From the PodiumWelcome to the first episode of From the Podium in twenty twenty five. I'm Gab Colera. We hope everyone is having a happy new year so far. The Browns will close out the regular season this Saturday in Baltimore against the Ravens. On today's episode, you'll hear from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, special teams coordinator Bubba Van Trone, quarterbacks Dorian Thompson Robinson and Bailey Zappi, offensive guard Joel Botonio qurnerback Denzel Ward, and safety Grant Delpit. A packed show today, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey will kick us off, and he spoke on his first season in Cleveland as a coordinator.
Yeah, you know, I think the whole thing with him is like he's prepared, like like he's been, you know, a player, like a starter. So he does a good job with his preparation. He's played a good amount ball obviously, so he's got good experience, strong arm, smart, you know. So I think he's he's put himself in position for for the potential of the opportunity right there. But uh, you know, we've got we've got faith in in that room. That we just got to go out and play at a high level and protect the football and and do the right things. And you know, if if he's out there, we expect him to do that.
I think is the last time I've been talking to you before before the season ends. Just what was I would you describe his experience in Cleveland this first year. Obviously the on field success maybe not being what well in envision, but I'm just trying to kind of parts the season and like, what what things didn't really go your way in terms of the offense.
Well, yeah, I mean, obviously the biggest thing is, you know, just didn't win enough games. And and at the end of the day, you know that that comes down to score enough points to do it. You know, you gotta figure out a way to at least score one more. And and uh, obviously we gotta we gotta do that more. And and uh wasn't Uh wasn't something that we expected and and and anticipated, But you know, you gotta you go through, you go through these times. You know, it's like life. You know, you get you get punched in the gut sometimes in life, and and for us it's gonna be not about you know, anything else. Than how you respond. You know, you gotta respond in life, you gotta respond in ball, and we're gonna have to do that this week and and then moving forward in the future. So you know, it's kind of put in perspective for me a lot you know, went through some you know, uh, watching watching, uh, you know, some of my immediate family kind of go through some some stuff this year, you know, and and how she handled it, you know, through uh, you know, going through a situation you know, uh, cancer diagnosis and and everything like that, and just how how she was able to handle that and and and really be strong through the pain she was having through the treatments and and things like that. It really gave me a perspective about what what fighting is all about, and what and how important that is. And it really gave me a perspective. And not to get on a soapbox here, but anybody who's going through that, just keep fighting, you know, and fight and and get through it. Because seeing it firsthand, that was that was a first for me. And uh, you know, put put a lot of things in perspective about you know, one, how how strong she is, but also you know, how strong you've got to be in life and and how strong will have to be as a football team moving forward. And that's going to be the expectation that I have for this for this unit moving forward, you know, this week and in the future years.
We're running about it. But how is she doing that?
Good?
Yeah? Really good?
Thank you?
Yeah, So.
That's you guys know, it's those things are processes that you gotta do. I get ruin. So we're we're early in the stage of treatments, but uh in the treatment, but you know, getting through it.
DTR was pretty hard out of himself after both and he just looks really shaken. What can you what can you do to salvage anything for him?
Look, I mean he's a young, young player, and you know he's these are these are early games that he's starting and and with every single rep you take in this league, especially game action, you're gonna learn and he's gonna learn and continue to grow, you know. And I believe that with him. He's got an incredible work ethic. Uh, he's got an incredible drive and determination, great skill set. You know, he's just got to keep working and get better every single every single day, every single uh, every single rep he gets. So I think we just got to continue to to work at it, continue to grind and and he's gonna to grow as as a player with all these reps. And you know, uh, like any player, you're gonna be disappointed if you don't perform up to the standard in what you set for yourself. And and you want that from a player because you want that drive. You want him to to feel like, Okay, I can be better than this, because he's going to keep working to go get it. So we're we're gonna keep working with him and making sure that we're doing everything we can to put him in position to to make sure he's grown as a player.
You know, we we'd ask you about, you know, various issues with the offense or whatever. But now you're in the final week, Just why was this so tough to fix? And you know, do you have a pretty good idea of what it's going to take to fix.
It for next season?
That's a really good question. I think in terms of next season, you know, I think there's gonna be a great evaluation, you know, in the offseason, you know of looking at Okay, here's what here's what we got to do better, Here's where you know, here's the things we gotta to fix moving forward, and a lot of it's just gonna come down to just our consistency. You know, you see flashes of it, and and you know, we've just got to make sure that we're playing at a level we are capable playing on a consistent basis, you know, no matter what if that's a new concept, an old concept, anything like that. So at the end of the day, you know, we're gonna go through those processes in the off season. We're gonna evaluate everything to make sure that we're putting our guys in the right position, uh to be successful. And I think that's that's gonna be an important part of the offseason. And when these guys come in, you know they're gonna be they're gonna be ready to roll in terms of, hey, here's what we're gonna do to fix this, to make sure that we're we're operating at a high level in one of the top offense in the league.
With some uncertainty about just how the franchise, the team is gonna move forward in the offseason. But have you spoken to Kevin about returning next year and would you'd like to return?
You know, obviously you know.
I'm just focused on this week. Yeah, that's that's my focus. Uh, we'll cross those bridges you know next week.
Had to call upon Jameis Winston for this week. Do you feel like his shoulder would be able to handle.
Yeah, I think, you know, it's continuing to get better. And you know, I think yesterday was a walk through practice, so we'll we'll evaluate that kind of today tomorrow to make sure in these full speed practices, you know, to make sure that that he's able to to operate at a level that that he can do it throw in the football, you know, and and I think, uh, I think he's been been close in the previous weeks. We'll just continue to operate that as we go here.
It could be said he doesn't know if he's getting retired this season or not. What's it been like for your coaching him this year, and just what kind of a level is he still playing in.
