Kevin Stefanski Press Conference November 15, 2023
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00:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]
00:10 >> Okay, obviously, I know you guys got the Deshaun news,
00:18 incredibly disappointed for the kid.
00:21 He battled like crazy to get back out there and then for
00:24 what he did with those injuries in the second half is even more remarkable.
00:29 So disappointed for him, but he'll get back, he'll get healthy.
00:34 I know that he'll attack his rehab.
00:35 So for us, we're excited about our opportunity this week.
00:39 Got the six and three Steelers coming to town, six and
00:42 three Browns down there on the lake.
00:43 So we're very excited about that.
00:46 And that's where our focus is.
00:47 We're focusing on going one and O this week, any which way we can.
00:51 And that's the exciting part about life in the NFL.
00:55 That Steelers team is coming in here as we know, really well coached,
00:59 good players.
01:00 They're a tough, tough matchup.
01:03 Their defense is that front is stout.
01:08 Good players in the back end, including Joey Porter, who is playing more and
01:11 more and playing at a high level for them.
01:14 Often create all sorts of issues with their pre snap movement.
01:19 Some new players on that side of the ball as well.
01:21 I think they'll get their tight end back.
01:22 So a huge challenge and special teams.
01:25 I think our special teams made some plays to help us win last week and
01:28 that's gonna definitely be the case again this week.
01:31 So again, excited for the challenge of playing at our place in November.
01:36 And with that, I'll take any questions.
01:38 >> Where are you sending for?
01:39 >> Yeah, Dorian's gonna start.
01:40 >> The decision to go back in?
01:43 >> Yeah, just felt like, as you know, every week,
01:46 you're trying to just make the best decisions you can for your team.
01:49 I wanna give him a week where he knows he's a starter,
01:51 he gets a full week of preparation.
01:53 >> I think he learned from that first start and how's he maybe grown since then.
01:58 >> I would hope all of our players learn from every opportunity,
02:00 whether you start or don't.
02:02 Whether you get 10 plays or 60 plays.
02:04 I think you take learning experiences from every rep you get practice in game.
02:10 >> What makes you confident that he will be a lot better than he was in Ravens?
02:16 >> Yeah, again, young players need exposure.
02:19 You get better in practice, sometimes you get better through games.
02:24 >> Kevin, it feels like one thing or
02:25 another has been thrown at you guys all season, I mean, this being the latest.
02:30 Do you feel like what you've been through already prepares you guys for
02:33 what's ahead?
02:34 >> Yeah, I've said to you guys before, I've said to the team,
02:36 you can't predict anything in this league.
02:38 You can't predict what's gonna happen.
02:40 When you're sitting there back in August, you don't know what's coming your way.
02:43 So we keep a very, very narrow focus in this building.
02:47 What I know is we had a big one on Sunday.
02:49 >> Kevin, how is Dorian handled kind of this part of the season,
02:53 after the Ravens game and then going back to that backup position?
02:58 But just kind of this process, how are you seeing him?
03:00 >> Young player, works very hard.
03:03 Gave him a scout team game ball last week with his work as prepping our defense for
03:08 the Ravens.
03:09 So he's gotten better and better, I think, in practice.
03:12 Works very hard in the meeting room with all those guys and AVP.
03:15 So he's working very hard.
03:17 >> Do you have any idea during the game, Kevin,
03:20 that Deshaun was experiencing search alert problems?
03:23 >> I did not.
03:24 >> Deshaun seemed like in disbelief still over this news.
03:29 And I mean, just from what you've seen from him so far with him being here,
03:33 how do you think he's handled this?
03:34 And it obviously seems like he really wanted to continue.
03:37 >> Yeah, I've talked to him a lot, obviously.
03:40 He's disappointed.
03:40 He's a competitor.
03:41 He's a leader of the football team.
03:45 So it's tough.
03:46 And we've all been around this game and we've seen guys have season ending injuries.
03:52 And it's no fun for anybody.
03:53 You feel for those guys.
03:53 We got guys in the training room right now that are out for the season.
03:57 We feel for them.
03:58 But we got a game.
04:00 We got a game on Sunday.
