Browns Anthony Walker Talks On Deshaun News and Steeler's Prep
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00:00 >> I mean, anytime you lose any brother on the football field, it hurts, right?
00:06 As franchise quarterback, obviously, it's never ideal.
00:11 But I feel like the boot in our locker room is opportunity.
00:14 We all understand that it sucks losing DeSean, but
00:17 we have opportunity to keep the season going.
00:20 We're in a great position right now.
00:21 We control our own destiny.
00:22 And that's our mindset right now.
00:24 So obviously, we love our brother.
00:26 We want him to be out there with us.
00:27 But right now, we gotta focus on going one-nil this week.
00:31 >> Is it hard to keep the goals the same, given he's such a big piece?
00:35 >> Not at all.
00:36 We play the game, and it's the greatest team sport ever invented.
00:40 Guys go down.
00:40 Shoot, I went down last year.
00:42 I mean, I understand how it feels for him.
00:44 But I mean, they don't say next man up for no reason.
00:47 And we all have a job to do.
00:49 We're professionals, and that's what we gotta do.
00:50 >> When you think about the fact that he came out in there,
00:55 14-14 on the play, he was stranded on the open shoulder.
00:57 What does that say to you about DeSean?
00:59 >> Yeah, I mean, we all know he's a tough guy,
01:02 being able to play through days in the league quarterback.
01:05 So I see that performance wasn't a shocker to me.
01:09 It hurts more that he's just not able to continue the journey that he was on,
01:14 just playing good football and helping our team win.
01:17 So obviously, praying for him and his health and his recovery.
01:21 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:31 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:34 >> [LAUGH]
01:35 >> Everybody.
01:35 >> [LAUGH]
01:36 >> No, but I mean, he's a part of us.
01:38 He knows that just Chubb is, all our injured guys,
01:41 a lot of guys still be around.
01:43 And he's gonna be a crucial part, obviously, in our success as we continue
01:49 to move forward, and he'll do everything he can to be back next year.
01:53 But yeah, it sucks, right?
01:55 But we got a job to do.
01:57 >> Anthony, you said goals don't change.
01:58 What makes you say that about this team that you can still get to where you wanna
02:01 get to without DeSean?
02:02 >> Yeah, I think just the resilience of this team, man.
02:06 The guys that we have in this locker room, I believe in everybody.
02:08 Everybody believes in one another.
02:10 So defensively, we gotta control what we can control.
02:14 And that's us going out there against stops.
02:16 And how we feel if a team doesn't score, they don't win the game.
02:18 So we gotta play elite defense.
02:21 We've been trying to do every game, no matter who's our quarterback.
02:25 And then we trust whoever does line up at quarterback for
02:28 us that they're gonna put their best foot forward.
02:30 I mean, we got guys on the offense now.
02:32 It's not like we don't have guys.
02:34 So we're excited for the opportunity for those guys.
02:37 >> And when you had to go through that rehab,
02:39 with that injury you had last year,
02:42 were there times when you got discouraged and so how did you fight through that?
02:47 >> Yeah, a lot of times obviously, you never wanna be injured while your team's
02:52 going through a season.
02:53 I think what helped me a lot was being around the guys last year,
02:56 coming back to Cleveland, going to meetings,
02:58 being a part still feel like I was a part of the team.
03:01 Obviously, you're not, they're not out there going through the ground with those
03:05 guys, but you're still here and Deshaun understands that he's a leader, right?
03:09 He's a captain for a reason.
03:10 And I know once he has surgery, he'll still be around the guys and
03:13 be around us and like I said, be helping that quarterback room a lot.
03:16 >> When JTF starts the game on Sunday against the Steelers,
03:20 how do you think he'll do and
03:21 how much do you think he probably has grown since when he started against the Ravens?
03:25 >> Yeah, again, I think the Ravens game was a tough spot for him.
03:29 Anytime you're just throwing into the fire like that against a defense like that,
03:32 it's always tough, right?
03:33 But like you said, just the growth and maturity,
03:36 I've seen it throughout his preparation throughout the weeks.
03:39 He was scout team player of the week last week,
03:41 giving us a great look of Lamar Jackson.
03:44 So again, the growth and maturity of the preparation is what I've seen the most and
03:48 that's what I think is gonna help him take that next step forward.
03:52 >> What was Kevin's message?
03:55 I assume with something like an injury like this, he gets in front of the team and
03:59 has a message for everyone.
04:01 So what was his to you guys?
04:02 >> Yeah, just wanna know, that's all we can control, right?
04:06 And then we gotta be there for our brother, Deshaun.
04:08 Obviously, he's hurting, he wants to be out there.
04:12 But again, he's gonna lead and he's still gonna be a captain for this team, right?
04:15 So I think that was the most consistent message of it.
04:18 And again, we got a job to do, we're professionals.
04:21 We still have all our goals right in front of us and we gotta handle our business.
04:25 >> Andrew Berry mentioned that the Eagles won a Super Bowl with a backup quarterback,
04:30 49ers were down to, I think, their fifth or
04:32 sixth quarterback in that NFC Championship game.
04:37 How much do you guys lean on that knowledge, looking at recent history with
04:42 teams that have had to deal with these type of situations,
04:46 still being able to have success?
04:48 How much does that help you guys?
04:50 >> Yeah, well, you got the DC that was on that Philly team and
04:53 a star safety on our team.
04:55 Now Rob McLeod, they were both on that team and
04:59 you gotta play good defense, man, which is what we wanna do every week anyway.
05:03 And just it breathes encouragement and
05:07 just the feeling that we got your back as the offense goes and
05:12 as the quarterback situation plays itself out.
05:15 But like I said, man, crazy things have happened, right?
05:18 I think we're in a great spot.
05:21 We believe in anybody that gets back to their quarterback,
05:23 that they're gonna get the job done.
05:24 And I gotta tell them, man, it don't have to be pretty.
05:27 [LAUGH] It wasn't always pretty with Deshaun.
05:30 He had to go through some times and we had to win games, I think 13 to 3,
05:34 whatever it is.
05:35 You gotta do that sometimes in the NFL and as it gets to the December, January,
05:39 it's gonna be about stopping and running, running the football.
05:40 I think we do those two things really well.
05:42 All good.
05:45 >> Can I ask you about Pittsburgh real quick?
05:46 >> Say it again.
05:47 >> Can I ask you something about Pittsburgh?
05:48 >> Yeah, I forgot we haven't even talked about that yet.
05:50 [LAUGH] >> How have they changed since week two?
05:53 And it seems like Warren's getting more run for them.
05:56 What do you see out of it?
05:57 >> Yeah, offense getting healthy.
05:58 A lot of guys coming back for them.
06:02 Like you said, Jaylon Warren picking up, the run game is really picking up.
06:05 I think they had over 200 yards last week.
06:07 So we understand what type of game this is gonna be.
06:10 Yeah, and like I said, the quarterback has gotten better.
06:14 They've gotten healthier, so the offense overall has gotten better.
06:17 >> You mentioned, it doesn't have to be pretty.
06:21 Pittsburgh seems to be the poster child.
06:23 It doesn't have to be pretty.
06:24 They're 6-3 and they've had their issues.
06:27 What do you see from them on film that has allowed them to win ugly?
06:37 >> Yeah, the same thing I just said, running the football well and
06:40 stopping the run and playing good defense.
06:43 And then just find a way, whatever it takes to get the win.
06:47 That's what they do and that's what we have to do.
06:48 >> Thank you.
06:50 >> Appreciate y'all.