Yeah, I mean he's he's been an anchor for us, you know, and and just you know in there all the time. I mean, shoot the mouse snaps he has this season and and I think he's leading the league and in number of snaps in the season, I believe, so, Uh, in the NFL. Uh, So he's playing playing, still playing at a high level, you know. And and he's a smart, tough, dependable football player. And that's what you look for in offense, is we want we want players who are smart, tough and dependable. And that's you know, embodied in in his DNA. So very fortunate to have him and and uh, obviously I think he was definitely playing at a at a high level this year.
Said Tillman. What do you feel like the outlook is like for said going forward?
Yeah, I mean, obviously it's unfortunate having had him, you know available. The past few weeks have been good opportunities, uh for him to continue to grow as a football player. So I think the big thing for him is going to be getting you know, getting the work in, getting back once he's healthy and and and picking up really where he left off, because I thought, you know, he was ascending in in a really positive direction, you know, and and uh, unfortunately, you know, uh he had the injury. Uh that set back there. Guys have really kind of stepped up in his in a stead. But he did a lot for us from you know, blocking, receiving, you know a lot of different things contact vertically underneath went on quick routes. So I think the ceiling is very high for him as he continues to grow as a football player.
Like DTR and some of those like second level drows where you gotta you know, kind of love over the guy. Does he have to get better in that area? Sometimes it looks like everything comes out kind of yeah.
Yeah, I think obviously guys with with that type of arm talent, which you know, I never really had to worry about too much, but uh, guys like that, you know, I think that's a that's a growing curve, you know because uh, sometimes stronger arm guys want to see it open and then fire it in there. Now, I do think he has that that ability to do that, and it's just a comfort level for him. And and again that's a that's growth, you know. When I was here with with da you know, he was he was a guy of strong arm, see it open, you know, fit in tight windows and those types of things. When I played with him here, when I coached him in Carolina, his his mentality completely changed to an anticipator and laying it in windows and throwing those incuts you know, five yards before they even come out. Breaks and those types of things. So that's a that's a growth that that these guys will have and and I think Dorian's growing in that that regard, and I think you see flashes of it, you know, and it'll continue to grow for him, like a lot of these guys who have, you know, the arm talent that he has.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz raved about the play of Miles Garrett this season.
Considering the circumstances and everything, You're gonna have some young guys out there, Isaiah Mike, is this maybe the best situation for him to get kind of a true you know, going into the offseason evaluation. When you're you're not facing the Ravens backups, they're gonna have to defend against, you know, two time MVP Derrick Henry all of that. You kind of look at that, you know, I don't want to say best case scenario, but but in terms of big picture, long term, yeah.
I don't know.
I don't know if I like go with that, because Isaiah's played a lot of football against a lot of people this year, and Mike has played when he's been either when he's been healthy or not suspended, So he's been out. I mean, so it's not like this is just a continuation for them. It's not like, oh wow, this is an audition. You know, we're gonna do everything we can to win the game. And you know, in spots, those guys have played good football for us this year, so they're gonna have to work cut out for him. It's a really good running attack and you have a quarterback component to it, and then you got to chase the most elusive quarterback in the NFL that can extend plays and also can throw long time. So there's a lot of challenges and you know, not just Mike Orsey, but we need our whole defensive line and the whole coordinated coverage to be able to play well.
Puts a lot of stress on your defense.
If you're in if you're in zone coverage, then he can he can buy time, and then you're trying to plaster receivers that are running playgroundish routes, you know, trying to get open. But then if you lead the quarterback alone, he can you know, he can go rush for first down or make a big play.
We've seen that a lot too, you know.
And then if you're in man, the man a lot of times it gets empty and he's.
Got a lot of rooms.
So we're got to be disciplined in our rushes. We're going to be disciplined in our coverage, and we're gonna have to do a good job stopping the run because that's where it all starts and keep Derrick Henry from going north south.
Miles last layer.
I think, I think after the last game he spoke about the kind of the future of this defense and saying that it's clear that there's you know, that there's talent to work with in terms of maybe the young talent, especially on the defensive line. Have you left do you kind of leave this season thinking that you do have a young core that's ready to step into bigger now.
You know, we're trying not to be so much in the evaluation mode right now. You know, we respect this game too much and we've got a game to go out there and and and win, So we'll leave the evaluation stuff, you know, till the end of the season and those kind of things. But I think we have seen some improvement from some guys. We talked about a couple, but Jowan Briggs has really been a improving player for us every time he's gone out, he's played, He's played better, he's been powerful, he's been active. You know, he's he's assignment sound, and I think that's you know, he started to year, you know, inactive practice squad and then moved up and you know, had some rough spots early, but his his arrow has definitely been up.
And you know.
Sam Kamara sort of the same way started off on the practice squad has given us some good some good reps in there. So there's some good things from from some from some young guys in there.
This is rodnery Cloud's last game, So what does he mean as he meant to your defense?
And how will you be missed?
Yeah, I mean he's meant a lot to this organization, to the city, He's meant a lot to me personally. I've coached Rod five seven years now, seven of his thirteen or fourteen, whatever it's been for him. He's the guy that everybody in the locker room looks up to because he's a consummate pro. But he also backs that up with with quality play on the field. I know, like our safeties coaches have put together a lot of like teach tape kind of things for off season and training camp and things like that, and Rod is at the middle of a lot of those because his technique is so good. And when you're you know, fourteen years in the league, you know it's it's father time, and eventually your physical skills are going to go, you know, decline a little bit.
But Rod is really.
Offset that by his competitiveness and his outstanding technique. He's been an inspiration for a lot of people. But he's been a great example for the young guys on our team.
And you know, we owe it to Rod.
To to be able to come out and and make his last game a success successful one, come out with a win. That would be a big thing for us to win on the road at Baltimore.
It's easy to look at you know.
I know he might not get to.
Talk to you anymore.
But last year, the defense at the top is it.
Kevin talked about that turnover ratio and to be I mean, there still give up thirty two turnovers, but the defense hasn't hadn't taken away. I know you stress it, but does that give hope that you know, the ball doesn't always bounce that way?
Yeah, I'm not that far off.
