Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. talks with the media on December 13, 2023. The Browns take on the Bears the week at home on Sunday.
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00:00 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:10 >> Yeah, no doubt, a guy like that with a lot of experience.
00:22 Every game situation, nothing should surprise him at this point.
00:25 He's been playing for 100 years.
00:27 So he's getting those guys ready just in case if there's two minute or
00:31 we're up to or we're up four, we end up being up four or whatever it is.
00:34 I appreciate those guys, how to manage that situation.
00:37 So, like I said, the guy that's been around, he's done it all,
00:42 seen it all, is able to communicate to the guys,
00:44 different types of situations that we could be in.
00:47 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:49 >> [LAUGH]
00:50 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:51 >> Yeah, no, not yet.
00:53 Yeah, that's all miles on that one.
00:55 >> Anthony, it's one thing though, considering everything that has happened
00:58 at that position this year,
00:59 you guys may get paid seven changes leading up to games because of injuries.
01:04 It's one thing to say that you believe in a guy,
01:08 it's another to really truly believe that.
01:12 What is it about Joe that with him coming in here,
01:17 it feels like you guys believed in him from day one.
01:23 What is it about him that earned that so quickly?
01:28 >> Not the fact that he won a Super Bowl or anything like that,
01:32 that would just be, that's the main.
01:34 Yeah, I know, I know, but a guy with so much experience,
01:38 has played winning football in NFL for a very long time.
01:41 Knows how to get the job done, until he proves otherwise,
01:46 he's still a great quarterback and what we need for
01:49 right now to kind of steady us as a team, just great to have.
01:55 And to find someone like that late in the season after what we've gone through,
01:58 just we got the look of the draw now.
02:02 >> Looks like we lost a couple more guys, Maurice Hurst, maybe,
02:05 Graham Delvin, how much more can his defense absorb in Stokely Brady?
02:10 >> We don't have to find out anymore.
02:13 [LAUGH] No, man, we believe in everybody in this locker room.
02:17 They're here for a reason.
02:19 I've said, hey, it sucks, right, to lose guys.
02:22 We've done it all year, from week one on.
02:25 So the name of the NFL is next man up, as we all like to say.
02:30 We don't like to say it, but we have to say it.
02:32 The next man up mentality.
02:35 And yeah, we believe in everybody in this locker room.
02:37 So whoever gets that opportunity, we believe in that person.
02:41 And there won't be no different with the new guy stepping up.
02:43 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:51 >> Yeah, number one,
02:51 looks very great on film.
02:54 He can make every throw, he can run the ball as well.
02:56 We have a dual threat quarterback like that.
03:00 Obviously, we've had our share of them this year.
03:03 But we have a quarterback like that that can kinda make the game multidimensional,
03:09 make you cover every blade of grass on the field.
03:13 It's very, very special and very unique.
03:14 So we gotta obviously be fundamentally sound in everything that we do.
03:18 And dictate the game and not let them dictate the game.
03:23 >> [INAUDIBLE]
03:29 >> Yeah, for sure.
03:30 Makes you have to layer the coverage a little bit.
03:32 And you have to, run the cover has to be on point.
03:36 We say that every week, but when you play a dual threat quarterback,
03:39 it has to be almost perfect to get the job done.
03:43 >> Do you feel like you guys struggled against some of those guys this year?
03:47 Even guys do their own stuff.
03:49 And what do you need to fix in that?
03:52 >> Yeah, I think we could be better.
03:54 And pretty much every part of the game, rush coverage, splits, whatever.
03:58 I think we honed in on our fundamentals and
04:02 technique against the zone read and all that stuff.
04:05 So we just gotta go out and execute.
04:07 And this is all 11, 11 of us, one ball carrier, and we gotta get the guy down.
04:12 And play well on third down, play well in the red zone.
04:15 And like I said, just our same goals every week.
04:17 >> Since things got better after the men's shoe game,
04:20 is there more emphasis or more awareness of it after?
04:24 >> I say so.
04:25 >> Yeah.
04:25 >> Grant might end up having to miss the final four games this season with
04:31 a scoring injury.
04:32 How well was Grant playing?
04:34 And then also, were you happy to see that he was able to get his extension and
04:37 achieve some of those goals?
04:38 >> Yeah, I was about to say, that's how well he was playing.
04:40 He got an extension.
04:41 [LAUGH] But yeah, pro bowl caliber from him, put the work in all offseason.
04:48 Really stepped into his own this year and he'll be fine when he gets back,
04:52 getting back into that role.
04:54 And obviously, it sucks to lose, like I said, any guy on our team.
04:57 But you lose a guy like Grant Delpit really excelling in run defense and
05:02 coverage and everything like that, blitzing as well.
05:04 Hate that for him, but for our team, we got other guys that have to step up.
05:10 Guys that can step up, that's proven that they can do that.
05:14 And we gotta have each other's back.
05:16 And then if he is able to get back, we obviously welcome him with open arms.
05:20 But we can't worry about the playoffs right now,
05:23 we gotta worry about this week.
05:24 And this is the biggest game of our lives.
05:27 >> You and Greg kinda echoed your sentiments about players on your side,
05:30 the ball stepping off, one called upon.
05:33 What is it about it?
05:35 And he said that you guys don't change anything, just guys who stepped in and
05:38 just kind of picked up where others have left off.
05:41 What have you seen from some of these reserve guys that weren't getting
05:46 a lot of playing time early, but they have been able to be so successful?
05:51 And in key moments too.
05:52 >> Yeah, I think it's a testament to their preparation, preparing like starters.
