Kevin Stefanski Press Conference December 22, 2023
Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski talks at the podium ahead of the teams match-up vs the Texans this Sunday.
Transcript
00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> What happened to Anthony?
00:17 He practiced on Wednesday, but now we're out.
00:23 >> Yeah, unfortunately had something going on with his knee.
00:27 We'll continue to work through it with him, but
00:30 disappointed that he's not gonna make it this week.
00:33 >> How do you feel?
00:35 >> He's gonna continue to work through that the next 48 hours.
00:39 I think it's important to see how he responds.
00:41 He got a plane ride coming up, but he's continuing to fight to make it.
00:45 >> Have you resigned yourself to the fact that CJ Stroud is out for this game?
00:50 Or do you not?
00:51 >> I'll wait for the injury report and then maybe wait till game time.
00:55 With that, Mary Kay, I think you just have to, we know that he can make it.
01:00 If he doesn't make it, it's case.
01:01 And we've done our homework on both guys and
01:04 worked really hard to understand both guys.
01:06 I know this, either one of those guys are extremely talented and
01:10 can win football games.
01:12 >> It's not trending towards surgery.
01:14 >> We'll update you over the next couple days.
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01:19 >> Can we talk about the receivers tight ends for chasing?
01:23 What do you see out of those guys?
01:26 >> Yeah, really good.
01:27 I mean, talented guys.
01:29 I mean, Robert Woods, you could go down the list of Schultz.
01:33 I think it's an impressive group.
01:34 I think they're really well coached.
01:36 You can see there's a rapport with the quarterbacks and those guys.
01:41 I think very highly of their skill guys.
01:42 >> You think, with the NFL back in there this week,
01:46 just how do you think they played last week and that?
01:51 >> Yeah, I think they gave us some good reps and
01:53 those are young players that I think will continue to get better.
01:56 All of these practices are so valuable for those guys.
01:58 They've gotten a lot of reps to date, but it's not like they've gotten every rep.
02:02 So now as those guys get more and more reps, I think you can coach off of them.
02:06 So I anticipate that those guys will get better.
02:07 >> Even without Henderson, they still have a pretty fearsome pass rush,
02:13 wouldn't you say?
02:14 >> Their front four is very, very good.
02:18 Just they can hurt you on the edges.
02:20 They have excellent guys inside.
02:23 They get off the ball.
02:24 I know how they're being coached and they're doing a great job.
02:26 They're harassing the quarterback.
02:28 They're stopping the run.
02:30 It's a very, very formidable front.
02:32 >> Do you think the goal for the defense is to embody an us against the world
02:37 mentality to get that road game going a little stronger?
02:41 Is that the same across the board for the entire team?
02:43 >> Yeah, I think it is, Cam.
02:44 When you go into those hostile environments, you really do go arm and
02:49 arm and you're together.
02:50 It is you versus that entire crowd.
02:52 Now, hopefully none of them are coming out of the stands to play.
02:55 But you have to have that mentality that it is us and it's just us.
02:59 And I know we'll have some Brownies fans down there,
03:02 which is always nice to see them supporting us.
03:04 But when you're on the road, you know that it certainly is your sideline and
03:08 that's all you got.
03:10 >> Kevin, Amari is on the verge of becoming the first Browns receiver to
03:13 back to back thousand yard years.
03:15 Has he even exceeded your expectations based on-
03:17 >> Is that a number?
03:19 >> Yeah. >> Wow.
03:20 >> Has he exceeded your expectations even since when he got here?
03:24 >> Yeah, I don't know, Dan.
03:27 I mean, he's been very productive really in all of his previous stops and
03:31 through high school, college, pro.
03:33 So I can't say that Amari having success is surprising to me.
03:39 I've enjoyed working with Amari these last couple years.
03:43 He's a great person, works really hard at his craft.
03:47 Obviously, as we've talked about before, incredible route runner.
03:50 But I'm just impressed with how he works.
03:53 And then that translates to the football field.
03:56 >> Central record Dustin Hopkins just points away from breaking
03:58 Jim Brown's single season scoring record.