Yeah, I mean sometimes that happens. You know, I think that statistically the fumbles, the fumbles lost for an offense as a tendency to get lack of better term, random. You know, it can go high, it can go low. You know, I'd like to come down with a few more interceptions. And that's a combination of Russia and coverage. You know, you get good pressure and the quarterback goes office back foot and you know, ball sale and you know, we've.
Had a chance to make it. Like the first game we.
Played these guys, we had the ball in our hands I think four times in that game and we came down with zero of the and we still won the game, but we came down with none. And our guys are trying really hard. But obviously turnovers are the lifeblood of your team offensively and defensively, and we certainly haven't done enough of that this year. And that'll be a big point of emphasis. It's always a point of emphasis, but it'll be a big point of emphasis from person personnel acquisition scheme and also technique.
That's your Miles one defense player of the Year this year, he's tied through the league lead in sacks with the same number he had last year. How'd you compare the two seasons.
That you had.
Yeah, I mean our team was better last year, but it's hard to say that Miles isn't better this year. I mean, he's leading the NFL and sacks are tied. He's leading the league and tackles for losses and you guys know, like with me, it's like, you know, hey, you sacked a guy for four yards, or you get to tackle for a loss for four yards. As a coach, it's second and fourteen, right, you know, so I don't look at those a lot different. But leading the league in both of those categories and sees more double teams than anybody in the league. They don't just double them on third down. And you know, I mean part of having you know that as heavy as the head that where's the crown? You know, they know he wears number ninety five. You see guys identify wherever he lines up. We move them all over the place, but you know, he's pretty easy to find, and he fights doubles not just on third down, but first and second down also. And you know, I think I've said this before, but it reminds me a lot of when I had Calvin Johnson twenty twelve in Detroit and Calvin set the all time single season receiving record, and we had a bunch of injuries. We couldn't run the ball, you know, we'd had some injuries at wide out.
You know, it didn't have enough other guys.
He faced doubles every single time, never got one on ones, and he was able to set the all time receiving record. Still stands in my mind. Miles of season is a little bit like that. We haven't had a chance to rush a lot. We haven't had a lead a lot of times, and a lot of times those sacks and turnovers in that regard come when you do have a lead and the offense has to be risky or they have to try to make a throw, or they have to throw more than they want to. They get predictable, and you know, it's just you know, where we where we've been this year, we haven't had a lot of those opportunities for Miles or other guys to be able to rush so across his his metrics have been better or the same as last year when he won Player of the Year. It's just that the team hasn't, you know, been as successful around him. But I think that. You know, sometimes, you know, when when you have a season like we've had, you can lose individual accomplishment. He also did it with you know, had fighting some some injuries early in the season too, So he's he's been able to stay focused. I mean, it's it's hard, like when you go out and you get doubled every single play, but he still battles and he's still found a way to be successful, still has a high win percentage, still has the pressures, still has a really good pressure rate and sacks, and you know, I've been really proud of his effort this year.
Since junior.
What do you feel like the upside is for him in terms of kind of balancing back from what seems to be a little bit of a down season for him.
Yeah, the biggest thing has just been finishing at the ball.
There's a lot of metrics that his coverage has been just as tight this year as last year, but there's a little better finish at the ball. So that's got to be a point of emphasis. I would say this about MJ is he has really really improved this year as a tackler, particularly over the last few games, and that was a big point of emphasis and he's a tall guy that sometimes it's hard for those guys. It's you know, your high center of gravity, tall and long, it's hard in the open field. But I've been really impressed, number one, with his commitment to doing it and working at it and also you know, putting it on putting it on film the way that he has. And so he's found a way to improve part of his game.
And like I.
Said, you know, some of it also is just you know, finishing at the ball, and you know, some of it can also be you know a little bit what I talked about before with offenses. Don't really feel the need to be you know, to attempt too many those just from you know, the way the season has gone or the way the scores and the games have been.
So all those things affect the corner.
They affect your interceptions and your sacks and things like that.
You know. So but I have been proud.
Of his commitment and his improvement and tackling game because to be a complete corner you need to be able to do those things.
And yeah, some of the things that Rodney mccoud brings to the locker room, I know he's not alone in that.
As a coach, how much have.
You leaned on the players that are leading their respective position groups through you know, the ups.
And downs of this season.
Yeah, you know, you know, coaches have a role in your team. And you know, I've said this part of my thing for years, and I think Rodney. I was proud of when Rodney said the same thing because it's something that I preached. But I've been around a lot of really good teams that were coach led leadership. I've never been around a great team that wasn't player led leadership, and Rodney just exemplifies that. But we've gotten we've gotten some you know, really good leadership from some other guys too. You know, I'd point to Jordan Hicks that way, Dalvin Tomlinson, you know, those those player led leaders that have been around that have seen highs and lows in this league. They know how to be resilient. You know, they've they've found a way to be productive in multiple schemes. Those guys are incredible resources for young guys, and you know, there are important members of important members, valuable members of a franchise and valuable to their teammates.
He's a hard greater, but Jason or Jordan Hicks always gets good grades from him.
How well is Jordia played.
For this year?
Yeah, I mean it's that's another one that's sort of falling in the way the wayside. You know, he's he's just always in the right spot. The play that he made on Snoop last week when he triggered on the on the on the scramble, knocked the stiff arm down, you know, forced him to throw it away. That's that's a that's another teach tape. Kind of played as exactly the way you want it done. His angle, his technique, everything. He's had to play a couple of different positions just because of the injuries that we've had. You know, he started off as as the full time mic, but then when we lost Jeremiah, he sort of moved into Jeremiah's role a little bit more first and second down and you know, but still had to play the mic at different times.
Yeah, he's he's been.
He's certainly been, you know, a good player for us, and we look forward to him doing.
A lot more for us too.
