Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski chats with the media on November 22, 2023.
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 Hey, Tom.
00:13 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:17 Okay, excited about this week.
00:18 Great challenge on the road versus a good football team.
00:22 Winners of four straight.
00:24 They're playing very well, period.
00:27 They're also playing really well at home.
00:29 It's a tough place to play, it's loud.
00:31 So we have to be about our business, obviously.
00:33 Well coached, good players.
00:37 But the story with their four game winning streak is the turnover margin.
00:41 They're doing a great job of getting the football.
00:44 I think 13 maybe in the last five games, takeaways, which is incredible.
00:48 So you have to take care of the ball, and
00:50 then they're doing a nice job of taking care of the ball.
00:51 They're winning that turnover margin.
00:53 We know how important that is to winning and losing.
00:55 So huge challenge for us, AFC opponent on the road.
00:59 So we have to have a great week of practice.
01:01 With that, I'll take any questions.
01:02 [BLANK_AUDIO]
01:05 >> Hey, Kevin, you mentioned how tough it is to play.
01:09 With Jordan, how much of a challenge is that, his first World Star in the NFL?
01:13 Do you think he learned anything from how you guys handled that Seattle situation?
01:17 >> I think we do lean on that Seattle week.
01:22 When you go into these buildings and stadiums that are that loud,
01:26 there are certain things that you have to do offensively to communicate.
01:30 And that's communicating in the huddle, at the line of scrimmage, on the sideline.
01:33 So, Dorian obviously was a big part of that and experienced that.
01:37 But yeah, it's a tough place to play and the crowd noise is a big part of that.
01:40 >> Kevin, four months later, did the Greenbrier work?
01:45 Did you get the intended results of that?
01:49 >> I don't know.
01:52 I think for me, I can barely remember it.
01:55 Where were we?
01:55 >> We had guys bring it up in other questions.
01:58 So someone brought it up to you, if they thought it worked.
02:02 >> Worked from which perspective?
02:03 Getting the full information, like rotary, chemistry?
02:06 >> Yeah, I think when we talked about it,
02:07 I mean a part of that is wherever you go and you're under one roof.
02:11 It's very organic to come together and hang out.
02:14 And it's just my experience at the Vikings all those years,
02:18 we went away to Mankato, which was an hour away and you were under one roof.
02:23 Gage Hall was a dormitory, no longer standing.
02:27 But I just think there was a shared group of guys in one place.
02:33 So I think from that perspective, it's a way of getting guys to hang out with
02:38 each other when it's hard to do when you're jumping in the car and
02:41 you're heading home after practice.
02:44 >> Impressions of Joe Fargo?
02:46 >> Joe's done a great job.
02:48 He and I have a lot of mutual people in this business that we know.
02:53 I've not worked with Joe previously, but has been in a lot of systems.
02:57 So somebody that I can talk to about different systems, different coaches,
03:00 things he's called, things in the past.
03:02 So a wealth of knowledge and a great resource for
03:05 not just the quarterback room, but this entire team.
03:07 >> He still doesn't feel the need to necessarily put Dory and
03:11 Eddie's knowing that it's a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
03:15 Have you had those conversations with him though about what his role is and
03:19 how he's gonna kind of find it here?
03:22 >> Yeah, he's a pro.
03:23 He just has to be a great teammate.
03:24 And that's what he's done.
03:26 And part of being a great teammate is showing up and doing your job.
03:28 And think about all the guys we've had over the years,
03:31 veterans that provide great leadership without having to say much.
03:35 We have guys on our roster now that do that.
03:37 So Joe's just gonna be himself in his own unique and
03:42 authentic way and help this football team.
03:44 By the way, he prepares.
03:45 >> Your number two quarterback in Denver is gonna be?
03:48 >> We'll worry about all the roster stuff throughout the weeks, but no.
03:53 >> Kevin, did you observe the little workout with Flacco?
03:56 >> Yes.
03:57 >> Taking his mobility at age 38.
04:00 >> Looked better than you at 38.
04:02 >> [LAUGH] >> Kevin,
04:06 you were obviously kind of curious about what Denver's done in these last couple
04:10 weeks.
04:11 First four weeks of the season, they lost three games by one point.
04:13 And now if you look at that four game history,
04:15 they've won three of their last four games by one or two points.
04:19 Turnovers, obviously part of that, but are you noticing that they're doing
04:22 something differently that's kind of trying to flip those once tight games?
