s some things we have to clean up, that’s football. I just feel like you have to get better every single week.”
TE Harold Fannin Jr.
What is it about Todd that has you guys responding to him so well?
“Obviously, he is our head coach (Todd Monken). So, he has a lot of faith in us. He breathes life into us. We obviously play for the fans and things like that, but we play for him. He puts so much life into us which gives us the confidence to go out and play. ”
What about Deshaun and how he played today, as well as the stuff he was able to do on the ground?
“He balled out. I see it every day. He is a consistent guy. He is going to put it all on the line and I love that. ”
How much fun is it to play with Deshaun Watson?
“On a day like today, it is really fun. I know that going out there, I just have to continue working. He talks to me on the sideline, just trying to grow and build that connection. Today it paid off. ”
DT Mason Graham
What got into you? It was a dominating performance.
“Nothing really. Just playing my technique. Worked hard in practice. When you work hard in practice it comes to fruition in the game.”
What about the ending for you guys – it looked like DB got a hand or an arm on that pass, and Ronnie comes up with the interception.
“Something we preached all week was that we were going to have 60 minutes of hell. That’s something that Coach Rudy (Mike Rutenberg) came to us early in the week with that motto. We kind of just played 60 minutes and we needed to play 60 minutes today.”
It seemed like you guys were getting too much pressure early that even when he wasn’t under pressure, Panthers QB Bryce Young was sailing passes. Did you sense that there was maybe pressure even when there wasn’t?
“Yeah, I feel like that was our main thing. Earlier in the past two games, he was sitting in the pocket. No one was really touching him and he was able to tee off on defenses. That was a big emphasis for us to get back there on motion four and just do what we do.”
Did it seem like the game was not going to end for the defense? You guys kept having to go out there.
“It is what it is. Like I said, we had to play 60 minutes and that’s what we came here to do, and that’s what we get paid to do.”
How good did it feel to make those two sacks at such crucial points in the game?
“It feels really good. Just seeing the practice habits come to life. It’s really what it is. Just also my guys up front. We all work together on those rushes, it wasn’t just me. It was fun out there today.”
Is there a difference in the way you’re playing this year?
“I wouldn’t say there’s a difference. I think I took a little step. Last year, I was still playing good in my eyes, I just wasn’t getting the production off of it. I just feel like it’s all coming back to fruition this year.”
S Ronnie Hickman
What was going through your mind at the end of the game when you saw that play unfold?
“The ball was in the air for a minute and, you know, when the ball is in the air for that long, things can go wrong. So, I was just making sure I was able to catch it.”
Being able to secure the win, what was it like with the defense having those two stands against the two drives?
“It was huge. Anytime it is on us, we want it that way. Being able to come up for our offense and our team and get the win was huge for us.”
To go back to the actual pick, what did you see there? Did DB (Derek Barnett) get a hand on that upfront up there?
“Yeah, I don’t know if it hit his arm or hit him but it caused the ball to float in the air a little bit. So once I saw it in the air, it was coming right to me. Normally when it is in the air for that long, things can go wrong. So, I was just glad that I was able to come down with it and hold on.”
DE Isaiah McGuire
You were right there on (S) Ronnie’s (Hickman) interception, you were in (QB) Bryce Young’s face. Walk me through that play and what happened there and how you guys were able to close that one out?
“We knew we had to close the pocket altogether. Playing together is what we talk about in our room and Ronnie Hickman just made a heck of a play.”
You guys all day were in Bryce Young’s face, how were you able to affect him in so many different ways?
“We just all know that we are rushers. From me to (DE Jared) Verse, to (DT) Mike Hall, to the inside to the outside, like (DE) Sam Williams, (DE Derek) Barnett, (DT) Adin (Huntington) all of us. We come with that mentality each and every day.”
To get back-to-back wins now, how big is it to get that momentum, to feel it going forward now to a quick, short week Thursday night?
“It feels real good. We know that everyone is not perfect but it’s hard to win in this league, so we’re gonna appreciate it at the end of the day. Like you said, we got a game Thursday so we have to move on.”
How does it feel to play in front of the home crowd?
“It felt fantastic, they are the best fans in the league. We just know through the ups and downs, the fans show up no matter what. That is greatly appreciated from the locker room and within the organization.”
DE Jared Verse
Big win. What does it say about this team, backs against the wall and you’re able to pull through?
“That’s how it’s supposed to be. Offense firing off on all cylinders. Defense shutting down everything. 18 points is a little too much. We gotta knock them down a little bit more. We can do better as a defense as a whole.”
You guys got a lot of pressure on Bryce [Young]. Even when you weren’t getting home you could tell he was feeling it.
“We knew their weaknesses and we focused on them all week. I was like, ‘I’m going to stop working on all of these flashy moves and everything like that. I gotta get back to my bread and butter.’ And that’s just running up in their face.”
How do you balance you standing up like a linebacker and rushing from over the top on some of those looks and Mike [Hall Jr.] coming off the edge? It seems like there has been more experimenting, how do you like that?
“It makes their keys a little bit different. It gets them messed up, gets them a little bit flustered. For more I’m just running and causing havoc.”
On that Mason Graham sack you pushed Rasheed Walker right into Bryce Young and made him step up and let Mason finish it off from there. What did you see on that play and what was your mindset going into a game clinching play like that?
“I told everybody before the game I’m just gonna run through their face. Not overselling or underselling it or anything like that. I’m just gonna keep walking them back until I make them uncomfortable. It’s going to make him have to run around, you guys just clean everything up.”
Isaiah [McGuire] had a big game too, can you talk about his performance and what you’ve seen from his development?
“Zay is one of the people I’ve attached myself to very well since I’ve gotten here, especially playing opposite of him. We’ve been able to focus a lot on how we’re going to key up and attack the game, specifically with switching sides. Zay is just a baller. He’s a hooper. That’s who he is.”
LB Quincy Williams
How about (DT) Mason (Graham) today?
“He is balling out two sacks today. We talked about him during the week, going through his preparation throughout the week saying it was sacks. So it was great to actually see the hard work on the field then. He then was like ‘I told you sacks!’ and I was like ‘yeah I like that’. ”
I think you led the team in tackles today?
“Me? I’m trying to lead this team by example, number one. Just trying to lead by my play and not just being a vocal leader. So me being a vocal leader helps a lot after I make plays and stuff. So I like that, the past couple of weeks I haven’t played up to my potential or what they brought me here to do. So today, being at home and then also just making a pact with myself saying ‘all right, let’s start something different’.”
It looked like you guys were doing some different things rush wise, moving (DE) Jared (Verse) around more and it looks like you benefitted from some of that. So what about that kind of led you to get more pressure on (QB) Bryce (Young)?
“Speed and violence, speed and violence, playing fast, not doing a lot of thinking and stuff like that.”
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