Kevin Stefanski Press Conference December 8 2023
Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski talks with reporters ahead of the teams home match-up against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Transcript
00:00 >> Yeah, both guys practice this week, both guys practice well.
00:04 I got faith in both guys, but not gonna name a starter.
00:06 >> Would DTR be the, would either one be the backup then?
00:12 >> Yeah.
00:13 >> DTR either one.
00:14 >> Correct.
00:15 >> Amari has not cleared the protocol?
00:18 >> Has not cleared just yet.
00:20 >> You find out.
00:21 >> Maybe tomorrow.
00:21 >> Has been?
00:24 >> Has been cleared.
00:25 >> Yes.
00:27 >> That name in a starter because you're not sure or
00:30 because you just kind of want to keep that in your head?
00:33 >> You don't have to, I guess is probably the best way of putting it.
00:36 >> Kevin, what happened with DeJuan's last couple days?
00:38 >> Yeah, tweaked his knee.
00:39 We'll see how he does over the next 24.
00:41 Same knee from before, I'm not entirely sure.
00:47 >> We have a guy?
00:50 >> We have options, James is one of them, yes.
00:53 >> What did you sort of land or do to this game that both teams
00:57 could be making a game time decision on their quarterback?
01:01 >> Honestly, Mary Kay, you look around the league, that's the league in general.
01:05 That's maybe the league this season.
01:06 And that's, you have to, regardless of who's playing any position,
01:14 we all have a job to do.
01:15 And there's uncertainty from both sides, to your point.
01:18 And we'll see 90 minutes before the game.
01:22 >> Those chances to play some of them?
01:24 >> Questionable.
01:24 >> How would you kind of chart Dorian's progress,
01:32 then Kevin from even that first game to, he was playing pretty well.
01:38 >> Yeah, I think he continues to ascend.
01:39 Young player, I think he's gotten better from the moment he stepped foot on campus.
01:44 I think just understanding this game, this system, operating in the huddle,
01:49 operating at the line of scrimmage.
01:51 I thought you've seen him take significant steps from the spring.
01:55 Then to your point from his first start to his last start,
01:57 I think he's taken significant steps.
01:59 >> Kevin, Joe talked yesterday about every week even is super helpful getting
02:04 comfortable with the new system and your pass catchers and stuff.
02:06 I guess it's how have you guys seen that over this last week from last Sunday to
02:09 now?
02:10 >> Yeah, every rep counts.
02:13 Obviously, it's nice to get Amari and
02:15 David back out there because those reps count for today as well.
02:18 And then I think just there's nuances to every system.
02:23 So being around more days and talking through more plays and
02:27 different adjustments.
02:28 Obviously, having PJ and Dorian in there,
02:31 guys that have been here can also accelerate that process.
02:35 >> Any merit to using both quarterbacks in some capacity?
02:39 >> Could be.
02:41 I think that's always something that you talk about in game and
02:44 leading up to a game what gives you a chance, but we'll see how that goes.
02:48 >> How much was Amari able to do?
02:50 >> He did all of his normal workload.
02:54 >> Yeah.
02:54 >> We've seen MJ, how he's kind of grown on the field, but off the field.
03:01 What have you seen from him in year two?
03:02 And do you think it's allowed him to sort of grow as he has?
03:06 >> I mean, one more lap around the sun, but
03:09 he came in here as a very conscientious kid, very hard worker.
03:14 We loved his mentality, part of the reason we drafted him.
03:18 So he fit who we were right away.
03:21 So I don't know that much has changed other than experience.
03:25 >> So what was it about his mentality?
03:27 >> Yeah, I think when you play that position,
03:30 he plays it with a great competitive fire.
03:33 And he's not afraid to tackle and he's not afraid to mix it up.
03:36 And he's got great confidence and aside from all the physical skill sets,
03:41 I just think he's got the right mentality.
03:43 >> Yeah. >> Do you think your receivers will
03:45 handle the uncertainty of not knowing you started in quarterback?
03:48 >> Yeah, that's part of their job, honestly, Mary Kay.