04:27 >> There's always little nuances to scheme that you adjust as the season goes on.
04:32 And you come into a season thinking you're gonna be doing one thing and
04:37 you oftentimes adjust based on what's in front of you and how you're doing.
04:41 So there's certainly things that they're adjusting from a schematic standpoint,
04:45 but I can't overstate how important that turnover margin is when you're talking
04:49 about winning and losing.
04:50 >> Kevin, I mean, it's natural for a young player when you bring in someone
04:54 who's accomplished as Joe to kind of wonder what it means for them.
04:56 So what was your message to Dorian this week with Joe coming in?
04:59 >> Yeah, honestly, Dorian needs to focus on his job.
05:03 That's what he's done his whole time he's been here.
05:05 He's done a great job.
05:07 We had a spot in the room.
05:09 We had to add a quarterback.
05:11 I think we added a guy with great experience who fits in really well in
05:14 that room.
05:15 But as far as it relates to Dorian's preparation, nothing changes.
05:19 >> We don't get to talk to James Morris tomorrow, but
05:22 it was great as a defense play, the one that killed him seems to be that small
05:27 shift, he turned down back, like he did with Joe and last week, Warren.
05:32 They've got some guys from Denver.
05:34 I mean, is there a focal point to try to slow that guy down?
05:39 >> Yeah, well, those are good players that you just mentioned, Fred.
05:42 So you're gonna play in these games where there's gonna be some,
05:46 whether they're big and physical or small and physical,
05:49 you gotta find ways to get them on the ground.
05:51 There's definitely plays that we can fit better, that we can tackle better.
05:56 That will never change.
05:57 We're always trying to play sound defense, certainly sound run defense takes all 11
06:02 guys doing their job, being where they're supposed to be and
06:04 then ultimately just getting the player on the ground.
06:07 >> Victory over you guys in week two last year with the Jets,
06:11 give you kind of the knowledge or the vibe that he still has plenty left in the tank.
06:15 >> Well, I think with Joey, he's got not, that's just one game.
06:19 I think he has plenty of games that you can evaluate over his career.
06:22 Again, brought him in for a workout to see physically how he looked and, but
06:27 I think it's a total evaluation of his whole career really.
06:31 >> Just think of how that tackle rotation work with Hudson and
06:37 DeJuan, is that something you wanna keep doing or
06:42 is that something you did just out of necessity with DeJuan coming back?
06:45 >> Yeah, we'll see really as we move forward,
06:48 see how DeJuan continues to respond coming off that injury.
06:52 But we'll always use our players in spots where we feel like their best.
06:58 >> And then DeSean comes in here with that reputation and
07:02 players see me gravitate to him like immediately.
07:06 So how have you seen that relationship with the players and Dorian?
07:12 >> Yeah, but Dorian's a rookie, he's a young player.
07:14 He's first things first, do your job.
07:17 And I think he's doing that and I think veterans respect when you're a young
07:21 player and you work at your craft.
07:22 So that's something that I've seen from Dorian really from day one.
07:25 He works very hard at his job and I think he's getting even better at working at his
07:30 job and his teammates see him prepare.
07:33 But as the starting quarterback, when you're out there,
07:35 you're leading the football team, you're leading the offense.
07:37 It's just how it goes with the territory.
07:39 And it's something that Dorian is very comfortable doing.
07:41 He's done it his whole life.
07:42 >> Kevin, Denzel and Grant are on a pre practice report.
07:46 Is there concern that they won't be ready for Sunday?
07:48 >> We'll see, it's Wednesday.
07:50 >> With A-Walk, is he a candidate for IR?
07:53 Is it something that- >> No, yeah.
07:55 >> But Russell Wilson and just how well he's been playing,
07:59 especially in this four game stretch.
08:01 >> Yeah, Russell's playing great.
08:04 I've seen him play quite a bit over my career and just watching him.
08:09 And I was fortunate enough to be part of the coaching staff down there at
08:13 the Senior Bowl when he was coming out.
08:14 So I got to know Russell for that week and
08:16 just was an unbelievable person, unbelievable player.
08:19 I think he's playing at a high level, like I mentioned, taking care of the football,
08:23 running their offense really, really well.
08:25 And is very capable of making those off schedule plays that he's made
08:30 his whole career.
08:30 You've seen him do it in these games.
08:32 He gets out of the pocket and he can run, he can throw it to all areas of the field.
