Browns OL Joel Bitonio talks with reporters on Thursday of Bears week.
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00:00 had a number of teammates who are on the high guard. That room is always known for, you know, the closeness that exists.
00:08 How do you kind of keep those guys in the group, you know, stay connected with them while they're on?
00:19 Yeah, we still have our group text. We still have our, you know, our dinners when we do them and stuff like that.
00:26 So we try and keep the guys involved. It's difficult though with so many guys going on IR.
00:32 You know, they're doing their rehab, they're partying meetings when they can be, but they have a lot of other things that they're kind of focused on right now.
00:38 But we have a good group and I think we have a good core. So just like whenever we bring someone in, it's part of the group, you know, we're pretty easy going guys.
00:47 So it's not too hard in that aspect, but it does stink when you don't have, you know, your full room.
00:51 You lose a little bit of personality when a guy's, you know, having to get surgery and things of that nature.
00:56 So why is Coach Callahan so good at keeping guys ready to step in and go after the ball?
01:04 I think the way Coach Callahan coaches is so detailed in his process from day one till now, that when you plug in a new piece,
01:13 they kind of have to be caught up to speed to really understand what's going on.
01:18 And so his focus every week, we have to put someone in, like he puts in the extra time, he puts in the extra work.
01:25 The guys are focused on getting extra work when they need to.
01:29 And, you know, you can have however many runs in for a week, 20 or 30 runs.
01:34 You can really focus on those runs and the detail behind, you know, which formations we're going to get, which defensive fronts we're going to get.
01:40 And it breaks it down for him. But I think it just starts with how detailed he is and how focused he is on the little things.
01:45 So that that allows guys to go out there and kind of play free.
01:48 Do you think it helps a guy like Michael or James, these guys kind of get some snaps, even a little bit, you know, to their line?
01:57 Do you think that helps people be engaged on the road here?
02:00 Yeah, I mean, they're super engaged. You know, you never know when we're going to call our jumbo package or, you know, our muscle packages.
02:06 When these guys get tons of reps, you know, you look at you getting a carat, you know, tons of reps for J.C. in practice.
02:13 So you had all that prep time and then what's going to be the starter obviously got hurt.
02:17 How to fight back from that. And then, you know, Poe did a great job when he went in there.
02:22 So he's kind of getting these backup reps and he's like, how can I get on the field?
02:25 Like we need a fullback, a fullback or we need a big tight end.
02:28 And I think those guys just want to be part and want to help the team and they're good football players.
02:32 So anytime they get on the field, I think is a is a huge positive.
02:36 You talked a lot about December football.
02:39 [inaudible]
02:51 Yeah. You know, at this point, I think these guys have been around the group and they understand, like, hey, we're playing for something.
02:59 We got ourselves, I think Joe said, a week, you know, we played good enough early in the year to put some position to play meaningful games in December.
03:05 And they want to be a part of that. They don't want to. The mindset is they don't want to let their guys down.
03:09 You know, they're going out there to fight, to compete.
03:12 And, you know, we still think we have the right guys to do what we want to do.
03:17 And so we're focused on that. You know, we have a good test. Chicago's playing great this week.
03:21 So it'll be I mean, this last like four games. So it'll be a it'll be a good challenge for us.
03:26 You mentioned about detail. So my question is, does your game assignments change week to week depending on your opponent?
03:41 Yeah. You know, it starts with what type of defense they run.
03:46 And then, you know, like we could play Aaron Donald. We have different plans for him that we do against, you know, different guys.
03:52 Or if they have a great defense, then there's going to be a different strategy on how we want to block him.
03:57 So I think there's a huge, huge focus on who we're playing against and our opponents and then what techniques you want to use.
04:04 You know, we have different types of double team blocks. We're gonna use our hands, our shoulders, our under strikes.
04:09 There's so much detail that goes into it. And that that is definitely why we're practicing and meeting to learn those things.
04:21 Yeah. You know, since they've traded for sweat, they've been very good.
04:26 They run, I think, the most games in the league, which is like T's, E's, their movement front.
04:31 So even if they're playing base defense, their guys are going to shift and go into different gaps.
04:37 So there's a there's a lot of they come they come from that tree of like play hard, relentless pursuit.
04:44 So it's a big challenge for us. But they've been, I mean, against the run last.
04:48 I mean, if you look at the stats, I think they're one of the better teams against the run.