Came back next year, I'll leave that to Kevin and Ab Like, it's never my thing to talk about who's coming back. Or even to talk about injuries. So I'll just leave that there, Okay, all right, guys, Hey, Happy New Year. Also, you know, I notice has been a it has been a tough year for the Browns. It's been a tough year for you guys and everything else. And part of your job is, you know, you have to be critical at times, and you have to ask some tough questions. But you guys have always managed to do that with respect and professionalism, and I really appreciate that. I hope that I've done the same for you guys, So Happy New Year.
Special teams coordinator Bubbavan Trone reflected on the first season with the dynamic kickoff rule in the NFL.
One a lot, you know, just giving the circumstances of the office this year. But I think he finished top ten in fan voting amongst the Punders.
Pretty get out of the season.
I thought.
I think Corey's had a good year. I think that he's improved in a number of areas. I think his directional placement has definitely improved. I think he's shown that he's had he's been able to have much better control than he had last year in the plus fifty, So he's done a good job with us being able to create field position for our defense in those in those types of situations.
A by product of obviously, it's a by product of the work he's put in. Yeah, what else would I mean? Is it was there anything he specifically changed during the off season coming into this season.
No, that was it was a big I would say point of emphasis for us heading into last offseason, and I felt like we missed on some opportunities last year in those areas of the field.
And I think that he did he did a good job.
He really applied you know, himself and did a good job with the practice reps and we just I would say, we hit more more of those plus fifty balls throughout.
The spring training camp. Then obviously end of the.
Season he was on kick returns and it's like.
You have to watch the game on Saturday to say we have we have a lot of options.
Yep, you expected to not have either of those guys.
We'll see, we'll see what happens.
Similarly, what do you make of you know, dustin season and do you just chalk it up to a tough year and just you know, how do you think he has handled you know, the difficulty.
That he's had to deal with.
Yeah, I think he's handled it, I would say in a professional manner. I think that he's doing everything he can to to get it right. Has hit the ball well the last few weeks, and obviously we had one opportunity last week that he converted on which was good. But have a lot of confidence in him moving forward on and being our kicker. So I think that obviously it's been an inconsistent season for him.
With Mike Vrable leaving now, how valuable was.
It to have him in the building a year.
We talked for a while the other day. I'm gonna I'm gonna really miss him. I obviously he was like a big brother to me as whenever I was a young player in New England and then obviously being able to cross paths again here, it was it was great to have him around. I obviously have a ton of respect for him. He's an incredible football mind. Whoever ends up hiring that guy is getting an incredible person. Uh former player in hell of a coach. So I love Mike and I'll miss him.
How you compare your special teams.
This year to last year?
Over I would you know, every season. Every season is different, you know, the personnel you have is you know, different in most seasons. This was a younger group than we had last year. And obviously the new the new kickoff kickoff return play throws a completely different wrinkle into the into the results you're gonna see, you know, And I would say this overall, it wasn't up to my standard. The units that I've coached, we haven't played to the level that I that I expect our our our units.
To play out.
So we got to do a better good job, better job of coaching and executing.
You mentioned that could kickoff rule. Do you think it sticks in what tweets could we see next year?
Yeah, I think it'll stick. I think it'll stick. I think it's brought some excitement. You know, there's definitely been a higher return rate. I don't know exactly what the numbers are right off the top, but I think that it'll stick.
I think that there will definitely be some.
Tweaks I could I could see potentially moving the touch back even further up the field to the thirty five that would that would generate more returns. And I could even see them potentially moving the ball back to the thirty yard line to eliminate the junk ball type kicks because I think the play is definitely cleaner when the ball is in the air and not on the ground, And if you want to see returns, then you're not incentivizing putting the ball on the ground. I don't in me personally, I don't like the role that I'll definitely say this on the record, I do not like the role of hit the ball, hitting the ground and rolling through the end zone in a touchback going to the twenty yard line. To me, that doesn't incentivize returns. That incentivize is like you know, valuing a guy that can play soccer. So to me, that's not if you want to if you want returns, then you know, kick the ball in the air and have the guys force the returns.
Of the kind of minute punting question when you do have a situation where you're punting more kind of backed up in your own territory and the end zone is like intuitively that you would expect a lesser hang time almost kicks just just because you're trying to like flip the field or is it kind of like is that a different situation.
Than I was like when you're trying to. Yeah, it depends on it depends on.
The area of the field, how far backed up you are, and it depends on the type of return that you're going against. Also that that's gonna factor in the type of ball that we're going to hit. Uh, there's a there's there's often times where like if you're backed up inside like your own five yard line, you're gonna have to operate a little bit faster because there's not as much you know, you typically align like fourteen and a half to fifteen yards snapped to the punter. The ball is on the two yard line, you don't have as much space. You have to work faster, and you're probably not gonna hit as good of a ball when you're backed up like that and having to operate that much faster.
So, I mean, across the board throughout the league, this year just seemed like there were more blocked kick at times when you guys obviously have the one that Delly Just what do you think that is with.
That trend this year?
You know what, I'm not sure I would say that there's definitely I think some of the schemes have been you know, pretty pretty I would say executed execute it well. Some teams have gotten away with some I would say not dirty type play, but there's been some things where you see teams like I don't know if you've seen this on the field goal block, but teams are like grabbing offensive lineman's arms and like pulling them out and when you do that, it creates space in a gap. Sometimes the officials see it. A lot of times they don't. And I know a number of teams have you know, been able to come up with blocks as a result of those players. And the New Orleans has done it, uh And we warned the officials went before we played them about that and a lot of other teams have done it as well, so.
We have not done it.
Justin Tucker has gotten himself back on track and does that maybe inform what could happen with with Dustin.
Yeah, I hit on that, I want to say last week or maybe the week before that. You know, it's to me, that's a that's a good thing for for any kicker that has you know, has had some struggles, is to see obviously he's the best in the game in my opinion right now, Justin Justin Tucker as like a kicker uh, and obviously have had a little bit of a struggle mid season and then being able to sell correct and apply it and make it and hit the ball. Well, he's uh, he's one of the best of all time. And yeah, I think that it's I think it's a good thing.
To evaluate how Rex did coming in just taking over for Charlie and obviously him being around the team when he was here in the off season.
