Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski talks with the media on December 13, 2023.
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00:00 And as good of the reps were on the field, he's a great person,
00:04 was awesome for our locker room.
00:07 We'll get him back in here ASAP so he can be around our football team.
00:11 But really, really good veteran presence.
00:14 I know he's not the oldest player, but he's been through a lot.
00:16 He's been on different teams.
00:17 So I just think great impact on our football team.
00:20 >> Opportunity for Jackie and the student go for the potential.
00:24 >> Yes.
00:25 >> We talked to after Jed was hurt, you kind of wrote this best optimism
00:31 that he might be back.
00:32 >> Yeah.
00:32 >> Just- >> Yeah, you always go with what
00:37 the injuries are and sometimes there's complications to it or whatever.
00:40 Maybe I don't know if there's complications, but with more time,
00:44 figured that surgery was the best option for him.
00:47 >> Does it make it rewarding for you that you have a team that is proven to be so
00:51 resilient, talking about all the injuries and
00:54 in ways that they might derail other teams they haven't derailed you?
00:58 >> No, I mean, we're not in the place in the season to even think about that.
01:02 We gotta find a way to get a win this week.
01:04 >> Save the Brazilians.
01:05 >> Yeah, of course, yeah.
01:06 And that's, we talked about it before, Jake,
01:08 just you trust the leaders of the football team is really what it comes down to.
01:12 >> Well, Kevin, you're one of nine teams that have 84 more wins.
01:19 The other eight of all, [INAUDIBLE]
01:24 >> Comment.
01:27 >> No comment.
01:29 >> Kevin, Miles is very critical of the officiating on Sunday.
01:32 Do you think it was a day where it was abnormal that he was held and
01:36 grabbed and whatever else?
01:38 >> Yeah, Miles gets a ton of attention, breaking news in the Sports Center.
01:44 The coordinators, when they're getting ready to game plan for him,
01:49 I mean, the game plan is built around stopping him.
01:52 So he gets a ton of attention via tight end chips, running back chips,
01:55 slides to him.
01:56 And he's a difficult guy to block.
01:59 So there's always gonna be plays that the offensive line is holding on for
02:03 dear life sometimes, literally.
02:04 So he fights through it.
02:07 I know he was frustrated, but he's just gonna gotta keep and he will keep playing
02:12 and not let that get in the way of him playing really good football.
02:16 >> I know you appreciate his frustration.
02:18 You worry that comments like that though could backfire on him and
02:21 then it turns into even.
02:23 >> No, I think he has respect for this game.
02:25 He understands that.
02:27 He's frustrated.
02:28 Something I talk to the officials about every week,
02:31 leading up to the game is keeping an eye on the guys that are blocking him.
02:33 So it really comes with being a great player.
02:37 We want the other team to play within the rules, obviously, but
02:40 it hasn't slowed him down.
02:41 I mean, he continues to play at a very high level.
02:43 >> Frustrating those codes with the diplomatic channels of sending in the plays
02:47 to the league office aren't helping in that regard.
02:51 >> Yeah, I've been around too long.
02:52 I know the song and dance.
02:54 So it is what it is.
02:55 >> Is the ATR twice effective?
03:00 >> Yeah, I mean on those two plays, yes.
03:03 Yeah, for us, Tony, it's a game to game proposition about what you think is best
03:08 for the team in that game.
03:10 Last week was a couple plays, could be zero, could be 30.
03:14 For him and for any of our players, that's how we operate.
03:17 We just wanna make sure that whatever it takes for
03:19 that given game, we're gonna put in the game plan.
03:21 >> Kevin, Ethan, any worry that that stinger might prevent him from playing?
03:28 >> We'll see, yeah, I mean, any injury, you wanna make sure you see how he's doing
03:32 throughout the week.
03:32 I think he's doing better, but I think we'll know more later in the week.
03:36 >> How do those efforts play into that mentality of the guys that are replacing
03:42 them?
03:45 >> Yeah, I think, Cam, it goes back to, we've spent a lot of time together as a
03:49 football team, and you go all the way back to the spring, and you put in the work.
03:53 And I think, ultimately, you trust all of your players,
03:56 cuz they're putting in the work beside the starter.
03:59 So it's not like the starters are the only players that are practicing in a given
04:03 week, again, and going all the way back to training camp, if you will.
04:06 I've seen all of our guys, I've seen them in action.
04:09 I know what they're capable of.