04:01 I know you've talked, we've asked you a lot about him this year and
04:03 the impact he's had.
04:04 But just the consistency that he's brought to it.
04:11 >> Yeah, a guy that has come through for us when we need him.
04:15 We trust him.
04:17 He's been a weapon for us on kickoff as well.
04:20 And then off the field, I think he just fits in really well to who we are.
04:24 He's a really good person, a great teammate, excited to have him.
04:28 >> In the spirit of Deshaun coming back to town tomorrow to do a charity event,
04:32 what kind of reports are you getting on how his rehab is going?
04:35 >> Staying in touch with him all week,
04:39 excited that he's gonna be back in the building next week with us.
04:41 He's living and dying from LA watching us play, but
04:47 he's supporting his teammates every day.
04:51 So be good to have him back in person.
04:53 >> Maybe on the sidelines for the Jets game, possibly?
04:55 >> We'll see.
04:56 >> Yeah.
04:57 >> Important to have him back just because of the injury.
05:00 I hope that with being able to get him back, that's what he needs.
05:05 >> Yeah, as you know, Kelsey, that center, it's such an important part of your
05:08 operation and in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage.
05:11 And we don't miss a beat with Nick.
05:14 We're very fortunate to have Nick in that role.
05:16 But getting Ethan back there, a guy who's done it for
05:20 us at a high level the last couple years is a big deal.
05:23 >> Kevin, I actually think it's been such a welcome for
05:27 you guys in games where the run game isn't really working.
05:30 Just what is it about the way you guys teach that, prepare for that?
05:34 It's a lot to still be effective even when the run game maybe isn't there.
05:38 >> Yeah, there's so much nuance to the play action game.
05:41 There's so much nuance to the screen game, the wide zone game.
05:43 In any part of your attack, there's nuance to what you're doing and
05:46 what the defense is doing.
05:47 But play action in particular, it really does take all 11.
05:51 And it takes great ball fakes from the quarterback and the running backs.
05:56 Coach Koob was always famous for that first rep of training camp play action.
06:01 Even if it was a good fake, you just rip the quarterback and
06:04 the running back and just tell them it was horrible.
06:06 Just so that the mentality is it has to be great, it can't be good.
06:09 So I think the guys, the quarterbacks, the running backs,
06:13 they take great pride in those fakes.
06:15 And then it's the line as well.
06:17 I mean, you can't just stand straight up on a play action pass.
06:19 It's so obvious to the linebackers that it's passed.
06:21 So there's just nuance to everything you do.
06:23 And I think in that game, in the play action game,
06:26 I think the players take great pride in those nuances.
06:29 >> Going back and looking at the run game from Chicago,
06:32 a 26 yard something like that on the ground.
06:35 Were there opportunities there?
06:37 And also, do you feel like you might have to pull some things out to kind of get that
06:44 going again?
06:45 >> There's always opportunities.
06:46 There's always things we could do better.
06:47 There's always things I could do better when you come up short in that regard.
06:50 So we'll work very hard at that.
06:53 I'll tell you, I'll give them a ton of credit.
06:54 When these coaches are pretty good on the other side,
06:57 these players are pretty good on the other side.
06:58 So sometimes you tip your cap, but we're back to work and
07:03 finding ways to make sure that we're efficient and explosive.
07:06 >> [INAUDIBLE]
07:11 For several years in a row.
07:14 Now, what sets him apart from other left tackles in the game?
07:18 >> Yeah, outstanding combination of size and athleticism and length.
07:23 Just he's the prototypical, just when you look at him, left tackle,
07:28 a guy that can protect, he can run block.
07:31 But to be that big and to move like he does is really impressive.
07:34 >> I mean, compared to other teams, how much do they help him out when he's
07:41 trying to, when they try to block?
07:45 >> Yeah, I'd say like normal, but they also have a guy in Laramie who can,
07:51 you can leave him on an island at times and that can really free you up to help
07:55 the other side potentially work to get five out potentially.
07:58 So they understand how talented that kid is.
08:01 >> Good.
08:03 >> Okay, thanks guys.
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