But how did he do this year?
Yeah, I thought I thought he did a good job.
I think that it's in that in that position, it's hard to come in mid season when you're you're not getting as many as many reps. Obviously, we had Rex in training camp, so that was beneficial for us to have gotten him reps back then. But being thrown into the mix right away going against you know, some good teams with good personnel.
I think he I think he's done a good job.
This is not gotting redfull.
How come you guys never went back to Charlie Hewlett.
I mean, he's he's on it.
He's got an injury, so I mean he might be feeling fine, but he might not be fun to play football.
You know, there's a there's a difference.
Quarterback Doriyan Thompson Robinson is our first player today and he spoke about the opportunity he's had with the Browns this season.
Against feel about that.
I feel grateful to have another opportunity. Feel very blessed. Uh, like I said, just to be able to still get in this room, get to come to work every day and put my best foot forward.
So you're gonna get it started.
Do not.
Try something, you know, put some good stuff on tap of this pass, but also not trying.
To be too much to anything like that.
Yeah, I mean it's going in treating it like it's last week the week before, you know, coming in, sticking to my process, Uh, sticking to the plan that the coaches here have for me, and going out there and trying to work every day.
Out of that practice, raving and you.
Yeah, it's gonna be a handful and all facets of the game, uh, special teams, defense, offense.
Wow.
Uh, they're very familiar with us. We're familiar with them. So uh it's it's gonna be a a tough battle, for sure.
You were obviously you gotta dejacked Sunday. How are you are your spirits bad?
To what you want them to go out. Uh, I mean it's you. Of course, it's tough when you're losing and then you're not playing well.
Uh. Also cause you know you coming with the same attitude every day. You know, you got a bunch of players in the day, got a bunch of extra routes in to day. Uh.
And so my attitude.
And my effort is never gonna change. So cha Yeah, felt like it did when I first jered it. It's not gonna go anywhere anytime soon playing this game. So we'll deal with that in the off season.
You the intentional ground is there as you kind of went back and looked at the play, was there something you kind of fun This is a common thing in terms of what you're doing on those plays or what correction.
You can make to alleviate that.
Just know the rule.
You know that if you're inside the pocket, you gotta throw it near a defender outside the pocket, just making sure it gets past line of scrimage.
So again it falls on me. It's just got another rule.
Thanks on the lines and.
Being pressure that I know you said it felt like execution wise, what why is he doing what you need to do?
But with those frustrations like just not the offense that can flow in the same way.
How do you how do you want to kind of stop with that and you know.
Hit through it, take you kind.
Of get yourself ready for the next game.
Yeah, you don't have time to sit inside and when this is the last game of the year. So just coming in on today, came in on Monday, still sticking to extra meetings, extra film, extra routes on air, still sticking to the same process that's gotten me to this point in this offense and now trying to steer away from that just because of some outcomes with.
Baltimore trying to play for the division title.
What do you expecting as far as that environment goes, and how much does the fact that you've played against them help you as far as knowing what to expect from any known intensity level, what they're gonna throw that ship.
Yeah, for sure, we know we're gonna get their best shot. Obviously they're gonna get our best shot because of the culture we've set here.
And so like I said before, it's gonna.
Be a hard nosed battle, a tough fight, something that both sides of the ball are expecting. So in terms of my experience and how that plays into it. Obviously, I'm gonna go back and watch over the games when I played them because it's the same scheme, same coordinator. Uh So really just you know, taking that old experiences, adding the new talking to Jamis.
From when he played, and putting all those in the one and making them work.
I know you said your relationship two years.
Teams, I'll love with you for him, that would.
Promise and season ends that way. I get a chanced to play under these last couple of years.
Yeah, for sure, it hurts seeing any of our guys hurt. But obviously we said I have a close relationship with him, so uh and then I went through I R at the end of last year, so kind of going through that process, it's tough.
Uh but yeah, you know, I I know he'll bounce.
Back from it.
He's been through some injuries before coming out of college, so it's nothing new to him.
Uh.
You know, he just wish he could be out there with us. So I know we missed him as an offense and I miss him as a quarterback.
So it's kind of tough to keep back you receivers fat side years I was practiced.
Why, Yeah, like like I've been harping on, We're we're getting extra routes on air.
We're trying to get this timing down and and chemistry down.
Now.
Bailey's getting read so we gotta get him up to speed, to guys to and really just trying to take advantage of this full.
Last week, quarterback Bailey Zappi talked about his growth since signing with the Browns.
Told Bailey, what would your role will be here to Saturday?
No, sir, I have not been told on whether who's starting, who the two is, who three is, none of that. I'm sure Stefanski is still, you know, deciding who that is, and he'll tell us whenever.
Obviously he sees with Ben. I know this was an offensive he say.
A little bit familiar already with coming in.
Yeah, I think trying to hire Decade. How much would come to do with you more from when he came into Yeah, I mean, obviously I'm more comfortable.
There's some things that U Dorsey obviously brought in whenever he came in here that I didn't have when Avara was with AVP, some different verbiage stuff that had.
To learn over the last few weeks. But uh, pretty much got all that down.
There's no anything really, anything that I could think of that I don't know in this offense really, but Dorsey and Nash have done a real great job of, you know, staying with me after practices, after meetings and just kind of getting should work with me to kind of get that stuff down pack.
Splitting some time, m h.
Knowing that you're going into this game with an opportunity to get Yeah, obviously it's a great opportunity.
You know, personally, I kind of look at it like I'm on a one year deal here.
I have no idea what the future holds for me, and it's a great opportunity for me to go out there play some football and get some film on the you know.
For people to watch. Hopefully it's a good film. But you know, I'm excited for the opportunity.
Going into a game and not knowing what you're gonna be trying to prepare for a game, and you know, you don't really know.
How much you're gonna play.
I mean, I don't know if he's gonna get mad.
But I mean I was in New England for two years and Bill kept everything secret, so sometimes I wouldn't find out till like Thursday night Friday, Like, hey, you just like you know you're playing in Sunday.