03:51 In practice, they catch passes from both guys.
03:55 They have now built up a bank of reps with both guys.
03:58 So I don't know that it makes a significant difference with them.
04:02 >> Do they know who's a starting quarterback is?
04:04 >> I think we'll all know when the ball kicks off.
04:08 >> Yeah.
04:08 >> Like, I mean, they're in your- >> We didn't announce a guy, so we'll see.
04:13 >> Let's drop passes, Kevin, we've asked you about this before.
04:15 But what, I mean, you just practice catching, is that how it takes?
04:21 Because you're practicing- >> Yeah.
04:23 >> Catching when they were being dropped, so.
04:25 >> Yeah, obviously, what you can't do in these situations is tell a player,
04:30 hey, catch the ball.
04:31 As coaches, we have to give coaching points and it can be technique.
04:35 And those techniques can be different and there can be different coaching points
04:39 that go with different types of catches, whether it's out of the body,
04:42 inside the body, that type of thing.
04:43 So we'll just continue to work at it and make sure that we drill it in individual,
04:49 and we drill it when we do team periods.
04:51 And I believe that you achieve what you emphasize, and
04:54 you continue to emphasize having great technique.
04:56 >> When we talked to Jim Schwartz yesterday, he had mentioned-
04:59 >> Who was that there?
04:59 >> Jim Schwartz.
05:01 He had mentioned that it's not just Miles that has to create the pass rush.
05:06 That the engine of that defense is with those four guys that are on the field up
05:12 front, just what have you seen from that and how confident are they gonna
05:17 kinda get back to what they were doing for the first 10, 11 weeks?
05:21 >> Yeah, I think that's the point, Darrell.
05:22 We've seen it from that group.
05:23 We as a team wanna play better, we as a defense wanna play better,
05:28 we as a defensive line wanna play better, that's obvious.
05:31 And I think these guys understand that they have a job to do.
05:34 Their number one job, as Coach Schwartz tells them, and
05:36 I'm sure has told you, is to mess things up and be disruptive.
05:40 So that's what we're looking to do.
05:41 >> Kevin, along those lines, how big would it be if Denzel can play,
05:44 knowing how physical he is, how well he's been playing this year,
05:47 that aspect of Miri and brushing covers like those guys talked about?
05:49 >> Yeah, as you guys know, Denzel's a great player for us.
05:53 If we can get him back there, he gives us a boost in the secondary.
05:57 But we'll see how it goes.
05:58 >> I know there's some weight he has still, but
06:00 what kind of a benefit is it to have guys like Amari Cooper and
06:03 Dorian Thompson-Robinson who are in concussion protocol progress enough that
06:06 they were able to get back to practice this week?
06:09 >> Yeah, I think with those concussion protocols, Cam,
06:13 you just have to let it play out and trust the medical staff.
06:17 And I think both those guys did everything in their power to make it back.
06:21 And sometimes it goes longer than they want it to.
06:25 But bottom line is you can't rush that.
06:28 And getting Dorian back and hopefully getting Amari back would obviously be good
06:32 for our football team.
06:33 >> You went to Baltimore, you had two essentially backup tackles starting
06:38 against those edge rushers.
06:40 Doing possibly the same thing this week against two,
06:44 the confidence you have in James and Jaron and those guys.
06:50 How have you seen, how has that grown over the season?
06:53 >> Yeah, I have confidence in all those guys.
06:55 Honestly, Chris, I mean, it's their job to go in there for one play,
07:00 sometimes ten plays, sometimes a game, sometimes two games, whatever it is.
07:03 That's kind of the life of the backup.
07:05 You have to be ready to go at a moment's notice.
07:07 So I trust all those guys in that room, if any of them are called upon.
07:12 >> What's your latest weather report?
07:15 >> Honestly, I don't pay too much attention to it cuz it changes so
07:20 often I kind of wait till we get down there on Sunday.
07:22 That's my weather report.
07:23 >> Okay, thanks guys.
07:26 Thanks.
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