04:01 We got a great opportunity in front of us.
04:03 So we know he's gonna go heal up and get better.
04:06 And in the meantime, he's gonna be supporting his teammates.
04:08 >> And a lot of fans remember that the GTR game against Baltimore.
04:11 We all saw him play really well in training camp and in the preseason games.
04:16 Going back to that time, what did you really like about him?
04:18 And what gives you confidence that he can keep the offense going going forward?
04:21 >> Yeah, I think for us, obviously did a ton of work on him coming out.
04:26 So he's played a lot of football.
04:28 He's very athletic and make plays.
04:30 Has a very good understanding of what we do, of our offense and
04:33 those type of things.
04:34 So he's a young player that I think will just continue to get better.
04:37 >> Yeah, but in fact, as DJ Walker did win games for you,
04:41 did you just feel the coaches that couldn't live with his turnovers anymore?
04:45 >> No, I mean, I would tell you with PJ, he's still a guy that we're counting on.
04:50 He's done a great job in the meeting room, on the practice field.
04:54 Like you mentioned, has led us in these games.
04:56 He has to be ready to go at a moment's notice.
04:59 Just felt like this was the right decision for the team right now.
05:01 >> Hey Kevin, you didn't want to reveal your left tackle last week, so why-
05:05 >> Because you found out, Jeff.
05:06 That's why.
05:07 >> [LAUGH] >> My sweatshirt, by the way.
05:10 >> Right, well, thanks.
05:11 But so why did you choose to announce who you're starting quarterbacks?
05:16 >> Again, because you found out.
05:17 >> [INAUDIBLE] Having to get backup quarterbacks ready throughout your career.
05:23 What are the key elements in doing that heading into the week?
05:26 >> Yeah, so much gets made of the quarterback position, I get it.
05:29 But every one of our players has to do their job.
05:33 And I think whether it's the left tackle, whether it's the quarterback,
05:37 you just have to do your job.
05:38 So as a backup, and particularly in that room as a backup quarterback,
05:44 you have to understand the offense in and out.
05:46 You have to be ready to operate from the huddle, operate at the line of scrimmage.
05:51 But those are all things that you prepare yourself for during the week.
05:54 So nothing's gonna change from that perspective.
05:56 We expect who's ever out there just to do their job.
05:59 >> In an injury like this, a significant player seemingly,
06:04 do you feel the need to rally the team and
06:06 to reinforce some kind of message in a team meeting?
06:10 >> Obviously, I talked to the team about it this morning.
06:13 I'm not gonna get into specifics other than say, we have a job to do Sunday.
06:16 >> The young player like DTR, he's got some of that gunslinger mentality in him.
06:26 But as you know, you guys are so big, you lead the league right now,
06:30 still in 19 giveaways.
06:32 So how do you strike that balance with DTR and letting him let it rip and
06:36 air it out, and also kind of being careful with the ball?
06:39 >> Yeah, I think you can play this game a certain way where you
06:44 are playing carefree, but you're not being careless.
06:50 You have to take care of the ball.
06:51 We know that turnover stat is the most important thing that drives winning and
06:55 losing.
06:56 I know Pittsburgh is tied for the league in plus 10 in turnover margin,
07:00 that they've taken care of the ball.
07:01 They haven't given it away very much, and they've had a lot of takeaway.
07:06 So we get that, we understand that's part of this game, and
07:09 every game moving forward is taking care of the ball.
07:11 >> And the tackles is in status quo.
07:14 You know that Jones isn't practicing today, but also Dunn is his practice.
07:19 >> Right, yeah, we'll work through all those things this week.
07:22 >> One of the things that Andrew told us earlier that he really admires about you
07:26 is your ability to emotionally kind of stay level as things get really good or
07:30 really bad throughout the course of the season.
07:32 Does that come naturally to you or is that something you've had to work on?
07:36 >> I don't know.
07:37 I just know we've talked about as a team, again, with the NFL season,
07:42 there are ups and downs, there are wins and losses.
07:45 You lose guys due to injury, people step up.
07:48 We as a team don't ride an emotional roller coaster.
07:51 It does us no good.