Uh, So I'm used to it. I just prepare like I usually prepare whether I'm the three or the one. And that's what he taught me whenever I was there. So I'm gonna keep doing that.
In your tight here is preparing.
The opportunity to things that you've been doing you all on the practice fields in the meeting rooms.
Yeah.
Obviously taking the scout reps versus the number one defense, I think that's a big thing. I'm going against uh deeft player of the Year, Miles Garrett.
You know, Denzel Mja, you know the safeties we had, linebackers we got. I'm going against those guys every day on the scout side. So you know, obviously the.
Coaches have seen it, like what they've seen the last few weeks.
So it's excited for this opportunity.
It's Kevin Georgia when he's gonna let you know, no, sir, how would you describe You get eight stars of those carriers and you and then this year haven't played yet, so like how do you deal with that emotionally as.
A player trying to keep yourself ready and trying to keep that next shot.
Yeah, I mean, obviously you don't want that to happen, but you know, it's part of the NFL, and when opportunities like this present themselves, you just.
Gotta go out there and take advantage of them. You know, those eight starts.
There's a lot of things I did good, a lot of things I did bad. So it really just uh, learning from those mistakes that I made and applying that to this next opportunity that I have and just taking advantage of its.
Where are those kids?
I mean, look, he's gonna win. I mean he's the greatest coach of all time. They there's no denying that.
But besides, when the camera's on, he has a great personality. He has great humor. So I think he's gonna fit in just fine. But those guys, whoever goes there, he's gotta be ready to play some football.
He's all about ball. So if you're all about ball, that's the place to be.
That's his recruiting pitch.
For you for the future.
You, Matt, you'll know what's come to macaus. Where does that have certainly life for you?
I mean it's you know, kind of nerve racking because you don't know where you're gonna be at.
But I feel like, you know, some of the things that I've done and the games that I have played is good enough to you know, continue my career further on. Obviously, I don't know where that's gonna be at, whether it's here, whether it's wherever.
I'm sure after this week I'll get my agent. We'll go from there. Obviously, I like to be here.
I like you here.
I've made a lot of great relationships here.
That doesn't happen then, obviously I wish everybody luck here, But I'm excited.
Jerry High.
It's not like you don't have a number two receivers with the top guy and that's wherever.
Yeah, I mean, obviously Jerry's one of the best receivers in that the league.
There's certain things that defenses are gonna.
Try to do to stop him, and I think Dorsey and pr Stefanski are gonna have to You're gonna do a good job of kind of moving him and kind of just creating opportunities for him to get the ball. And obviously we have guys like Elijah Moore and you know, Blake Whinehart the rest of the guys.
Those guys are gonna step up. Obviously, Analyza has done a.
Great job this year too, so I'm excited for all those guys to get their opportunity as well, and hopefully I can get them the ball.
And they can run.
It's been a huge job.
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing that I've learned over my three years is, you know, mentally, you.
Can't really go into a game thinking like, I don't.
Want to turn the ball over, don't want to turn the ball over, because the more you think about it, the more likely it's gonna happen.
So if it happens, it happens.
You just got to continue to move on and just kind of learn from it and make sure it doesn't happen again, and make sure it doesn't one doesn't turn into two and turn to two turns into three. Uh So, really just think touchdowns when you're going in there, and hopefully that happens more.
Guard Joel Batonio came to the podium for the first time since winning the Good Guy Award, courtesy of the local Pro Football Writers Association.
I was gonna come up here and then I found out I won, so I decided to come up here. But in all serious, snys, I appreciate you guys. You know, we've all been here for for a while together, but I appreciate the recognition and I know you guys have a tough job to do and hopefully I'm here to help a little bit. Also shout out to Dan, my campaign manager, you know, pushing and pushing for it, but no, I appreciate it and thanks a lot. It's the price of fan I know.
What the feelings emotionships this week when this game, I know you're not you don't know what the future holes were.
Yeah, but at the same time.
That you can even it's even have a conversation.
Yeah, changed the feelings this week. Truths have been very frustrated the last few weeks. Like I just didn't expect us to be in this position. You know, you come out here and you're you know, you're playing for pride, you're playing for your own resume, your own you know worth, and and you know as a team, like it's tough to be in this special situation. We've had so many guys get banged up the last few weeks, and Dumble feels like a new team out there in some senses, but so I haven't had time to look at the macro, you know, purpose of everything. I've been really you know, focused on on the week to week. But to me, it's just been very frustrating the way this seasons has turned out.
Joe, do you think there will, in fact your decision.
In any way defect that this season it's been so bad?
I mean I wish like whatever it is you think of like John Elway going out and win a super Bowl, or even Andrew Whitworth, you know, like they got to play in their last game, win a super Bowl and right off of the sunset, like that'd be the ultimate dream, you know. And I bet like it could have been two years ago we won a super Bowl. I probably have been like, all right, I'm going to go, you know. And and so it's the thing that you fight for. So it's all part of it. It's all part of the process. You know, the season, your teammates like win in losing, how you feel like all of that, all of that goes into you know, every decision you make. But you know, we'll see.
You frustrated press that.
That kind of adds to be Hey, I want to wait and make.
A decision and make sure.
Yeah, it's hard. You never want to make a decision like in the moment.
You know.
There's some games where you wake up Monday morning and I'm like, crap, like why am I doing this? You know, like like you lost, you feel terrible, your body hurts, you know. And then there's other times where it's like you play a game and you're like you can still play at a high level, you know, and and you know, I want to see what our team can do in the future. So yeah, that's why you want to take a take a chance, take a breath, see where you're at, you know, talk to people and and really get an understanding of, you know, what the future looks like.
How do you feel her to sign so much with this franchise in your a lot of years, the good and the bad. Will you share your thoughts with the organization privately about just what you feel that the state of it and the team is, maybe what's missing, what's needed for it to get where everyone would like it to be.
