Browns Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt speaks at the podium on January 4, 2024.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00 [INAUDIBLE]
00:06 >> Sure, I mean, it's been impressive to be a part of it and see.
00:11 Really great job by Joe coming in and pick up the system.
00:15 And not just picking it up and be able to execute at a high level.
00:19 Again, very happy that we had a chance to pick Joe up.
00:24 He's proved that it was a great decision, he's played great.
00:27 And he's put us in a position where we are now.
00:30 Give us some rest this week and go from there.
00:32 But 50 more weeks.
00:35 >> [INAUDIBLE]
00:45 >> Jeff's a guy that has a lot of athleticism.
00:48 He's a bigger guy, he's got a strong arm.
00:50 We're familiar with Jeff more times together than since Maddie.
00:52 And I think with Dorian, he moved IR,
00:57 gives us a chance to bring another athletic body in.
01:01 Fill some of the role that Dorian played.
01:03 So it'd be good to get him in.
01:05 He has familiarity with the system.
01:07 Obviously coming from Arizona and
01:09 where since he's a some of that stuff is carried here.
01:12 So I think he feels comfortable with where we are.
01:14 I'm excited to see him.
01:15 >> [INAUDIBLE]
01:22 >> I'd say probably the biggest thing for
01:27 me is just the immediate connection with receivers.
01:32 There's some routes down the field that are like handoffs.
01:36 And that's just the guy that's, like I said before, he's accurate and
01:38 all through levels of the field.
01:40 That to me has been the most impressive.
01:42 [INAUDIBLE]
01:50 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:00 >> He's always had it.
02:06 I think that's the biggest thing.
02:07 He's played a ton of football.
02:11 So he knows how to move a pocket.
02:12 He knows when he's hot, when he's warm, when he has to get rid of the ball.
02:16 All those things are just that veteran experience.
02:19 When it's paid off and he's made plays versus cover zero,
02:22 had one more that he could block on time.
02:24 He just knows how to operate in just about all circumstances.
02:28 He's seen them all.
02:29 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:39 >> It's surprising, really,
02:40 to see the way he's played.
02:41 It is surprising, unfortunate for us.
02:44 >> [INAUDIBLE]
02:54 >> Yeah, he's a tough tackle in the open field.
02:56 His feet are so quick.
02:57 His contact balance is outstanding.
03:01 Broke tackles to score late, made some big runs, broke tackles.
03:04 I mean, it's all the things we've always seen from Jerome.
03:08 His pass protection was excellent.
03:10 He was one of the best teammates on the field.
03:11 He was picking guys up.
03:13 I agree, I thought it was one of Jerome's best games.
03:16 So look forward to build on that in the future.
03:18 But he's playing at a high level.
03:19 >> How was he kind of thrown into that job?
03:22 >> I mean, he got thrust into it early.
03:25 And it's kind of just warmed up to it, sticking on that role.
03:28 He said he'd take a lot of shoes, feet to fill Nick's shoes.
03:32 And he stepped up to the challenge, really proud of him.
03:34 All three backs really had a solid day last week.
03:37 >> [INAUDIBLE]
03:47 >> Right.
03:50 >> [INAUDIBLE]
03:59 >> Yeah, it is.
04:00 He's added so much productivity to our offense down in tight, especially.
04:04 His ability to run hard between the tackles is something that stands out.
04:08 And especially when he gets around the goal line, it's hard to deny him the goal.
04:13 He'll run guys over if he needs to, but he smiles to me until he gets in.
04:16 That's just part of what he's done for us this season.
04:19 He's made huge runs on third down for us, and he's had great protection.
04:23 So the value that he's brought us this season, it's been huge.
04:28 Really proud of him.
04:29 Not a great circumstance, didn't wanna not be on a team, I'm sure.
04:32 But once we got him here, man, he's been all on board.
04:36 And he's been a great teammate as well.
04:37 >> How about [INAUDIBLE]
04:42 >> Yeah.
04:42 Yeah, I mean, you know how I feel about Dave.
04:45 I could not be happier.
04:46 There's a guy that just done nothing but keep his head down and work.
04:49 Has gotten better every year we've been together.
04:54 And just so happy and proud of him.
04:57 I'm glad that he got the accomplishments,
04:59 because he deserves them to be playing at that level.
05:02 And again, just really happy, happy that there's a guy that does it the right way.
05:07 And it's paid off.
05:10 >> Did you know that you had something special in him?
05:13 >> You could see it early on.
05:15 No, it was probably just for us finding the best way to utilize his skill sets.
05:19 I think and we grew with him as we saw what he could really do.
05:23 Again, we try to get him the ball in all situations, not only on the field, but
05:28 short and let him run.
05:30 So it's probably a little bit of us growing into him as much as him growing
05:33 into himself.