07:53 We focus on the task at hand.
07:55 >> And you addressed this a little bit at the beginning, but
07:58 just how remarkable was it for Deshaun to go out there in the second half,
08:01 go 14 and 14 on a broken shoulder and a high ankle sprain?
08:05 >> Yeah, I told you after the game, he was a warrior, and
08:10 that was without knowing about the shoulder injury.
08:12 Just that scramble late in the game on a high ankle was incredible.
08:17 Now the throws that he was able to make, especially the one on second down there to
08:21 Omari, I think about difference in the game.
08:25 So incredible feat of toughness.
08:28 >> He's not practicing today.
08:30 Are you ruling anybody out for Sunday?
08:32 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:34 >> Juan, DeJuan, and Markey?
08:36 >> Yeah, not ruling anybody out, no.
08:37 >> Did Wyatt take more practice in the rest of the week?
08:40 >> We'll see, yeah.
08:42 >> What do you think that Dorian learned from his start that gives you the confidence
08:47 that he should be the guy to lead the Browns through this game against the Stevens?
08:51 >> Yeah, I think with Dorian in that game, again, that was a tough spot that he was in.
08:56 So I think this week, having a full week of preparation,
09:00 knowing that he's gonna be the starter, I think is important.
09:03 Every backup will tell you, and it's the truth, they have to be ready to go.
09:06 After the first play, after the second play, if the starter needs a shoelace,
09:10 you have to be ready to go.
09:11 So he's prepared himself all season,
09:15 just felt like this was the right thing for the team.
09:17 >> Now this is something that the team hasn't gone through before, and
09:21 them trying to do their job.
09:22 But how important is the connection and the bond that these guys have created in
09:26 getting through something like this and overcoming adversity?
09:29 >> Yeah, I think that's a huge part of it, Cam.
09:30 And I think this team, as we've all seen, will fight like crazy,
09:35 sometimes in pregame, which I don't recommend.
09:39 But that's what's required.
09:40 And these guys, they care about each other.
09:43 They're gonna push each other.
09:44 They're there for each other.
09:45 We have DeSean's back through all this as he gets better.
09:49 And we know he's got our back.
09:50 So we'll continue to fight.
09:52 That's just what we do.
09:53 >> Did you give any consideration to just hauling in some veteran,
09:59 experienced quarterback, maybe somebody you've had some experience with and
10:02 just throwing him out there?
10:04 >> Obviously, that's something that Andrew and his crew will always look at those
10:08 type of things.
10:09 But I feel really confident with the guys we got.
10:12 Yes, Tony.
10:12 >> Without Watson in there, are you more inclined to use a second quarterback
10:17 based on performance during the game?
10:20 >> Yeah, for me, it's just getting our guys ready to play.
10:25 >> Is DeSean gonna be on the sideline Sunday?
10:29 If he's not, how long is he gonna be away from the team?
10:31 >> Yeah, we're still working through all that.
10:33 >> He'd be on the sideline Sunday?
10:35 >> It depends on when that surgery is scheduled.
10:37 >> You say teams have to go through adversity and
10:40 you have to go through the bounces of the NFL.
10:42 But what would you have said if someone told you in preseason that you would be
10:47 playing without Jack Conklin, Nick Chubb, DeSean Watson for the second?
10:52 >> Yeah, again, that's why you can't predict it because you don't even try to.
10:57 But I've said it a thousand times, greatest team sport there is.
11:02 That's what I love about this game.
11:03 I love the challenge.
11:04 We love those guys.
11:07 But reality is that they're out for the season and
11:10 we trust the guys that are gonna be in their spots.
11:12 >> And your defense was able to help you kind of carry through first time,
11:16 DeSean was out.
11:18 What do you tell those guys on that side of the ball as far as maybe not trying to
11:23 do too much?
11:25 >> Yeah, I think our guys understand what good defense looks like.
11:31 It really just comes down to doing your job.
11:33 We have really good leadership on that side of the ball.
11:34 So I trust that they'll continue to keep that their focus.
11:38 >> Good.
11:39 >> Okay, thank you guys.
11:40 [BLANK_AUDIO]