Browns Bubba Ventrone Press Conference October 26, 2023
Browns Bubba Ventrone Press Conference October 26, 2023
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> You get a bonus every time Dustin wins, but-
00:23 >> I wish.
00:24 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:34 >> That's a good question.
00:38 I would say hard work and consistency with the weekly routine.
00:46 I think that that's really been the difference.
00:49 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> We executed well.
00:57 All everyone involved on that play, especially the guy that blocked it.
01:02 Heck of a job of execution and we just saw a matchup opportunity
01:07 that we liked and those guys executed well.
01:10 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:12 >> Went into that other than the great play there by Miles.
01:18 Just everyone involved in the play, I mean, Shelby, Jay, Denzel,
01:23 everybody factored in there for the matchup that we saw and
01:29 just good execution on the play overall.
01:33 >> How dangerous is that because if you touch somebody right,
01:36 it could be a 15 or a half.
01:38 So do you consider it a risk calling that play?
01:43 >> I mean, it's a calculated risk, but I had confidence in our guys.
01:49 We practiced it well and practice execution equals
01:54 game reality is what a great coach once told me.
01:59 >> How often do you practice that play?
02:02 Like to actually see what it's gonna look like in a game?
02:04 >> I mean, when we have our field goal period, that's when we ran it.
02:08 So we ran it a handful of times during the week.
02:10 >> How much coach shared that with you?
02:14 >> Bill Belichick.
02:14 >> You talked to Denzel earlier and
02:18 he said how excited you were to pull that play out.
02:20 What was your emotion like when you- >> When we got the block?
02:24 [LAUGH] I mean, it's pretty obvious, right?
02:28 >> I think Miles said after the game that you noticed
02:34 their line would really go low.
02:36 That's key to call that play.
02:38 >> Yeah, and so I mean, look, I coached there for five years.
02:42 So they had a guy that didn't play in the game, that had been on the other side of
02:47 the line for the entire time that I was there.
02:50 So look, we saw an opportunity with the personnel.
02:53 And fortunately for us, we got really good execution from our players to get
02:59 the block.
03:00 >> Just waiting to bring this out against your former team?
03:03 >> No, I think that, I mean, Tony asked a few weeks ago,
03:07 do I have any tricks up my sleeve?
03:09 Everyone has them, it's just when are you gonna use them?
03:11 When is the right opportunity to use them?
03:14 So look, we're always gonna have things ready to go.
03:18 And whenever we see an opportunity with personnel, matchups,
03:22 things we like, then we'll just use them as we see it.
03:27 >> Was part of that thought process because it was a 60 yard kick,
03:30 you thought the trajectory might start a little lower?
03:32 Or did you make that call when it's a 35 yard kick?
03:35 >> Not necessarily, I think that, to me,
03:38 it felt like the right time to call it.
03:41 A lot of times, I'm always gonna call the game based on,
03:47 you can have a plan going into the game and then that plan is gonna change at some
03:50 point based on momentum, how your team's doing in that instance.
03:58 Things change throughout the game and
04:00 I feel like the way I call it a lot of times is based off instinct.
04:04 I just feel like it was a good time to call it and I'm glad I did.
04:09 >> What's the name of that call?
04:11 >> We actually called it Indy.
04:15 Yeah, we called it Indy.
04:17 >> Is it legal to do that?
04:19 And do you ever wonder if it won't be?
04:24 >> No, I mean, I don't know why it wouldn't be,
04:27 as long as you're not contacting the offensive line, so.
04:32 >> You just got a report on the Seahawks special teams.
04:37 >> They're good, they're a physical group.
04:40 Their coordinator, I played with Larry Izzo in New England whenever I was
04:44 a young player, learned a lot from him.
04:48 He's a good coach and his teams reflect his play style as a player.
04:53 He was a super, super instinctive, physical football player and
04:58 his team has kinda taken on his style of play.
05:03 >> If Pierre is playing a lot or running back one beat,
05:07 can he still be the kick return?
05:10 >> We're looking at some other players there, but he's an option for sure still.
05:15 Yep.
05:16 >> The state of the return game,
05:19 it seems that every week it's been changing the personality.
05:24 >> Yeah, I mean, look, we've had some injuries,
05:27 we've lost some guys to bigger roles offensively, obviously with Jerome.
05:33 So as the roster changes, we have to adapt and
05:38 I think our players have handled it pretty well.
05:42 >> Dustin said that he's always felt that he could consistently hit those 50
05:48 yard field goals.