Yeah, all, uh, I'm sure on Sunday or Monday, whenever we decided to do them, we'll have the exit interviews and I'll have my meeting with coach Tofanski, with Andrew Barry, with Jimmy and j W and D if she wants to be there, so I'll have my chance to let him know what I think is going on. And you know, they're very they actually listen very well. They ask guys. They want to know, you know, there the thought process and stuff like that. So it'll be ah, it'll be you know, kind of the normal exit interview.
How do you feel how I compared to a year ago.
There's some you know, I feel beat up. I feel like at this point in the season, I get like numb to what I feel like like in the early years, Like I mean early weeks of the season, like it's like new bumps and bruises, and by this point it's like everything kind of just is numb. Last year, I had to back towards the end and it o bleak and I was like real messed up. But we had that week off before the playoffs. I kind of got kind of got back. I don't have as extreme things going on, but you know, the knees and ankles and and shoulders and the elbows, all the joints of the body are are a little bit banged up, but I'm playing. I'm doing fine, you know. I I've you know, made it through fingers something yeah and a finger Yeah. It all just you're a lot well.
Yeah.
I after that Texans playoff game, I was messed. I had a pretty bad high ankle sprain toward my ucl on my elbow all in that game, and I just like I tried to finish the game. But I was like an eight weeks of like off season where I was like, oh my god, like I shouldn't have played on my ankle, but you know, it was the last game, so we were trying to go out there and.
Really well.
Much still playing.
Yeah, it's it's for sure part of it because you know, you go out there and you play a game and uh, you know you're like, hey, I you know I played pretty well or you know, the coaches think I played well. So if you can do at a high level, you want to keep doing it. It's just like the trade off with how does your body feel? What are you doing it for? At this point? Like you know, there there's so much that goes into it. It's just it's all one big question mark, you know, so all that plays into it how's close are you think you guys desire to be and good and do well. I think, you know, obviously an injuries this year, but I think that the rosters are similar, you know. I know they're gonna have to rebuild some aspects of the roster, but I don't think it's far. I think coach Fantasy is a good coach, you know. I think we're gonna have a good system in place. It comes down to executing, It comes down to doing your one of levels. But I don't think we're you know, that far off from being a contender.
Joe made you already know, but how much would another homo at this age Burder meeting.
It's always important, you know, it's I know it's it's one of the ways alignment can get recognized, you know, like we're you know, it's such a tough position because even if you're a receiver or quarterback and you plan a three and thirteen team, you can put up, you know, a thousand yards and you can catch eighty five passes and as an alignment, when the run game's not working and the quarterbacks can sack, you know, it's it's it's usually the line's fault and so it's part of it, you know what I mean, I know it's part of it. But I know we're at as a team too, So we'll we'll see, you know, we'll we'll see how that that goes. But it would mean a lot if I could, you know, get number seven.
When you talk about being frustrated, is this more frustrating than maybe some of the tough years you.
Can Yeah, to me, I think the expectations this year and then where we ended up have made it the most frustrating. You know, early in my career, I didn't really know any better, you know, my first couple of years, and then when we were in the real rebuild, like we're such a young team that it wasn't even like there wasn't expectation to you know, make the playoffs or do anything like that. We we thought we could. We are so young, you know, you don't know any better. But I think with what the expectations were this year, it's it's probably been the most frustrating, you know, results wise, We've talked about miles and times, but we voted him to Player of the Year that Jo Year award in the gym, and everybody talks about how much attention, he recheas.
Is there anybody you guys play that you black like other.
Teams of black players. I don't think so, you know. I think in our defense is a four down front, which allows a little bit more flexible. I mean they'll run some jam fronts, they'll run some five man fronts. But like TJ. Wall, we put a lot of atension on this year with chips. But when they have another rush rushing outside almost on Jack, it's hard to really slide his way, you know, so you can chip him where Miles you know you used to last week he split a slide, he gets chipped. There's a lot of attention. Like Micah Parsons, we had a pretty big plan for but again he kind of lines up everywhere and they kind of force you to block in one on one at some times, where I think Miles at all times. And if you watch, like I think the screens, how quick guys get rid of ball, Like Joe burroways so as well quick. But I think when we play different teams, it's like we were playing the Raiders, and I think Miles is getting there every time and the ball was just out of the hands, you know. So like I think the way people's scheme. He's definitely definitely one of the kind We talked about.
Kim being a good coach, and I think one of the most mingle things this nine years has been the scene that you guys talk about creatures.
Obviously three and thirteen at this point, the worst season, first games of season.
Then how much is that culture.
Still sort of felled from within the team work in the hock or like that's not waiver those even though this season hasn't gone way.
Yeah, it's very hard when you're losing a lot of games, you know, but I think the standard of what he's created is still there, you know, and losing is unacceptable. And he's talked about that, like we can't get into this being the everyday norm. You know, this is not what we want it to be. But when you're preaching something, you go three and thirteen, like, it's obviously gonna be hard to keep that going. But I think the locker room has faith and coach the fancy Like I don't think anybody's like, oh man, like food have done this a little different with coach, like we understand his message and and uh, I think more than anything, we want to live up to it for him. So I think the culture is still there.
If when you.
Sit down.
And you.
Like, you need to be a part of this team.
Really the year.
It helps, I'll be part of it.
You know.
It's it's all part of it. And you know, whatever the decisions made, I'm sure Dan and his crew will let you guys know what's what's going on, you know, or we show up to mini camp and I'm showed up that to uh you know, but no, it's all part of it. Like you, you want to hear the plans, you want to hear what's going on. You want to know how you feel. So it's all just part of the big question. Not don't even crowd dream trying.
How much would you miss He talked about missing a lot.
How well would that be like for you?
Yeah, it's it's I mean, it's one of the best parts of the game. It's just the guys you're around, the work you put in, the blood, sledding peers that you you go through with these guys to try and you know, find ways to win. But the football lockerroom is such a cool place. There's so many different cultures. You come from different backgrounds and you all are on one team to try and achieve one goal. So it's it's a special place in that. That's definitely you know the thing that you like, Oh where do you get that? You know? The rest of your life?