04:51 And then their sack production has been up the last three or four games.
04:54 It's definitely a challenge for us.
04:56 Better science or is that how it's going to carry on?
05:02 I think a little bit of both. I think our fans bring the energy.
05:05 I think our especially our defense, I think, thrives on that and they get excited.
05:09 It's loud and it's pretty cool to see, you know, every once in a while, get them to get loud on the side.
05:14 Well, my God, this is cool. It's getting loud in here.
05:18 And I think it's a tough place to play. You know, you're down on the lake.
05:21 You get some wind, you get some conditions, you know, it's definitely a different atmosphere than a lot of teams, you know, are used to playing in.
05:29 So we love playing our home games. And then I'm sure there's some luck that gets thrown in there as well.
05:35 [inaudible]
05:53 Yeah, because any team you go to, I mean, not that I've been to a lot, but any defensive coordinator, I mean, any offensive coordinator has different terminology for things.
06:01 So in his head, you know, a certain route could be called something else.
06:05 And so he's been through enough where he's probably seen it all, but to categorize it and put it into one catalog for the Browns, I think is very impressive.
06:13 You know, the first time I saw him throw seven on seven, he was doing like the scouting quarterback.
06:16 I was like, he's throwing the ball pretty good. I don't know much, but like there's some pop on the ball.
06:21 So I knew that was still there. But then you got to get the game, the cadence, the understanding, the feel.
06:26 And I feel like you see it and you're like, all right, he still got that. And so hopefully it's like a bike for him.
06:31 He just gets back on and he keeps riding.
06:33 When I was saying at the end of the game last week, everything that he was saying was happening.
06:38 Like they scored and we had to do what had to be done. How important is it to have that extra advice?
06:43 You know, a lot of coaches and everybody else, but that guy saying those kinds of answers.
06:47 Yeah, I think experience-wise, he's seen it all, been a part of it all.
06:51 So he was just focused on, you know, talking about the clock, where it's going to be if we get the ball back under two, we're going to be able to take a knee.
06:56 You know, if not, we got to get a first down. All these, all these different aspects.
07:01 I just think it comes with experience. And it's one of those things where we appreciate that.
07:06 And, you know, hopefully we can keep rolling with it.
07:10 Is there a discussion point about it?
07:13 No, we're trying to go one another this week. We'll see what happens after that.
07:18 But our focus has been very exact on the week ahead and we'll kind of see what happens.
07:24 He's teaching us something, you know.
07:29 [inaudible]
07:48 I think it's we're trying to take what the defense is giving to us.
07:51 You know, we had a stretch there where every team was putting one more big guy than we had on the field.
07:57 So it was kind of asking us that we had to throw the ball. Denver did that. The Rams did that.
08:02 And then this week, I think, I think if you look at Jacksonville, they're number one against defense, but probably bottom half against the pass.
08:10 So I think just the game plan and what we wanted to accomplish and how we could attack the defense was kind of more of that.
08:16 But it's really whatever it takes. We got to run the ball 50 times, run the ball 50 times, pass the ball 50 times.
08:21 We'll do that, too. You know, so whatever it takes.
08:25 Whatever gets us a win.
08:27 Joey, you guys went through a December like this. You had to kind of finish.
08:33 Did you take anything from that? The lessons to be learned?
08:37 Yeah, I mean, the resilience, I think, comes from that as well.
08:42 I mean, we didn't know who was going to play then.
08:45 And there was weeks where we didn't get to practice at all. And it was very up and down with COVID and everything.
08:49 And it's kind of similar. We have, you know, some injuries that, you know, unfortunate injuries and different things.
08:55 So I think I think the group has gained resilience over the years.
08:58 I think that's something that definitely helps us.
09:01 Joe, I'll be fair. Can you give me a level play?
09:07 No, he's done a good job. He's really focused.
09:10 I think he comes in and he's in a few different places and he started his career with Bill in Washington.
09:17 But he's really come in and focused on his craft.
09:20 And I think I think if you look at it like his technique and everything has improved over the last few weeks.
09:25 And I think he's been doing a great job. He's come in and played left tackle.
09:28 It's not like receiver or D-line where you get, you know, 20 plays a game.
09:33 Like you have to get in there and you're thrown into the fire.
09:35 And I think he's come in and he's really fought hard and he's really working to keep improving every week.
09:40 Thanks, guys.