08:36 So he's a major point of this offense.
08:40 >> Does Flacco's exposure to Kubiak and
08:42 Baltimore make it a little easier for him to transition to their offense?
08:46 >> I think that helps.
08:47 Some of the stuff he did with Coach LaFleur at the Jets as well.
08:52 He's been in Denver, was with Rich Scangarello.
08:55 So he's been in similar systems.
08:57 So when you're a quarterback like Joe and you've been in a bunch of systems,
09:02 you're pretty good at picking these playbooks up quickly.
09:06 So he's working hard at that.
09:07 >> When it comes to pro games, you use the crowd noise in practice to get guys ready.
09:11 So how do you get them ready for being a mile high?
09:15 >> Yeah, I think that's all part, every team that goes into their building,
09:18 talks about that.
09:19 There are things that you can do during the week to prepare yourself.
09:22 There's things that you can do during the game to prepare yourself.
09:25 But we also have guys that have played there both as a visitor and
09:29 played there as being a Bronco.
09:31 So we have insight into that as well.
09:33 >> What kind of instant cred do you have in the locker room and in the meetings and
09:36 out on the field when you're a former Super Bowl MVP and
09:39 these guys know you've been there and done it?
09:41 >> Yeah, I don't know that the players look at it that way.
09:45 Mary Kay, I think they see a guy that's joined our team as a teammate,
09:49 is gonna do whatever he's asked to do in the meeting rooms, on the practice field,
09:54 you name it.
09:54 Joe's, really just goes about his business.
09:57 >> I know it's been a couple of days, but have you seen Dorian start to pick
10:02 Joe's brain at all, just about his experience in the league?
10:06 >> I think all those conversations happen really in every meeting.
10:10 I sit in there in the quarterback meetings this morning and
10:13 throughout this week, you talk a lot about what you see on film and
10:17 your different experiences.
10:18 So I think between Joe and PJ with AVP,
10:22 I think there's a lot of experienced people in there that can help a young player.
10:26 >> I mean, how does jumping and tweak that offense over the course of this season?
10:32 How are they different from where they were even four or five weeks ago?
10:36 >> Yeah, I mean, they're explosive.
10:38 They have explosive playmakers on the perimeter from their backfield.
10:42 Talked about Russell as the quarterback, I mean, they can be super explosive.
10:47 And I think the thing you're seeing recently is just how well they're taking
10:50 care of the ball, which complements how their defense is playing as well.
10:53 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Leadership.
10:57 The guys before the game said that they were impressed with him kind of
11:01 correcting them and knowing what to do.
11:03 And then we saw that on that last two minutes, him pick Kareem up and
11:06 put him in place.
11:07 Has he impressed you with his ability to not only understand the playbook, but
11:10 to be able to get his team rallied around it and show them what they need to do?
11:15 >> Well, I think that's the quarterback's job, Cam,
11:19 regardless of how many years you're in this thing.
11:21 That's your job to direct traffic, to operate, to get people lined up,
11:25 those type of things.
11:25 So that's why he works so hard and young quarterbacks have to work so
11:29 hard at knowing their jobs so they can help everybody else do their job.
11:33 >> A couple more.
11:34 >> [INAUDIBLE] A lot to do with how the game is taught last season.
11:37 But the more stories out there in the plays,
11:40 do you feel like you can expand, I guess, play calls and play pass?
11:45 >> Yeah, I think every game plan is different.
11:47 Every game plan is based on what you're doing, what the defense is doing,
11:52 what they're taking away, those type of things.
11:54 So I think you have to be ready going into every week of figuring out,
11:58 based on matchups, what you wanna do.
12:00 >> Kevin, pretty much the teams that are playing best are the ones that have had
12:05 their opening day start at quarterback and successfully stay healthy.
12:09 You guys are the exception to that.
12:11 You found ways to win games despite the validity of that rule.
12:15 What is it about the culture you've created at quarterback that has allowed
12:18 for you guys to stay successful despite having several different guys play?
12:23 >> Yeah, we just look at it as we have a job to do regardless of who's playing
12:27 any of our positions.
12:28 This is how it works in the NFL.
12:32 Guys are in and out of your lineup, and we just know that we have a job to do.
12:35 >> Good, thanks.
12:37 >> Okay, thanks, guys.
12:37 >> Thanks, Kevin.
12:39 >> Have a good day.
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