05:56 And when their number's called, they're not scrambling to get ready,
05:59 they're already ready.
06:01 So like I said, a testament to them, but
06:03 also a testament to the coaches, position coaches doing a great job.
06:06 The DB coaches, linebacker coaches, D-line coaches,
06:09 whenever we have somebody step up, there's no drop off.
06:12 Like Greg said, there's no different play call or anything like that.
06:15 Everybody knows this game, knows what we're doing and
06:17 trying to get accomplished, and they execute it really well.
06:19 So testament to player and coach.
06:20 >> Did you think of, it seems so much has happened with this team.
06:26 From the ring guard, guys, the quarterback,
06:30 this and that, and Mr. Fordham's life.
06:34 Does it seem like that kind of weird moment to you,
06:36 that the finish line was farther up than normal?
06:40 >> No, yeah, normal season.
06:43 Like I said, last year was ten linebackers go down.
06:47 This year is just different positions.
06:50 But again, I think we prepared ourselves, I believe,
06:54 a lot better than we have probably in the past.
06:56 So guys going down and not really being executed,
07:01 not executing at the same tempo and everything like that.
07:04 I think we've gotten a lot better at that.
07:06 Guys being ready to go when their numbers call.
07:09 Like I said, testament to player and coach.
07:11 Yeah, we've been through a lot, but nobody's gonna feel sorry for us.
07:14 And this December football, you can't ask for a better position to be in.
07:19 Give yourself a shot to get into the playoffs and
07:22 one game seasons from there, and you can go where as far as you wanna go.
07:27 So I wouldn't trade it.
07:29 Obviously, I love that we have a Nick Chubb and Deshaun and everybody healthy, but
07:34 I wouldn't trade this position at all.
07:36 >> Is a signal caller on the defense and with the potential of two young safeties.
07:41 That's how you finish the game.
07:42 The other day, does that put more on your plate to communicate more with those guys?
07:47 >> I like to over communicate, no matter who's in the game.
07:50 But like you said, I feel like those guys are prepared enough.
07:54 So if I give them little reminders and tips, they already on it.
07:58 They're a little younger, so they listen really well.
08:00 But like I said, those guys are prepared.
08:03 So I'm not really worried about over communicating with those guys as much as I
08:07 am just doing my job and making sure everybody's on the same page.
08:11 >> Chicago has made some really good teams this year.
08:13 Is that something going into this week?
08:15 You guys are hypersensitive about not to insinuate you would take an opponent
08:18 lightly, but just the fact that they're not in contention like you guys are.
08:23 And like you said, they played well against really good teams.
08:26 >> Yeah, you can't worry about that, especially in the NFL.
08:28 This is the NFL for a reason.
08:30 Everybody has good players.
08:32 There's no bad players.
08:33 There's no bad teams.
08:35 So we have to bring it and we understand that.
08:38 Like I said, it's the biggest game of our lives.
08:40 And we understand that we have to approach it that way.
08:43 And yeah, but at the end of the day, it is nameless, faceless opponents and
08:46 we're trying to get better as a team.
08:48 So we're taking that approach.
08:50 But obviously there's a team standing in front of us that we have to defeat this
08:53 week.
08:54 >> [INAUDIBLE]
09:04 >> Yeah, you hate to lose somebody,
09:16 right?
09:17 You hate to lose a, I mean, sorry, let me not say it like that.
09:20 This isn't life or death, right?
09:21 You hate to not go out there with your brothers that you've grinded with all
09:25 season and all off season and stuff like that.
09:28 But again, we've had guys in here in this locker room that's been with us the whole
09:32 time as well that it's been waiting for their opportunity.
09:35 And it just happens like that sometimes.
09:37 You never know when your number is gonna be called.
09:39 So all you gotta do is stay ready and when your number is called, you go out there
09:43 and you prepare and you go out there and execute and you wanna help contribute.
09:47 So it gives opportunity for that.
09:49 But obviously, like I said, it sucks not having those guys out there.
09:53 But no, like I said, nobody's gonna feel sorry for us, so
09:55 we can't feel sorry for ourselves.
09:56 >> I know you got that tumble the other day, but
09:58 are you safe in the interception for like the playoff clincher?
10:01 >> [LAUGH] I guess so.
10:03 [LAUGH] I guess so, I hope that's the case.
10:06 >> Did you think you had like the pick six there at the end?
10:08 >> Yeah, I mean, he threw a bad ball.
10:12 If the ball would have been perfect, I would have caught it.
10:15 If I wouldn't have tipped it, MJ would have caught it cuz it was so bad.
10:18 But I think he knew that, so he threw it away kind of, but yeah.
10:22 Hopefully I'm saving it for the playoff.
10:24 >> Did you spend any extra time on the drugs gun cuz you've had some opportunities?
10:27 >> Yeah, I've had some opportunities, yeah, and I have been doing extra, so.
10:30 >> [LAUGH] >> Did you play ball?
10:33 >> Get out of here, Ron.
10:34 [LAUGH] >> You said you'd be a receiver, right?
10:36 >> Yeah, I did play receiver, so.
10:38 >> [LAUGH] >> Yeah, I don't know,
10:40 it just hasn't been my year right now.
10:42 So we'll get it done when we need to.
10:44 >> [INAUDIBLE] >> I know,
10:47 Dave got a couple drops on the year too now.
10:49 >> [LAUGH] >> So I'll make sure we both on there.
10:53 I'll make sure we both on there.
10:54 >> [LAUGH] >> Thanks, man.
10:56 >> Good, appreciate y'all.