Special Teams Coordinator Byron Storer (9.17.26)
Obviously, losing Dylan (Sampson) was obviously a disappointment, but being able to sub Rocket (Raheim Sanders) in there and he didn’t really seem to miss a beat. Can you talk about how seamless that transition from Dylan to Rocket was?
“Well, I think it starts with practice reps. We rotate a ton of guys back there, and we have been doing it since the spring. So, it’s a next-man-up mentality. Really tough to lose Dylan, but I’m really proud of the way Rocket went out there and played, and he pretty much made it undeniable, he deserves a chance to be out there. So, he took advantage of an opportunity. Really excited for him.”
What about the 74-yard return that was so successful? What about the sequence where Malachi (Corley) got that block on the edge, and how Rocket used it?
“Yeah, it was really a combination of Mike (Michael) Burton, Tylan Wallace, Blake Whiteheart, and then Malachi getting the block right there at the end to seal it. It was a fun play, and now I feel like I’m so far removed from it, I’m on to the next one. But it’s a testament to the guys blocking up front, and then Rocket going out there, trusting his eyes and hitting it, and showing the speed that he has out there.”
Byron, when you have that kind of success, can Tampa Bay look at that film and predict what you’re going to do next? And then do you have to make a counter move on your return? How does that all work?
“I think, you know, you’re playing a game, so obviously our opponent is going to be watching our game film. So, we have to take that into consideration, that they’re going to be watching what we do, our alignments, and everything, and just be conscious of that and make adjustments accordingly.”
Todd (Monken) mentioned he was happy about the returns, but he also mentioned a couple of penalties on special teams. So how annoying is that, and how do you go about cleaning it up?
“Oh, yeah, the penalties have got to be eliminated. We cannot beat ourselves. I think that we had a drive start on the minus-17. I’m blanking on the second one, it was inside the 20. So, you talk about having great field position for the most part on kick return throughout the game, but then you got two drive starts inside the 20, and it really kind of equals out the good things that you did. So, we cannot beat ourselves. And what we emphasize on Wednesday when we’re watching the tape is to make sure we get our hand placement right and make sure that if we get in a position where we have to restrict somebody, we have to let him go. We have to let them go. That’s what happens, is when you get your hands on him and now, he gets outside the framework, guys naturally want to hold on to him to keep him in the framework. You have got to let him go, or else they’re going to call it. And what happens is, sometimes the returners too, they’ll break out outside the blocking, because, shoot, they see, like Rocket had on our last return, where he kind of broke it out toward the field. And once they break outside the leverage of the blockers, that’s when those holding penalties occur.”
How nice was it for you guys to provide a spark in the return game, not only on that first return by Dylan, but obviously the 74-yarder, in a game where nothing else seemed to be going right?
“We just kept talking in the huddle, each time we got an opportunity to go out there on kick return or any phase, that’s kind of what we want to be, is a momentum starter for our team. So, it’s really a testament to the guys that I get a chance to work with every day. Those guys take it very seriously on the practice field, in the meeting rooms, on game day, and they want to be that for this team. So, it was pretty cool for us to have a good practice all week, good plan, good meetings, good walkthroughs, and then go out there and execute, and they get a chance to have some success and feel good about it.”
Was there a reason why Denzel (Boston) only returned once in the end? Is that a part of the rotation you are trying to put in?
“Like I said, we’re not just going to have one returner back there, we’re going to use multiple returners. I feel very comfortable with Denzel. With KC (Concepcion Jr.) and Denzel back there, I feel very comfortable that they’re going to make very good decisions. And when you look at that punt, it’s a banana-style punt, I know that’s kind of a key word these days, it’s one of those odd, spinning punts. Wes (Pahl), actually our practice-squad punter, he’s really good at those banana balls, and the amount of reps we’ve gotten over the course of training camp and the offseason, for him to go out there and catch that ball clean is huge.”
Speaking of Wes, why’d you bring him back? Was it just to provide a look in practice? What was the thinking there?
“Yeah, well, first of all, Corey (Bojorquez) is the punter, 100%. I got to do a shout-out to Corey, because he played a really good game. He held Parker Washington to minus-five yards in the game. I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen a punt average and a net average where the net is higher than the average. So, he’s the punter, there’s no doubt about it. The thing about Wes is that he is a very talented football player, and you want to stash talented football players on your practice squad and continue to develop those guys. And Wes understands, like last week he was on, we cut him, it’s kind of a week-to-week thing for him. But if we have the opportunity to have him on the practice squad, we’re going to try to have that luxury. But if we don’t, then we’ll go the other direction. Corey is the punter. Wes does a great job for us in practice, and we think he’s very talented, and that he has a chance to play in the NFL this year, if not next year.”
Of all the positions on your special teams, which do you think is the most difficult to play?
“The most difficult to play? That’s a great question. I would say, honestly, it’s single-press corner outside against gunners. You’re one-on-one with a guy that’s going to run a vertical route on you essentially, and you have got to try to stop him down there. That’s why teams’ vice, they get two-on-one, these gunners out there now, they have great speed, they have great strength, they have length, they have quickness. You’re on an island out there all by yourself, at corner, playing against those gunners in single press.”
What does it take to be a good personal protector and how did Donovan (McMillon) do that?
“The personal protector? Yeah, I think it takes, he’s like the quarterback of the punt team. So, you got to be really diligent and disciplined with your preparation. You got to really buy in. We meet on Tuesdays, me and Donovan, and a number of guys that get personal-protector reps, and we go over all the looks, what we could potentially see, and it kind of sets the tone for the week. And Donovan is super detailed, smart, and reliable, and he’s able to take that meeting, and the meetings after, throughout the week, and kind of apply them on the practice field. So, the guys have confidence in him, I have confidence in him, and he’s able to go out there and basically execute the game plan the way that we want. So, he’s the guy that we really trust to get everyone in the right spots.”
# # #
***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.***