05:33 >> [INAUDIBLE]
05:43 >> It's been a great experience.
05:52 It's one I'll always cherish and remember.
05:54 It's been a unique year, challenging.
05:57 There's been a lot of adversity, but the room has always been solid.
06:01 We always feel like we're gonna try to get whoever's playing in the best position
06:06 that the win for the team.
06:07 I think Kevin has really done a great job of catering how he calls the game to
06:11 each player.
06:12 And he's always thinking about their strengths and
06:14 then trying to protect them from their weaknesses.
06:16 And I think a lot of it comes down to how Kevin calls those games.
06:21 A lot of it comes down to how confident those guys are going into those games.
06:25 That's the quarterback room is always a tight room.
06:28 And we've had multiple people in and multiple people have stepped up.
06:30 And again, so proud of Dorian and PJ, Joe,
06:34 Tashaun, he played through some stuff that was incredible.
06:39 So to get to where we are now has been rewarding, it's been challenging, but
06:43 it's definitely a year I'll not forget.
06:47 >> You know, Jeff is the quarterback,
06:51 I think that's a big part of that.
06:56 [INAUDIBLE]
07:00 >> Yeah, I think that they're similar but different.
07:03 I think Jeff's obviously more athletic than Joe.
07:06 I don't wanna tell Joe that, but I think Joe would admit that.
07:09 Yeah, but I'm sure that did have something to do with the familiarity with
07:12 the system.
07:13 I'll say about Jeff, I mean, about him,
07:15 giving him an opportunity to come in and see if he can help us.
07:18 >> I'm just thinking you're also a big part of the running game, I'm certain.
07:21 But what else do you think we're working after the previous couple of weeks?
07:25 [INAUDIBLE]
07:28 >> That's tough, that's a good defense.
07:31 We faced a bunch of good defenses prior to that.
07:33 I think we were on that night.
07:36 I think the scheme that we ran that night was suited for that defense.
07:40 I'll get into detail.
07:41 But yeah, I'm really proud those guys challenged me earlier that we need to run
07:46 the ball against the Jets.
07:48 And I thought we could and we did, I'm proud of us.
07:51 >> [INAUDIBLE]
08:00 >> Yeah, yeah, he just needs to be himself.
08:03 Just dive into the plan each week and have a full understanding of what we're
08:08 asking him to do, assignments, assignments, technique, everything as a rookie.
08:13 I told those guys this morning, this is not the time to let up,
08:15 it's time to double down.
08:17 These opportunities are special and you don't know when you get your next one.
08:20 So, but at the same time, I've been around a lot of teams that gives these games,
08:26 playoff games that make it super tight.
08:28 And you make a ton of mistakes.
08:29 So it's finding that happy meeting, let's do our job, let's just do our job.
08:33 Execute one play at a time, but that's said job.
08:36 He needs to just do his job each week.
08:38 If he just does that, we'll be just fine.
08:40 >> Here's the number three, kind of the third guy, most of the season.
08:45 When he, like Thursday, when he got in there, he kind of flashed.
08:50 Are you kind of excited to see him on Sunday,
08:54 probably get a much larger role in what he can do with it?
08:58 >> Absolutely, I mean, he's different.
09:00 When he touches it, you can see the speed.
09:02 He gets through the hole differently, gets to the second level quickly.
09:06 And it has the speed to take it to the distance.
09:08 So I'm excited to see him get a walk of play.
09:11 >> [INAUDIBLE]
09:21 >> Yeah, I think that always helps.
09:31 You get a guy with a lot of experience,
09:37 Super Bowl MVP, now on the field.
09:42 I think it definitely helps these guys.
09:52 But again, great job by Joe.
09:57 Again, I'm really proud of Amari, too.
10:00 I'm getting to the Pro Bowl.
10:01 I thought he was well-deserved.
10:02 He's always played for us when he can, played through a terrible injury last year,
10:07 got all the way through.
10:08 Really happy for him.
10:10 He's very deserved.
10:12 >> [INAUDIBLE]
10:20 >> Yeah, I mean, they're putting their butts on the edge.
10:28 They really are.
10:29 I'm really proud of both those guys.
10:31 Hud's been here the longest.
10:35 And I've seen him develop from the day he got here as the only rookie lineman
10:39 that was in that class.
10:41 Three-on-one work he got with Coach Callahan and Coach Peters and Coach
10:44 DeCoster.
10:45 So I watched that grow.
10:46 I'm proud of him as well.
10:48 He's a guy that's just gone out and walked whoever they put in front of.
10:51 And then to Jerron to come in halfway through and to be able to do what he did.
10:55 I think we had one sack last week, and that was on a fall-down naked keeper.
11:00 Really, really proud of those guys up front and the protection they were in
11:03 last season.
11:06 All right, thanks, guys.
11:07 Thanks, guys.