05:50 He just maybe didn't get the opportunities early in a season with
05:52 different teams.
05:53 For you guys, what made you confident early on to let him go for
05:57 those longer ones?
05:58 >> I mean, we've seen it in practice.
06:00 We've seen him have the accuracy, the timing, the accuracy, the elevation,
06:05 everything's been good in practice and he's done a good job of, like I said,
06:10 you take it from the practice field to the game.
06:12 Rarely do you see a play not work in practice work in a game.
06:19 So you need to be able to do it in practice and
06:22 then take it to the game on Sunday.
06:23 So our guys in all of our units have done that in a pretty good way.
06:28 >> You talked about how much you hate penalties.
06:33 What's your running total right now on penalties and are you pleased with it?
06:38 >> We probably have more penalties than it feels, because we haven't done it.
06:43 We haven't done a bad job as far as poor decision making,
06:48 like the result in penalties, like blocking a guy in the back or
06:52 something like that.
06:53 We've had a couple, not to say dumb, but we've had a couple dumb penalties.
06:57 We had a delay game at the end of the, I think it was a San Fran game maybe,
07:02 that it didn't hurt us there.
07:05 Last week, Tony jumped off sides, which we actually turned into the league and
07:09 it was illegal.
07:11 The snapper takes his hand off the ball and pops his head up.
07:13 So Tony jumps off sides on a punt return, it's like fourth and 17.
07:19 So we've had a couple of those penalties, but
07:23 I think we're playing pretty clean overall.
07:27 And I'm actually happy with how we've done as far as the penalties go and
07:33 not making fouls of how many we've had.
07:39 I don't know.
07:40 Honestly, because how I see it is, are we really hurting the team
07:48 by making a bad decision and blocking in the back?
07:51 That's gonna give us a poor drive start.
07:52 We haven't really had that.
07:54 So you haven't really seen those at the end of a play.
07:58 It's really been almost like pre-snap to a degree.
08:01 >> Once in a while, do you feel on special teams that you guys have to
08:05 really step it up even more so and create great field position,
08:10 turns and make those kicks and do everything?
08:13 >> I would never really say that.
08:16 I feel like every week we're talking about controlling field position,
08:20 regardless of who the quarterback is.
08:22 We always wanna give our offense the best drive start possible,
08:26 our defense the best drive start possible to succeed.
08:29 So everyone's gotta do their job.
08:33 Our job is to do as best we can to give the offense the best field position.
08:37 >> Remember when TJ Walker came to Indianapolis, you were surprised?
08:43 >> Yeah, he was my scout team kick returner.
08:46 >> And are you surprised?
08:50 >> Phil, what's going on here?
08:51 >> Yeah, I didn't know he was PJ until a few years later.
08:55 I used to call him Phil.
08:56 >> So are you surprised that we're doing the ends of games?
09:02 >> I'll say this, and there's guys on our team that have said this as well.
09:07 PJ, Phil, I still call him Phil.
09:10 He's like, you're the only one that calls me Phil.
09:11 I'm like, well, I don't know you as PJ.
09:14 Like, you don't call me, not Bubba.
09:17 But no, I mean, I think the kid's like, he's just got that gamer in him.
09:22 I think he does.
09:24 He's an instinctive football player.
09:27 He makes plays with his feet.
09:28 He's got a strong arm.
09:30 And obviously, since he left us in Indy, back in whatever that was,
09:35 I think 19 was his last year there.
09:37 I mean, he's done pretty well.
09:39 So when I found out we were gonna get him here, I was excited to have him.
09:43 >> Dustin, I know he talked about too that he feels like since he got here,
09:48 it's been kind of like this collaborative process almost,
09:51 especially practices and you guys asking him what he feels like he needs to work on.
09:55 And that part of it, I guess, how much is that a part of your coaching style?
09:59 How have you developed that and that collaborative process?
10:02 >> Yeah, I think that for me, I always wanna try to make the specialist as
10:06 comfortable as possible, to a degree.
10:10 I would like them to do what they want to do.
10:15 And I'm gonna be there to supervise and obviously give my input and feedback.
10:21 But I want him to, if he doesn't wanna hit a lot of balls, and
10:25 it's gonna be better for him in the long run, that's what I want.
10:28 >> I have a question about those penalties.
10:31 Every special teams coach tries to tell their players, don't hold,
10:36 don't block them back.
10:38 But you seem to be more successful, so why is that?
10:41 >> I hit our guys on it every week, every Friday.