Really.
Quarterback Denzel Ward is up next, and he was recently selected to his fourth career Pro Bowl.
I like that.
I like that hoodie.
Man, let's go. That's a great hoodie for the day.
Okay, I like you gotta put it over the Jacks.
So give us a prediction on that score.
Honestly, it's gonna be a close one. I think it's gonna be a close one. I got my buck eyes thirty four twenty eight thirty.
Your shoulder.
Second, we didn't.
Exactly, Yeah, I think I think it was a little friendly fired. Me and Jordan uh collided. I really haven't even watched the playback, but yeah, he just he got a hard head, so he just caught my caught my shoulder, and I caught his head.
So he got the worst part of it.
I think he ended up getting concussion from it though, So hope he's spelling all right though. That's That's what I'm pushing for it. I'm pushing forward. That's the plan Lord willing, but uh, we we'll see.
We'll see. Uh what comes come give dough?
Does it matter so much to get out there?
I just I just love playing against football. I love playing with my teammates and my my coaches. You know, we never usually never go had the same team and just take a lot of pride and just.
The work that we put in.
I know we didn't accomplish all the goals that we wanted to accomplish and everything, but it's still still been fun playing with these guys. And I said, I just love enjoy playing the game, and another opportunity to play the game that we dreamed of as a kid would be great.
That's a more fun frustrated to play against the marchers.
I think it's a little bit of both.
It's definitely fun, but he's a great player, so he could get frustrated at times just him being able to scramble around there and then you covering guys. I know the last time he played and I was covering flowers for I felt a whole quarter just he was just running around and then he was just quarterbacks back there, just scrambling around, able to throw it deep. But yeah, it's tough but it's fun though, just going against that high level competition.
He's been having a great year.
But it's good.
Can tell Rodney mc game coming up this weekend.
What's he meant to you guys in this locker room?
Man, he's meant the lock Rod's been, he's the OgH, he's a big VET, and he's been leading us, man, And just want to send him out the right way as best as we can. But he's been leading us all season long and I'm glad to been a part of this team with him.
And uh, he's been a great leaders.
Been a lot said about the season you have, boy, and how it's hard you being the best season in your career.
So I don't know how much like self deflection you had a chance to do so you gotta gave a go.
Do you kind of feel like that's true? And you know what is I guess one of those last game season? What's the way with a captain season the season.
That you have?
Yeah, yeah, I feel I feel I had a great personal season. But I said, I'm I'm a team guy. I wanna I just wanna give my best to help the team win and put us in the best chance possible to win games. So I'm just gonna keep trying to work hard and and do that as best as I can and just go from there to say, but in the Henry in the secondary, Yeah, so we just we's got to gang tackle him and uh try to try to beat him to the spot and not let him get going.
To be for us for shaf Tugs to share your.
Sunday, Yeah, that that would be amazing for him to get the uh sack Toddle, I know he's gonna be pushing for it, and we gonna try to do the best as we can to help him get that. Uh, that's gonna be a huge honor for him, and I'm sure he's he's gonna get it.
Finally, safety Grant delp It previewed the high flying Baltimore Ravens offense.
Well, well, so Grant, with ripe.
Bron's last game, you guys have safeties, you where your emotions and who has it been like having him in the room the last couple of years here?
Yeah, I mean.
Smart guy to say the least season event as we all know, Saint Louis Rams back in the day man and and you know, just all the things are the tools that he's given us. That's all all the tools that he's given us. You know, I'll take that on forever with my career. So shout a ride man.
We hope to send him own nine note.
Can you kind of just to dress him in your hometown obviously? Uh yeah, pol the last year and where you could do a lot there.
Were your class homes.
Yeah, I'm I'm not too uh showing the details. But of course praying for those people are you know, I know Bourbon Streets are popular tourist areas, so uh, you know people probably wasn't from there, and unfortunately, you know, some lost their lives. So definitely wanna send a prayer to their families and know that we're thinking about it.
What can you take from that first Baltimore game that you guys want obviously to uh.
Really pus the upset of the year upset? H shit, we gonna take the good and the bad.
You don't we don't watch the film.
Still we gotta do better and know that you know this this team is fighting for a division title, so you know they gonna give it all. They don't have new new stuff in they gonna you know it's they're not gonna take this more lightly so we we don't either.
Is that you know something you guys can use this motivational size to the point spread that they're predicting.
Would the fact that you have an opportunity to keep them from.
Winning the division?
Yeah?
Yeah, it ain't really about just them, you know what I'm saying.
It's about us and and putting a starting twenty twenty five off on a good note. You know, can we can we build foundation with the Brits that's been thrown at us? You know, it's been a it's been a bad uh you know over all year as far as win percentage and stuff like that, But.
You gotta get a finish on a high note.
You guys played Lamar so much? Do you ever get used to point you?
Ah?
Uh know what I mean?
He's a great player, man, We we know he's gonna bring. You don't know what he's gonna actually do on every player, you know, like all the great players. But I can do is prepare farm and use what you you already know.
Is it more frustrating or fun?
The shuh?
Both really both?
So you know it might be Yet Denzel get out just like you against this holl.
Uh you know, I don't really don't really worry about that too much because you know, we've been banged up here and now guys have stepped up, Guys are doing they gotta do so, and I got full compass in the guys last season.
It's a patient to.
Some good stuff on change just at that season finale.
Yeah, I mean you need to, honestly, So it's it's gonna be a long time till we strap it up again and until we step out in that field.
So you might as well do it, give it all you got in and be able to win them.
Yeah, appreciate you us, You appreciate you.
That'll do it.
For this episode of the From the Podium Podcast, be sure to like and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts. Keep it locked to Cleveland Browns daily each weekday, and follow the Browns on social media for more coverage from the Cross Country Mortgage Campus right here in Berea. I'm Gabe Koleura. Thanks for listening to the From the Podium podcast.