04:11 I know how hard they work, and that's where the confidence comes from.
04:14 >> I was saying that Joe, your long lost brother,
04:17 was a real calming influence on the sideline in the final couple minutes.
04:23 How important is it to have just another guy over there that's been through it and
04:26 can kinda calm things down a bit?
04:28 >> Yeah, I think, again, it speaks to Joe's expertise in this game.
04:34 He's played a long time, he's seen a lot, and
04:36 he's definitely willing to share what he's seen with his teammates.
04:39 I think he does a great job in our meeting room with the quarterbacks.
04:43 I think Dorian and PJ can learn a lot from the different things that he's seen.
04:47 But anytime you've had turns at this,
04:50 anytime you've played in these games, you've played in big games.
04:53 I think that informs you and how you deal with the things that are coming at you, and
04:58 they're coming at you fast now as well.
05:01 >> It's not easy walking in a locker room with an older teacher like Joe has done.
05:07 Just what's it say about him that it just seems like, I mean,
05:11 I realize his resume is what his resume is, but
05:15 a guy that was out on the street waiting for a phone call,
05:20 is able to walk in and not only just,
05:22 respect everyone in the right way, but perform at a high level.
05:27 >> Yeah, I think it's to your point, Darryl,
05:29 obviously performing at a high level earns respect.
05:32 But I just think the way you work earns respect.
05:34 I've been around a lot of players, quarterbacks, running backs,
05:37 whatever it is, the guys that work, gain the respect of their teammates.
05:41 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:47 >> We'll see, you could.
05:50 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> Yeah, see if we can get another one.
05:55 Yes.
05:56 >> For extra examples, Alex Leatherwood really hasn't been out there able to do
06:00 much lately, right?
06:01 >> He was battling an injury previously in the last couple weeks.
06:04 >> So he's kind of- >> He's coming along,
06:05 he's getting better, yeah.
06:07 >> What's the current strategy of five starts per jam?
06:11 >> Yeah, it's hard to, you forget that he wasn't with us before.
06:17 So I'd say number one is just understanding our system.
06:22 And I think that goes back to his time with Coach Callahan.
06:25 So he's got a really good feel for what we do from a technique perspective.
06:29 And then diving in and making sure he knows what to do, play to play.
06:33 I think he's a lot of really good moments for us.
06:35 There's a nuance to what we do and he's done it really well.
06:38 But another guy, Scott that I would put in the category, he's come in,
06:42 doesn't say much, does his job, and I think the guys respect that.
06:46 >> You guys, the offensive line is that place where cohesion is so
06:50 important yet you guys have rotated, I think, five different starting combinations.
06:56 What is it about Bill and Scott and the way they teach that you guys
07:02 are able to sort of rotate through guys yet it doesn't seem like miss much?
07:07 >> Yeah, well, I think Coach Callahan and Coach Peters do a great job.
07:12 Coach Callahan has a wealth of experience.
07:14 I forget what the number of years he's been coaching told me back at training
07:17 camp, what number training camp it was for him.
07:19 But I think you apply all those lessons learned.
07:21 I don't know if he's had that many starting lineups before, but
07:24 I'm sure he's had to juggle things over the course of time.
07:27 So he just does a really nice job of getting all the guys ready.
07:30 And I think it speaks to that offensive line room in particular.
07:34 And I mentioned this before, just as it relates to DeJuan and
07:37 some of our young guys, that's a great room to come up in.
07:39 With guys like Joel, with guys like Wyatt, Jack Conklin,
07:43 obviously veterans in there, Nick Harris, a lot of pros, pros, if you will.
07:49 So they learn because that environment in that meeting room kind of demands it.
07:54 >> You said he told you how many training camps?
07:57 >> Yeah, I can't remember what the number is, yeah.
07:59 But he's seen a lot.
08:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:06 >> Yeah, Michael's been able to play in
08:09 a bunch of positions for us.
08:11 So that's the name of the game for backup linemen is versatility.
08:15 >> What is added to that team that's gonna be out there?
08:18 What makes it so good?
08:19 >> Yeah, really good player.
08:20 We've gone against him when he was in Washington.
08:23 Big, long, athletic, physical, great effort.
08:26 He's pressuring the quarterback.
08:28 He's getting sacks.
08:30 You notice him right away just how big he is.
08:33 But he plays really, really hard.
08:34 I got a ton of respect for him.
08:35 >> Good.