10:47 I mean, I'm hitting them on it nonstop.
10:48 I show things from throughout the league, poor decision making,
10:52 understanding the rules, how the officials are calling the game.
10:57 So I feel like our guys have a good awareness and
10:59 understanding of how the officials are calling the game and what not to do.
11:04 And then just making good decisions, making good decisions.
11:07 Back to the Phil Walker, yeah, so I showed a clip of him from
11:13 Indy as a kick returner a couple weeks ago in my Friday meeting as well.
11:16 >> Why was the only guy on the team that could do what he did?
11:20 Do you have other guys who could do the stand still, jump over everybody?
11:24 >> I don't know, I'm not sure, but- >> Tryouts or anything?
11:27 >> We didn't have any tryouts.
11:28 I knew that we had a good guy to do it.
11:30 But yeah, well, we're always gonna have an idea of someone's skill set and
11:37 who can potentially do one of those things.
11:39 So I always try to, I mean, most coaches will do that, but
11:44 everything I do is I feel like is game plan specific to the opponent.
11:47 I'm gonna try to put my guys in the best spot,
11:50 the best matchup to match up against the guy.
11:52 I don't wanna put a guy on the spot where I'm asking him to do something that
11:56 he can't do or that he can't win in a matchup.
12:01 >> Which Friday meeting that was?
12:02 I think you said it was at the Clifton Walker.
12:05 >> Which Friday meeting it was?
12:07 >> Friday was?
12:09 >> I think it was actually a Saturday meeting.
12:11 I started on a Saturday, maybe like two or three weeks ago, yeah.
12:16 >> You have a place that the Browns typically play at regularly,
12:22 but what makes it a challenging place?
12:24 What are you expecting in terms of conditions,
12:29 in terms of especially for a guy like Dustin?
12:33 >> So I played in San Fran for two years.
12:35 We played there a number of times, including the loudest game I've ever
12:39 played or coached in the NFC Championship in 13.
12:43 To me, it's the loudest stadium in the league.
12:46 It's hard to play there.
12:47 The crowd is definitely an impact.
12:50 And we have definitely prepared and we are preparing our players to handle
12:55 the noise, both on offense, defense and in the kicking game.
12:59 It's a fun place to play.
13:02 It's a fun place to coach, great environment.
13:06 So our guys should not be surprised when we get there and
13:10 understand how loud it's gonna be.
13:12 Like it's gonna be loud.
13:14 So we're trying to do our best to prepare them for that.
13:18 >> What was the clip of Phil, was that to make fun or
13:22 was there something special about it?
13:26 >> I mean, he was literally my scout team kicker Turner for most of the season.
13:31 So I was just making a joke that he was starting in the game.
13:34 It might have been verse, might have been the first game he ended up coming in and
13:38 yeah.
13:39 >> He was a returner.
13:40 >> He was good.
13:41 He was good.
13:42 Like guys were shocked that he was actually like the kicker Turner.
13:46 And I told him that I showed and he laughed obviously, so.
13:50 >> Another question about Seattle, Jason Myers has been one of the more consistent
13:53 kickers for them for a long time.
13:54 >> Yeah.
13:55 >> I'm not asking you to like give away skin secrets here, but
13:58 when you evaluate whether a unit like for example,
14:01 a field goal unit is as efficient as they are, where do your eyes go first?
14:05 Are you looking at something on the line?
14:07 Are you looking at that snap?
14:09 How do you evaluate when something goes so well like that?
14:12 >> Yeah, you look at everything.
14:13 I mean, like with the field operation, it starts with the snap,
14:16 the hold and the kick.
14:17 You're looking at the protection.
14:19 He's been, he's definitely been an effective kicker.
14:24 He does a good job.
14:24 He gets good elevation on his kicks.
14:26 He's got good timing and tempo to the ball.
14:29 Larry's done a good job with him out there.
14:32 And yeah, he's definitely been a weapon for them.
14:35 And the punter's a dude too now.
14:39 Michael Dixon, he's a real deal.
14:41 [BLANK_AUDIO]
14:45 >> The only time the coach has lost with the roof open, window closed.
14:49 >> Is that right?
14:50 >> Yeah.
14:51 >> I told you guys it was gonna be open though.
14:53 And it was not warm.
14:56 It was not on our sideline, it was not warm.
15:00 Over in the sun it was a little bit.
15:02 Thanks.
15:02 >> Good luck.
15:03 >> Yeah.
15:04 [BLANK_AUDIO]